What are the lyrics of Hear, hear, O heavens by William Billings?

“Hear, hear, O heavens” begins: Hear, hear, O heavens,… Read the full lyrics on ChoirPDFs.

Who composed Hear, hear, O heavens?

Hear, hear, O heavens was composed by William Billings.

What language is Hear, hear, O heavens sung in?

Hear, hear, O heavens is sung in English.

Hear, hear, O heavens by William Billings — Lyrics & Sheet Music (PDF)

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SATB

Edition by Barry Johnston

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Added Jul 31, 2026

2 editions of this piece

Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.

SATB · Barry Johnston Preview

Composer: William Billings

Format: Staff

Language: English

Pages: 4 pages

This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.

Hear, hear, O heavens by William Billings — Lyrics

Hear, hear, O heavens, And give ear, O earth, For the Lord hath spoken. I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me, Ah! Sinful nation!

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About Hear, hear, O heavens

William Billings crafts a powerful SATB anthem based on a dramatic passage from Isaiah. The music opens with an insistent call to attention from the heavens and the earth, as the Lord makes His pronouncements. Billings vividly portrays the sorrow and anger of God as He laments the rebellion of His children, comparing their ignorance to that of a domesticated animal. The text's exclamations of "Ah! Sinful nation!" are met with vigorous and emphatic musical responses. This is a stirring and deeply felt musical setting of a significant biblical text, delivered with the characteristic directness and conviction of early American sacred music.