Alleluia, Song of Gladness

Alleluia, song of gladness,
Voice of joy that cannot die;
Alleluia is the anthem
Ever dear to choirs on high;
In the house of God abiding
Thus they sing eternally.

Alleluia thou resoundest,
True Jerusalem and free;
Alleluia, joyful mother,
All thy children sing with thee;
But by Babylon’s sad waters
Mourning exiles now are we.

Alleluia we deserve not
Here to chant forevermore;
Alleluia our transgressions
Make us for a while give o’er;
For the holy time is coming
Bidding us our sins deplore.

Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee,
Grant us, blessèd Trinity,
At the last to keep Thine Easter
In our home beyond the sky;
There to Thee forever singing
Alleluia joyfully.

Author: Unknown

Year: 11

This is an English translation of the 11th-century Latin hymn 'Alleluia, dulce carmen'. The original medieval Latin text is anonymous (often described as 'Unknown' or 'Traditional'). The most common English version was produced by John Mason Neale in the 19th century, but the lyrics given here appear to be a variant or alternate translation, so the author is listed as Unknown.