The Day Is Past and Gone

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
O may we all remember well
The night of death draws near.

We lay our garments by,
Upon our beds to rest;
So death shall soon disrobe us all
Of what is here possessed.

Lord, keep us safe this night,
Secure from all our fears;
May angels guard us while we sleep,
Till morning light appears.

Author: John Leland

Year: 1794

This evening hymn is a well-known work by the American Baptist minister and hymn-writer John Leland (1754–1841). It first appeared in print in the 1790s and is frequently dated to 1794 in hymnals and collections.