What Is A "Hymn?"

What is a hymn?

A young, new Christian went to his local church usually, but one weekend attended a small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

“Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”

“Hymns,” said his wife, “What are those?”

“Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.

“Well, what's the difference?” asked his wife.

The young man said, “Well it's like this — If I were to say to you,
‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a regular song.

If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.

So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn.
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.

“Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well, that would be a hymn.”

Note: I often have seen this in print and heard this repeated orally. I have no idea the original source. I did not write it, but surely enjoyed it.

-- Bob Clark

9/9/2003