Africa (William Billings) - Words

Words

The 1770 version of Africa was published without lyrics. Since it readily fits any iambic quatrain written in couplets of eight and six syllables (common meter), singers of this version would certainly have had no trouble finding lyrics to accompany it, as such quatrains are common in hymn lyrics.

For the 1778 and 1779 versions, Billings did choose lyrics: the first stanza of Hymn #39 of the first volume of hymns (1709) by the famous English hymnodist Isaac Watts.

Now shall my inwards joys arise,

And burst into a Song;

Almighty Love inspires my Heart,

And Pleasure tunes my Tongue.

This stanza doubtless appealed to Billings, who took joy in singing throughout his life. Billings altered Watts's "joys" to "joy", though this change is not always observed by singers. Sometimes the other stanzas by Watts are also sung to the tune of Africa; they are as follows:

God on his thirsty Sion-Hill

Some Mercy-Drops has thrown,

And solemn Oaths have bound his Love

To show'r Salvation down.

Why do we then indulge our Fears,

Suspicions and Complaints?

Is he a God, and shall his Grace

Grow weary of his saints?

Can a kind Woman e'er forget

The Infant of her Womb,

And 'mongst a thousand tender Thoughts

Her Suckling have no Room?

Yet, saith the Lord, should Nature change,

And Mothers Monsters prove,

Sion still dwells upon the Heart

Of everlasting Love.

Deep on the Palms of both my Hands

I have engrav'd her Name;

My Hands shal raise her ruin'd Walls,

And build her broken Frame.

It is not unreasonable to sing Africa with the additional stanzas, since Watts's hymn verses were well known in Billings's day.