Revelation 19:1
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
William Dix wrote "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus" as a communion hymn for Ascension Sunday. This hymn was originally called "Redemption through the Precious Blood" and was inspired by Revelation 5:9, "And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy . . . for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood." Our hymns proclaims "His the triumph, His the victory alone." "Jesus . . . hath redeemed us by His blood."
"Though the cloud from sight received Him," sings of Christ's ascension. Even as He assured us he would not leave us as orphans, this hymn also reminds us of His faithful promise, "I am with you evermore."
This hymn, although usually presented with three verses, has a fourth verse, and also originally repeated the first verse at the end, giving it five verses total. It was first published by Dix in Altar Songs, Verses on the Holy Eucharist, 1867. A year later it was included in the Appendix of Hymns Ancient and Modern, with a tune specifically written for it by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, called Alleluia. This tune is still preferred by Hymns Ancient and Modern, but it is seldom sung today. The 1909 edition had a different tune, Adoration, by B. Luard Selby, but this tune is not found in any modern hymnal. The tune to which it is most commonly sung is HYFRYDOL, written by Rowland H. Prichard.
Listen to it here: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
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