From Edie: Looking for public domain hymn lyrics to include in your devotions, blog posts, or articles? Discover three helpful websites where Christian writers can find classic hymn lyrics, music, and background details.
Where to Find Public Domain Hymn Lyrics for Devotions, Blogs, and Articles
by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites
I recently worked on a devotional writing assignment that requested hymn lyrics as a final point in the devotion. At first, I struggled to find some of the lines I needed to fit my devotion topic and theme. Once I found an example I thought was perfect, I had to dive deeper in my research to determine if the hymn’s words were listed as public domain.
I found a couple of helpful websites that you might enjoy adding to your resource list. Check them out—you might find exactly what you need to add some pizazz to your next blog post, article, or devotion.
3 Websites Writers Can Use to Find Public Domain Hymns
Website #1
Timeless Truths
While this site is first and foremost a site where the visitors can read or listen to the Bible, it also has a hymn tab. All stanzas of the alphabetically-arranged hymns are included, and sidebar information enlightens the author even more. For example, the page with one of my favorite hymns, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, includes these tidbits:
Author – Elisha A. Hoffman
Publishing date – 1887
Subjects – trust, assurance, peace
Scripture Reference – Deuteronomy 33:27; Song of Solomon 8:5
Another tab opens the sheet music for the song. One additional tab, with the right app enabled, allows the site visitor to hear a piano version of the hymn.
Website #2
Hymns to God
The Hymns to God site offers less information about the hymn. It lists the author, but doesn’t include the publishing date, related subject of the hymn, or scripture reference. Visitors can click on tabs to see sheet music and hear the song. Another tab allows visitors to access hymn writers alphabetically by name and see a list of their song collections on that landing page.
Website #3
Public Domain Hymns
Public Domain Hymns boasts this tagline at the top of the landing page: “The ugliest looking hymn site on the internet.” Well, if the originator of the site broadcast that opinion, I’ll weigh in to say it doesn’t look as professional as some of the other sites I found, but was most helpful when I needed it!
A spreadsheet lists public domain hymns, in alphabetical order, one letter per page. The list includes the author of the lyrics as well as the music composer. I didn’t notice this detail on the other websites. It also lists the first line of the song, and other tabs allow the site visitor to see a copy of the lyrics, hear the song played, and find a PowerPoint slideshow of the lyrics to use in a worship setting. Sheet music is also provided.
A sidenote—If you access information or a couple of lines from a hymn from one of these websites, make sure you check several sources to be certain you’ve found public domain songs.
Now let’s hear from you. Have you found helpful websites with public domain hymn information? Share your favorite hymn sites, and I’ll add them to my writing resource file, too.
TWEETABLE
Thank you Julie. This is helpful.
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