This was penned by Pastor Maltbie Babcock. He lived near what was called, "the escarpment," an upright ledge near the city of Lockport, New York.

Nearly every day Pastor Babcock hiked up to the ridge, often saying, "I am going out to see my Father's world." From the ledge he could look down over the greens of farms and orchards and finally out over Lake Ontario, which lay about 15 miles away.

Unfortunately, Babcock met an untimely death in 1901. His wife gathered up this poem and gave it to Franklin L. Sheppard, who set it to the traditional English melody, "Terra Beata," meaning, "blessed earth". Sheppard was editing a Presbyterian songbook for children at the time and he included the hymn.


1. This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3. This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Love that song.

GAIL

THANK you for the history of this song

dgrimm60

PKRAUSE

yes this is a great song

dgrimmm60