If You Cannot on the Ocean Lyrics, Story, and Video

If You Cannot on the Ocean LyricsYour Mission

1 If you cannot on the ocean
Sail among the swiftest fleet,
Rocking on the highest billows,
Laughing at the storms you meet;
You can stand among the sailors,
Anchor’d yet within the bay,
You can lend a hand to help them,
As they launch their boats away.

Refrain:
As they launch their boats away,
As they launch their boats away;
You can lend a hand to help them,
As they launch their boats away.

2 If you are too weak to journey
Up the mountain, steep and high,
You can stand within the valley,
While the multitudes go by;
You can chant in happy measure,
As they slowly pass along,
Tho’ they may forget the singer,
They will not forget the song.

Refrain:
They will not forget the song,
They will not forget the song;
Tho’ they may forget the singer,
They will not forget the song.

3 If you have not gold and silver
Ever ready to command;
If you cannot tow’rds the needy
Reach an ever-open hand;
You can visit the afflicted,
O’er the erring you can weep,
You can be a true disciple,
Sitting at the Saviour’s feet.

Refrain:
Sitting at the Saviour’s feet,
Sitting at the Saviour’s feet,
You can be a true disciple,
Sitting at the Saviour’s feet.

4 If you cannot in the conflict
Prove yourself a soldier true;
If, where fire and smoke are thickest,
There’s no work for you to do;
When the battle-field is silent,
You can go with careful tread,
You can bear away the wounded,
You can cover up the dead.

Refrain:
You can cover up the dead,
You can cover up the dead.
You can bear away the wounded,
You can cover up the dead.

5 If you cannot in the harvest
Garner up the richest sheaves,
Many a grain both ripe and golden
Will the careless reapers leave;
Go and glean among the briars,
Growing rank against the wall,
For it may be that their shadow
Hides the heaviest wheat of all.

Refrain:
Hides the heaviest wheat of all,
Hides the heaviest wheat of all.
For it may be that their shadow
Hides the heaviest wheat of all.

6 Do not, then, stand idly waiting
For some greater work to do;
Fortune is a lazy goddess,
She will never come to you.
Go, and toil in any vineyard,
Do not fear to do or dare;
If you want a field of labor,
You can find it anywhere.

Refrain:
You can find it anywhere,
You can find it anywhere.
If you want a field of labor,
You can find it anywhere.

If You Cannot on the Ocean Hymn Story

“If You Cannot on the Ocean” is a hymn that was written by Ellen M. H. Gates. It is a call for us to find a way to help with whatever we have. If you do not have money, you can visit the afflicted. No excuse at all to not participate.

“The lines were written upon my slate one snowy afternoon in the winter of 1860. I knew, as I know now, that the poem was only a simple little thing, but somehow 1 had a presentiment that it had wings, and would fly into sorrowful hearts, uplifting and strengthening them.”

Other hymns Ellen Gates wrote include the following:

1 Come home, come home, you are weary at heart. Invitation. 2. I am now a child of God. Saved through Jesus. 3. I will sing you a song of that beautiful land. Concerning Heaven. 4. O the clanging bells of time. Yearning for Heaven. 5. Say, is your lamp burning, my brother. Watching and Waiting.

Ellen M H Gates - If You Cannot on the Ocean hymn writer
Ellen M H. Gates

Below are more hymns’ lyrics and stories:

Home of the Soul Lyrics, Story, and Video

Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet Lyrics, Story, and Video

Throw Out the Lifeline Lyrics, Story, and Video

Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?

If You Cannot on the Ocean Hymn Video

Your Mission (If you cannot on the ocean) video

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