A Working Hymn

The hymn “Work, for the Night is Coming” came from the pen of a young woman living in Lambton County.

 

Work, for the night is coming,

Work thro' the morning hours;

Work while the dew is sparkling,

Work 'mid springing flowers;

Work when the day grows brighter,

Work in the glowing sun;

Work, for the night is coming,

When man's work is done.

 

Work, for the night is coming,

Work through the sunny noon;

Fill brightest hours with labor,

Rest comes sure and soon.

Give ev'ry flying minute,

Something to keep in store;

Work, for the night is coming,

When man works no more.

 

Work, for the night is coming,

Under the sunset skies;

While their bright tints are glowing,

Work, for daylight flies.

Work till the last beam fadeth,

Fadeth to shine no more;

Work, while the night is darkening,

When man's work is o'er.

 

Anna Louisa (Walker) Coghill was a talented writer who moved to Canada from England when her father began working for the railroad. The family settled in Sarnia where Anna and her sisters opened a girls school, and remained there until the early 1860s, when they returned to England.

Anna was only eighteen years old when she wrote the poem in 1854. Originally called “The Night Cometh,” the poem was set to music by Lowell Mason in 1864 and the hymn named, “Work, for the Night is Coming.”

The hymn may be based on John 9:4, “The night cometh when no man can work.”

“Work, for the Night is Coming” was first published in a Canadian newspaper and later in Anna's book, Leaves From the Back Woods. Anna continued to write throughout her life and eventually produced several volumes as a poet and author.