Words: , 1852. Smith was in­spired to write this hymn af­ter hear­ing a ser­mon by on “The Adapt­ed­ness of Re­li­gion to the Wants of the Aged.” The words were re­cast in the Ply­mouth Col­lect­ion, 1855, and Songs of the Church, 1862.

Music: St. Sylvester, , 1862. Al­ter­nate tunes:

  • L’Emmanuello, Lo­ren­zo Pe­ro­si, 1903
  • St. Paul’s (Ers­kine), John Ers­kine, 1917

Tarry with me, O my Savior,
For the day is passing by;
See! the shades of evening gather,
And the night is drawing nigh.

Deeper, deeper grow the shadows,
Paler now the glowing west,
Swift the night of death advances;
Shall it be the night of rest?

Lonely seems the vale of shadow;
Sinks my heart with troubled fear;
Give me faith for clearer vision,
Speak Thou, Lord, in words of cheer.

Let me hear Thy voice behind me,
Calming all these wild alarms;
Let me, underneath my weakness,
Feel the everlasting arms.

Feeble, trembling, fainting, dying,
Lord, I cast myself on Thee;
Tarry with me through the darkness;
While I sleep, still watch by me.

Tarry with me, O my Savior,
Lay my head upon Thy breast
Till the morning; then awake me—
Morning of eternal rest.

Here is Smith’s original version, which can be sung to the fol­low­ing tunes:

Tarry with me, O my Saviour!
For the day is passing by;
See, the shades of evening gather,
And the night is drawing nigh;
Tarry with me—tarry with me;
Pass me not unheeded by!

Many friends were gathered round me,
In the bright days of the past;
But the grave has closed above them,
And I linger here the last!
I am lonely: tarry with me
Till this dreary night is past.

Dimmed for me is earthly beauty;
Yet the spirit’s eye would fain
Rest upon thy lovely features:
Shall I seek, dear Lord, in vain?
Tarry with me, O my Saviour!
Let me see thy smile again.

Dull my ear to earth-born music:
Speak thou, Lord! in words of cheer;
Feeble, tottering my footstep,
Sinks my heart with sudden fear:
Cast thine arms, dear Lord! around me,
Let me feel thy presence near.

Faithful memory paints before me
Every deed and thought of sin;
Open thou the blood-filled fountain,
Cleanse my guilty soul within:
Tarry, thou forgiving Saviour!
Wash me wholly from my sin.

Deeper, deeper grow the shadows;
Paler now the glowing west;
Swift the night of death advances,—
Shall it be a night of rest?
Tarry with me, O my Saviour!
Lay my head upon thy breast.

Feeble, trembling, panting, dying,
Lord! I cast myself on thee:
Tarry with me through the darkness,
While I sleep, still watch by me,
Till the morning,—then awake me
Dearest Lord! to dwell with thee.