“Come Ye Disconsolate”

In many ways, the hymn “Come Ye Disconsolate” is unique. It is one of the few hymns in a minor key (consider “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”) which lends to its somber tone.  

The vocabulary is also unique, asking those who are “disconsolate,” “languishing,” and who are “wounded” and in “anguish” to kneel. Those who are “desolate” and “straying” are asked to hear the merciful words of the Comforter to heal our “sorrow.” 

This is so very different from our nearly universally upbeat music and constantly cheery words. While Christianity is an inherently optimistic pursuit—with victory the sure and eventual promise to the faithful—there are many days of lament along the way. Our Savior was “a man of sorrows acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:4) not because of something in Him, but because He experienced what we do. 

The uniquely somber vocabulary of this hymn might be because the author, Thomas Moore, was an Irish-Roman Catholic more famous in the early 1800s for his romantic ballads than his hymns. “Come Ye Disconsolate” did not become popular with Protestants until the call in the second stanza from “Come, at the shrine of God fervently kneel” was changed to “Come, to the mercy seat.”

The final unique thing about this hymn is the now replaced third verse. The third verse we have now is not the original. We sing of the great spiritual offers of God that give us comfort.

Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing

Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.

Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing

Earth has no sorrow but heav’n can remove.

But the original lyrics were a very different tone. Having told of the comforting words of Christ, Moore challenged the unbeliever, asking what he could tell those in sorrow. 

Come, ask the infidel what boon he brings us,

What charm for aching hearts he can reveal,

Sweet is that heavenly promise Hope sings us—

“Earth has no sorrow that God cannot heal.”

That kind of challenge is very unique in a hymn. It’s a good solid challenge that unbelievers really can’t answer, but maybe people found it a bit too militant for a hymn of comfort. 

So this hymn comes from a different geography and perspective than most of our hymns, but it’s tone captures the sorrow of life that only the gospel hope can overcome.