eHymns.org

Julia H. Johnston

Morton J. Babbitt

Unknown

Where the light of sin lies darkly,
And afar the wand'rers roam,
I must keep the watchfire burning
That will guide the weary home;
'Tis my Lord who loves the sinsick
That has made this duty mine;
He has given to my keeping
This fair gleam of light divine.

It is night upon the water
Where life's billows toss and roar
I must keep my watchfire gleaming
On the sands upon the shore;
'Tis for this that Christ my Savior
Hath in love delivered me;
That my light may help an other
Who is out upon the sea.

Not my own, the word of warning
Or the light of help and cheer,
But to me has been entrusted
Jesus' message, sweet and clear;
I can call to those in darkness
Or far out upon the foam;
I can keep my own light burning
That may guide the wand'rer home.

Chorus:
I'm a watchman in the night,
I'm a keeper of a light;
For the wanderer's returning
I must keep the watchfire burning,
I'm a watchman, I'm a watchman in the night.