My Song Is Love Unknown-John Ireland (1879-1962)

My Song Is Love Unknown is a hymn by Samuel Crossman, written in 1664.
The hymn tune to which it is usually sung is Love Unknown by John Ireland. Ireland composed the melody over lunch one day at the suggestion of organist and fellow-composer Geoffrey Shaw.
The choir of King's College, Cambridge sing My Song Is Love Unknown. The choir are joined by the congregation in singing Samuel Crossman's words to the beautiful melody "love unknown" composed by John Ireland.

My song is love unknown,
My Saviors love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then Crucify! is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.

They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

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My Song Is Love Unknown-John Ireland (1879-1962)