Love Lifted Me in Tonic Solfa
Love Lifted Me in Tonic Solfa to SAFETY: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the three verses and the refrain, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| sI-lwasssink--ming | sdeep-linssin,-- | sFarlfromtthed'peace--r'ful | tshore,----- |
| lVe--tryldeep--fly | lstained-twith-lin,-- | lSink-tingd'totrise-lno | smore;----- |
| sBut-lthesMas--mter | sof-lthessea-- | sHeardlmytde-d'spair--sing | lcry,----- |
| lFrom-tthed'wa--r'ters | m'lift--d'edtme—-lNow | ssafe--r'am-- | d'I.----- |
| m'Love--slift--r'ed | d'me,----- | d'Love--mlift--ted | lme,----- |
| lWhen--lnoth-tingd'else | scould-d'help,d'Love-- | r'lift---led-m'me | r'_----- |
| m'Love--slift--r'ed | d'me,----- | d'Love--mlift--ted | lme,----- |
| lWhen--lnoth-tingd'else | scould-d'help,d'Love-- | m'lift---m'edr'me- | d'_----- |
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- Key
- Bb major
- Doh
- Bb
- Time
- 6/8
- Starts on
- s (F)
- Range
- m to m' (D to D, an octave)
- Tune
- SAFETY
- Words
- James Rowe
- Music
- Howard E. Smith
Tune SAFETY by Howard E. Smith (1825–1898); words by James Rowe (1865–1933). Sources and licences.
The solfa line by line
The same solfa as plain text, a line of the hymn at a time, with the words of the first verse under it — easy to copy into your own notes or a message to the choir. To print it, download the solfa as a PDF.
Doh is Bb · 6/8
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in Bb major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
I was sinking deep in sin,
Far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within,
Sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea
Heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me—
Now safe am I.
Refrain
Love lifted me,
Love lifted me,
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me;
Love lifted me,
Love lifted me,
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
All my heart to Him I give,
Ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live,
Ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true
Merits my soul’s best songs;
Faithful, loving service, too,
To Him belongs.
Souls in danger, look above,
Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love
Out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea,
Billows His will obey;
He your Saviour wants to be—
Be saved today.
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum Bb and sing d r m f s up from it, so the whole choir has the key in their ears before you start.
- Pitch the first note. The tune starts on s (F).
- Count the time. 6/8 means two dotted-crotchet beats (six quavers) in each bar. In the grid every cell is half a crotchet: a dash (–) holds the note before it, and _ is a rest.
- Know the notes. The tune uses d r m f s l t. A comma after a note (s,) is the octave below; an apostrophe (d') is the octave above.
New to solfa? Read how to read Tonic Solfa and how to find the doh of a song.
About the hymn
James Rowe wrote the words and Howard E. Smith the tune; the song was published in 1912.
- Words (1912): James Rowe (1865–1933)
- Music (1912): Howard E. Smith (1825–1898)
Tune SAFETY by Howard E. Smith (1825–1898); words by James Rowe (1865–1933).
Questions about Love Lifted Me
What is the doh of Love Lifted Me?
In this version, in Bb major, doh is Bb. If your choir sings it in another key, doh moves to the new key note and every solfa syllable stays the same — that is what movable doh means.
What note does Love Lifted Me start on?
It starts on s (F in Bb major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to s.
Is Love Lifted Me in the public domain?
Yes. James Rowe died in 1933, Howard E. Smith died in 1898; the words were first published in 1912 and the music in 1912. Everyone named died before 1955 and both were published before 1929, so the hymn is out of copyright in the UK, the EU, the United States and Nigeria. Modern arrangements and translations can still be under copyright.