- Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. - Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see--
O Thou who changest not, abide with me. - I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. - I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. - Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Other verses sometimes seen
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea,
Come, friend of sinners, and abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
He was a prolific poet. He wrote so many poems it's amazing. Serving as pastor in Brixham, England for most of his working life.
In 1818 his life underwent a significant spiritual change, predicated by the death of a fellow clergyman. This death caused him to dig more deeply into the word of God and his life thereafter was changed. (source)
Abide with Me was the last hymn that Mr. Lyte wrote. He was a man who suffered from poor health all his life, and at age 54, he was dying of tuberculosis. He preached his last sermon, wrote "Abide with me" and then left to go Italy to get away from the damp weather that was compromising his health. He died while in Italy, some ten weeks later, in 1847.
"Abide With Me was put to music by William H. Monk (1823-1889), and made its debut at Henry's memorial service." (source)