1000 Songs/Jesus I Am Resting Resting (Jean Pigott)

Jesus I am resting resting (Jean Sophia Pigott)

1000 Songs

Author
was born and lived in Ireland 1845-1882. This text was published in 1876, when Pigott was around 30 years old. She published several hymns in her short life, but Resting is her best-known.

Translations/Challenges
Some of the wording causes a challenge for the contemporary hymn editor. Most modern editors would prefer to use the more familiar pronoun "you" in place of "thy" when addressing Deity. But because several of the occurrences are at the end of a line, and therefore are necessary for a rhyme, it seems awkward to attempt to update the language. Consequently, this editor recommends for the original antiquitous beauty to be retained.

Sentimental texts always present something of a theological challenge. The danger is to start and end with "my" feelings, rather than with Christ's attributes themselves. Many songs sing of what God has done for me, rather than the nature of God himself. But Pigott's text here seems to delineate between pious reflection on the work of Christ and a self-generated romantic reflection. For example, "The joy of what Thou art" and "the greatness of Thy loving heart" balance out "made me whole" and "satisfies my heart."

Editor's Choice
See the full text here.

Tune
The most common tune paired with this text from the beginning is fittingly titled TRANQUILITY by James Mountain. 

The hymnic meter of the text is a rather unusual 8.7.8.5(D). Consequently, finding alternative tunes is a bit challenging, with a small pool of worthy tunes. In addition, certainly the text implies a gentle, almost lulling melody.

Arrangements
In recent years, this editor has found Matthew Smith's 2006 setting from the project ALL I OWE to be hauntingly simple and an excellent match to bring this fine text to the use of a new generation. Smith is a Nashville-based artist with a passion for resetting old hymn texts.  The version of this hymn recorded by both Mathew Smith, Shelley Moore Band, and numerous other artists is a version written by David Hampton using the Jean Pigott text.

Editor's Choice
Shelly Moore Band has an even more entrancing cover of Smith's tune made in 2008, found on YouTube at 

Background
Little is known about the circumstances or biography of Jean Pigott.