Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

423 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

1 Hosanna, loud hosanna
   the little children sang;
   through pillared court and temple
   the lovely anthem rang.
   To Jesus, who had blessed them,
   close folded to his breast,
   the children sang their praises,
   the simplest and the best.

2 From Olivet they followed
   mid an exultant crowd,
   the victory palm branch waving,
   and chanting clear and loud.
   The Lord of earth and heaven
   rode on in lowly state,
   nor scorned that little children
   should on his bidding wait.

3 "Hosanna in the highest!"
   That ancient song we sing,
   for Christ is our Redeemer,
   the Lord of heaven, our King.
   O may we ever praise him
   with heart and life and voice,
   and in his blissful presence
   eternally rejoice.
                         Jeanette Threlfall
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Not a terribly popular hymn, only occurring in about 160 hymnals. The biography of the author (linked to above) says this:

The sacred poems are not very well wrought, nor at all noticeable in thought or sentiment. But all through one feels that a sweet spirit utters itself.

Not a bad characteristic, I would say. I'd rather hear a sweet spirit than most of what I hear today…
</idle musing>