A school hall. A slightly squeaky upright piano. A haggard music teacher bashing away on the keys. The gentle scent of BO and feet. That’s right, you’re back at school. Stand up straight, neaten up your tie, tighten your scrunchie and get ready to sing an absolute banger. Here are some of the best hymns you’ll have enjoyed back at primary school…
While you're here, check what we included in our list of the best hymns of all time.
The best school hymns
My Country, 'Tis of Thee (America)
A staple of many a US school assembly, 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' features lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith (1831), set to the melody of 'God Save the King'. Its themes of patriotism and gratitude for freedom make it perfect both for school assemblies and patriotic events.
Smith wrote the lyrics after he was asked to make translations of a selection of German hymns. Instead, he found himself inspired by the melody of 'God Save the King', and set about composing some original verses that would fit the American ideals of patriotism and freedom.
'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' served as an unofficial national anthem right up until The Star-Spangled Banner was officially adopted as the US anthem in 1931.
Kumbaya
Any Scouts or Brownie Guides among us? Kumbaya was a campfire classic for anyone who went away on camp, and was always an easy hit when it was chosen for school assembly. Its lyrics aren’t complicated. Every second word is either ‘Kumbaya’ or ‘Lord’. Easy.
This is my Father's World
This uplifting hymn, featuring 1901 lyrics by Maltbie D. Babcock set to a melody by Franklin L. Sheppard, is a joyous celebration of nature and God’s creation. It's a favourite especially in schools with a Christian emphasis, with its focus on gratitude and stewardship of the world.
Babcock was inspired by his walks in the countryside near his home in upstate New York, where he admired the natural beauty of Lake Ontario and the surrounding hills. The lyrics to 'This is my Father's World' reflect Babcock's deep connection to nature and his belief in God’s presence in every aspect of the created world. Its message of faith and wonder has had wide resonance widely, and the hymn is often quoted in both environmental discussions and devotional contexts.
Give me Oil in my Lamp
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, SING HOSANNA TO THE KING! Any chorus that is made up of a series of repeated lines growing in volume each time is an absolute party-starter in school assembly. Here are the lyrics to 'Give me oil in my lamp'. They take you back, no?
Shine Jesus Shine
This might be a rather triggering choice for anyone who, like me, had a father who decided to have his rockstar moment playing ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ on the electric guitar in the church band. Yes, there was a Hawaiian shirt. And yes, there was a goatee. But there were also streamers given out to the entire congregation to wave in time to the music. What a time to be alive.
Five more of those best school hymns we loved to sing
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Everyone: "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." This stirring hymn features lyrics penned in 1861 by the American author and poet Julia Ward Howe, set to the tune of 'John Brown's Body'. With strong links to the American Civil War era, it addresses themes of faith, justice, and resilience. That rousing chorus ("Glory, glory, hallelujah!") makes the Battle Hymn of the Republic a favourite for choirs and school assemblies across the United States and beyond.
OK, the history bit. It was during the Civil War that Howe made a visit to a Union Army camp near Washington, D.C.. There, she heard soldiers singing 'John Brown’s Body', a sort of song of praise to the titular abolitionist. A clergyman friend of Howe's urged her to pen a new, uplifting set of lyrics to the rousing tune, and she duly obliged with this magnificent hymn. Intended to inspire Union soldiers, the Battle Hymn of the Republic reflects a sense of divine justice and moral purpose in the fight against slavery.
From the Tiny Ant
This one is essentially a shopping list of zoo animals from start to finish, which arguably meets the criteria for an absolute banger of a school hymn. The repetition is completely inane, but who wouldn’t want to spend school assembly singing about great white sharks, tabby cats and desert rats?
- The best depictions of animals in classical music
- Carnival of the Animals: a guide to Saint-Saëns's masterpiece
He’s got the Whole World in his Hands
Now, we haven’t spoken enough here about how marvellous a hymn with choreography is for a rowdy school hall. Granted, the dance moves used in this tune were a little simplistic, but will we ever forget that ‘whole world’ hand motion? I certainly won’t, that’s for sure. Here are the lyrics.
Lord of the Dance
Unlike many of the hymns in this list, ‘Lord of the Dance’ is a melodic feast. That’s mainly because it takes its lead from the English carol ‘Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day’, so it’s more of a traditional hymn structure than a slightly naff nursery rhyme. What’s more, that transition from verse to chorus is a real bop – so good, in fact, that it was almost impossible not to speed up and drive the long-suffering music teacher to distraction.
We included 'Lord of the Dance' in our round-up of the best football chants inspired by classical music.
This Little Light of Mine
What this song lacks in variety (it features two lines on repeat for the best part of five minutes), it makes up for in good times and singalong-ability. Sorry for reminding you of the world’s most irritating earworm. Good luck sleeping.
