Lyrics: Adrianus Valerius (aka François Valéry). Translated to English by Theodore Baker in 1894.

Music: KREMSER, a Dutch tune arranged by Edouard Kremser.

Theme: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4.

This hymn was written in Dutch to celebrate the Dutch victory over Spanish forces in the Battle of Turnhout in 1597. The Dutch tune to which it is set was originally a folk tune with the lyrics, “Wilder dan wilt, wie sal mij temmen,” or “Wilder than wild, who will tame me?” The tune was tamed by Dutch Protestants celebrating their newfound ability to “gather together” after throwing off Spanish (Catholic) rule.

1. We gather together
to ask the Lord’s blessing;
he chastens and hastens
his will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to his name,
he forgets not his own.

2. Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
thou, Lord, wast at our side,
all glory be thine!

3. We all do extol thee,
thou leader in battle,
and pray that thou still
our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation
escape tribulation;
thy name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!

We Gather Together was, for a long time when I was a teenager, my favorite hymn, mostly because I liked the tune. I still do, even though I have gone on to other favorite hymns. I still like to sing this one at Thanksgiving as we gather to thank God for what He has done and petition Him to make us and to keep us free.

Sources:
The surprising origins of “We Gather Together,” a Thanksgiving standard by Melanie Kirkpatrick.
We Gather Together with Garrison Keillor. “Keillor is joined by Prudence Johnson, Rich Dworsky, the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers, Charles Kemper and Philip Brunelle in musical renditions of traditional hymns and humorous adaptations of songs for the season.”