Oh Say, What Is Truth?

First line: O say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem That the riches / Oh say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem That the / O say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem / Oh say, what is truth? / O say, what is truth? / Oh say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Original language: English

Words: John Jaques
Music: Ellen Knowles Melling

Lyrics
Statistics
Tunes

English

This song has been indexed in 103 languages:

About the text author

John Jaques

Song arrangements

Find sheet music and arrangements for this song via the BYU library.

O say, what is Truth? ’Tis the fairest gem
Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1912 ed.), 59

1. O say, what is Truth? ’Tis the fairest gemThat the riches of worlds can produce;And priceless the value of truth will be, whenThe proud monarch’s costliest diademIs counted but dross and refuse.
2. Yes, say, what is truth? ’Tis the brightest prizeTo which mortals or Gods can aspire:Go search in the depths where it glittering lies,Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies;’Tis an aim for the noblest desire.
3. The sceptre may fall from the despot’s grasp,When with winds of stern justice he copes,But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blastAnd the wreck of the fell tyrant’s hopes.
4. Then, say, what is truth? ’Tis the last and the first,For the limits of time it steps o’er:Though the heavens depart, and the earth’s fountains burst,Truth, the sum of existence will weather the worst,Eternal, unchanged, evermore.

These charts show the use of this song in English hymnbooks and other collections published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If a song appears in multiple editions of the same hymnbook, it is only counted once. [undetermined] means that tune information has not yet been entered in.

Tunes that have appeared with this song in English

Appearances of this song over time in English

X:272 Q:1/4=96 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:F C2 | A2 A3/2G/ F2 F3/2E/ | D2 F- F C2 CC | F2 F3/2G/ A2 GF | G6 yy

X:331 Q:1/4=96 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:Bb clef=treble-8 F2 | d2 d3/2c/ B2 B3/2A/ | G2 B-B F2 FF | B2 B3/2c/ d2 cB | c6 yy

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1985, 2002 ed.), no. 272

Oh Say, What Is Truth? (Men’s Choir)

Hymns (1985, 2002 ed.), no. 331

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns: Simplified Accompaniments (1986, 1986 ed.), 191

Arr.: Darwin Wolford

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Manual-Only Hymns for Organ (2010, 2010 ed.), 35

O Say, What Is Truth?

Transformations (2010, 2010 ed.), 22

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Principles of the Gospel (2003) (2003, 2014 ed.), 296

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Principles of the Gospel (2003) (2003, 2003 ed.), 300

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Gospel Fundamentals (1992, 2002 ed.), 239

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1985, 1998 ed.), no. 272

Oh Say, What Is Truth? (Men’s Choir)

Hymns (1985, 1998 ed.), no. 331

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1985, 1985 ed.), no. 272

Oh Say, What Is Truth? (Men’s Choir)

Hymns (1985, 1985 ed.), no. 331

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns and Children’s Songs (1978, 2004 ed.), 31

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Gospel Principles (1978, 1997 ed.), 339

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Gospel Principles (1978, 1979 ed.), 252

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns and Children’s Songs (1978, 1978 ed.), 25

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Gospel Principles (1978, 1978 ed.), 317

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns: Simplified Accompaniments (1972, 1976 ed.), 43

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Favorite Seminary Songs (1961, 1965 ed.), 9b

Oh, Say, What Is Truth

The Children Sing (1951, 1951 ed.), 116

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1979 ed.), 143

Oh Say, What is Truth? (Male Chorus)

Hymns (1948, 1979 ed.), 339

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1961-b ed.), 143

Oh Say, What is Truth? (Male Chorus)

Hymns (1948, 1961-b ed.), 339

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1960-a ed.), 143

Oh Say, What is Truth? (Male Chorus)

Hymns (1948, 1960-a ed.), 339

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1950 ed.), 143

Oh Say, What is Truth? (Male Chorus)

Hymns (1948, 1950 ed.), 339

O Say, What Is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1948 ed.), 143

O Say, What is Truth?

Hymns (1948, 1948 ed.), 339

O Say, What Is Truth?

Principles of the Gospel (1943) (1943, 1964 ed.), 353

Oh Say, What is Truth?

Relief Society Songs (1940, 1940-a ed.), 42

O Say, What Is Truth?

Sacred Choruses for Male Singers (1937, 1937 ed.), 13

Arr.: J. Spencer Cornwall

O Say, What is Truth?

M. I. A. Songs and Sociability Songs (1928, 1933 ed.), 27b

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1940 ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1936 ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1928ca-b ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1928ca-a ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1928 ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-day Saint Hymns (1927, 1927 ed.), 191

O Say, What is Truth?

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1930 ed.), 44

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

O Say, What is Truth?

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1927 ed.), 44

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

O Say, What is Truth?

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1923 ed.), 44

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

O Say, What is Truth?

Relief Society Song Book (1919, 1919 ed.), 44

Arr.: B. Cecil Gates

O Say, What is Truth

Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909, 1937 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909, 1909 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Songs of Zion (1908, 1925 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Songs of Zion (1908, 1920 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Songs of Zion (1908, 1918 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Songs of Zion (1908, 1912 ed.), 76

O Say, What is Truth?

Songs of Zion (1908, 1908 ed.), 76

O Say What is Truth?

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1908 ed.), 206

O Say What is Truth?

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1907 ed.), 206

O Say What is Truth?

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1906 ed.), 206

O Say What is Truth?

Deseret Sunday School Song Book (1891, 1905-b ed.), 206

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1920 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1915 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1912 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1908 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1906 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1902 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1896 ed.), 312

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1889 ed.), 312

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

A Selection from the Songs of Zion (, 1953 ed.), 15

O Say, What Is Truth?

Selected L.D.S. Hymns (, 1944 ed.), 4

O Say, What is Truth?

A Selection from the Songs of Zion (, 1935 ed.), 76

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1920 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1915 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1912 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1908 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1906 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1902 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1896 ed.), 313

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody (1889, 1889 ed.), 313

Unofficial or Local Publications

O Say, What is Truth?

Latter-Day Saints Congregational Hymns, Volume 1 (1919, 1919 ed.), 68

O, Say, What Is Truth?

Y. M. M. I. A. and Missionary Hymn and Tune Book (1899, 1909 ed.), 49

Arr.: Evan Stephens

O, Say, What Is Truth?

Y. M. M. I. A. and Missionary Hymn and Tune Book (1899, 1899 ed.), 49

Arr.: Evan Stephens

O, Say What Is Truth

Improvement Association Song Book (1887, 1887 ed.), 66

Unofficial or Local Publications

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

Favorite Seminary Songs (O. C. Tanner) (1950, 1950 ed.), 48

O say what is truth?

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1908 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1906 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1903 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1901 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1899 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1897 ed.), 168

O say what is truth?

Children’s Sunday School Hymn Book (1896, 1896 ed.), 168

O Say, What is Truth?

Selection of Hymns for Special Services (1894, 1894 ed.), 5

Unofficial or Local Publications

Oh! say what is truth?

The Programme of the London Conference Festival (1851, 1851 ed.), 10

O say, what is Truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1912 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1905 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1899 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1897 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1894 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1891 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1890 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1887 ed.), 59

O say what is truth: ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1884 ed.), 59

O, say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1883 ed.), 59

O say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1871-a ed.), 59

O say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1869 ed.), 58

Oh! say what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem

Sacred Hymns (Manchester Hymnal) (1840, 1851 ed.), 57