The day is past and gone
The day is past and gone. John Leland* (1754–1841).
This has the title ‘Evening hymn’. It was, and still is, Leland’s most published hymn, dating from as early as Richard Broaddus and Andrew Broaddus, Collection of Sacred Ballads (Virginia: Caroline Co., 1790). Hymnary.org gives a page scan dating from the same year, from Society hymns, original and selected on evangelical and experimental subjects (Boston: Manning & Loring, 1790):
The Day is past and gone, The evening shades appear;O may we all remember well The night of death draws near.
We lay our garments by, Upon our beds to rest;So death will soon disrobe us all Of what we’ve here possessed.
Lord, keep us all this night,...
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MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "The day is past and gone."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 6 Dec. 2025.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/the-day-is-past-and-gone>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "The day is past and gone."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2025,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/the-day-is-past-and-gone.