SDA Hymnal 199
The Head That Once Was Crowned
1The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor's brow.
2The highest place that heaven affords
Is His, is His by right;
The King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And heaven's eternal light.
3The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His name to know.
4To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of heaven.
The verse
- Meter
- 8.6.8.6
- Foot
- iambic (da-DUM) · 83% of beats fit
- Rhyme
- ABAB
Scan every line
/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary
Verse 1
The head that once was crowned with thorns˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Is crowned with glory now;˘/˘/˘/6B
A royal diadem adorns˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
The mighty victor's brow.˘/˘/˘/6B
Verse 2
The highest place that heaven affords˘/˘/˘/˘˘/9A
Is His, is His by right;˘˘˘˘˘/6B
The King of kings, and Lord of lords,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
And heaven's eternal light.˘/˘˘/˘/7B
Verse 3
The joy of all who dwell above,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
The joy of all below,˘/˘/˘/6B
To whom He manifests His love,˘˘˘/˘/˘/8A
And grants His name to know.˘/˘/˘/6B
Verse 4
To them the cross, with all its shame,˘˘˘/˘/˘/8A
With all its grace, is given;˘/˘/˘/˘7B
Their name an everlasting name,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Their joy the joy of heaven.˘/˘/˘/˘7C
Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.