Crossing the Bar: words for a funeral order of service
4 verses, 16 lines. Alfred, Lord Tennyson (died 1892). Out of copyright in the UK.
Put this poem straight into an A5 order of service booklet.
Add to my order of serviceSunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
Text taken from Demeter and Other Poems (1889) on Wikisource. This first printing spells the last line “crost”; many later books print “crossed”. You can change it in the builder.
Questions
- Can I print Crossing the Bar in a funeral order of service in the UK?
- Alfred Tennyson died in 1892, more than 70 years ago, so the words are out of copyright in the UK. This is information, not legal advice.
- How long is Crossing the Bar?
- 4 verses, 16 lines, 102 words. On an A5 page at 11 point it takes about 57% of the page.
This page gives information, not legal advice. Facts were checked on 10 November 2026.