While it’s common for incoming freshmen to be welcomed to college by campus leaders, it’s not so common for that encouragement to come in the form of a hymn — but that’s what we do at Baylor.
Since 2008, each incoming class has been welcomed with its own unique hymn, each capturing an aspect of this moment of excitement, possibility and transition in a student’s life.
This year’s hymn, “Deeper Down Deeper Still,” was written expressly for the Class of 2025, with lyrics by University Chaplain Burt Burleson (BA ’80), music by Kathy Gladen Johnson (BM ’76), and an arrangement by Assistant Director of Chapel Carlos Colón (MM ’93). The lyrics speak to the unique time of life in which these incoming freshmen find themselves, and the music video features snapshot images of the Baylor experience — moments for students to capture, embrace and celebrate:
Complete lyrics to this year’s hymn:
Lord, let it be
Time and time again
Lord, let it be
Amen, amen, amen
In the center of the soul
Deeper down and deeper still
Dreams begin and longings wait
Wait within and wait until
Days beyond the shelter shine
Time to seek and time to find
Dreams become and longings live
Holy longings unconfined
Lord, let it be
Time and time again
Lord, let it be
Amen, amen, amen
Truth to see and truth to hold
Deeper down and deeper still
Minds are stirred and hearts are moved
Moved within and moved until
Good beyond the shelter shown
Beauty seen and beauty known
Minds awake and hearts compelled
Faith is held but not alone
Lord, let it be
Time and time again
Lord, let it be
Amen, amen, amen
Burdens beckon all around
Deeper down and deeper still
Callings heart and courage found
found within and found until
Peace beyond the shelter shared
Mercy flowing everywhere
Callings named and courage claimed
All is carried in this prayer
Lord, let it be
Time and time again
Lord, let it be
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
You can watch and listen to each Baylor class hymn since 2017 on the university’s YouTube channel, and listen to class hymns dating even further back on iTunes.
Sic ’em, Baylor Spiritual Life and #BU25!