Death, ’tis a Melancholy Day by Isaac Watts, 1709 TRIBULATION—Patterson, Church Music, 1813 Death, ’tis a Melancholy Day 1 Death, ’tis a melancholy day, To those who have no God, When the poor soul is forced away, To seek her last abode. In vain to heav’n she lifts her eyes, For guilt, a heavy chain, Still drags her downward from the skies, To darkness, fire and pain.