I think that many times the reasons that the "old" hymns have lasted so long is because they are prayers. They touch our hearts because they say what we all feel but are unable to put into words.
I have always felt this way about them, but I have to say that I was reading somewhere [forgive me, my memory is short today) that EGW said that many songs are prayers and need to be sung with the same reverence as if we were praying.
Even today, the songs I find myself singing, whether they be old, new, contemporary or whatever, praise God and are prayer-like for me. I think that many of us find it easier to express ourselves if we can use someone elses words.
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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*