George Nelson Allen (1812–1877) was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and studied with studied Lowell Mason in Boston. He went to Ohio and studied at Western Reserve College and Oberlin Collegiate Institute. While a student at Oberlin, he was appointed an instructor in music and became a professor of music after graduating and founded the Oberlin Musical Association. He also studied geology and, for a time, held an additional appointment at Oberlin as professor of Geology and Natural History. He was choir director at the First Congregational Church Choir in Oberlin. Poor health forced him to retire in 1871 and he moved to Cincinnati to be near his son. He died in Cincinnati. He wrote many hymns and songs and compiled a hymnal for Oberlin College.

All are mixed chorus unless noted; some contain divisi.