Nearer My God to Thee Hymn Lyrics
Sarah Flower Adams
1 Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2 Though, like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
3 There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
4 Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Below are more stories on hymns’ stories and lyrics:
The King of Love My Shepherd Is Hymn
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord Hymn Story and Lyrics
My Jesus I Love Thee Hymn History and Lyrics
We’ll Build on the Rock, The Living Rock Hymn History and Lyrics
Nearer My God to Thee Hymn History
Benjamin Flower in 1798 published an article in the Cambridge Intelligencer, attacking the attitude of Bishop Watson toward the French Revolution, and so offended the reverend gentleman that Flower was cast into prison.
Among those who visited him in prison to sympathize with him was Miss Eliza Gould, who met him there for the first time. After his release, they were married.
Their youngest child, Sarah, became Mrs. Sarah Flower Adams; and by that name, she is known as the author of “Nearer, my God, to Thee.”
In 1841, deeply impressed by the story in Genesis of Jacob’s vision at Bethel of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending thereon, she wrote her hymn that has since become so universally popular and helpful.
The Rev. Dr. Millard F. Troxell tells of the experience of a group of tourists, cloud-bound on the summit of Pike’s Peak, huddled about the fireplace in the block-house:
“It was suggested that we sing some popular melody. A voice began one of the many sentimental songs of the day, but few knew enough of it to join in, so the singer was left to finish it alone.
Then someone began to sing softly, “Nearer, my God, to Thee” and before the second line was ended it seemed as if all who had been strangers now felt at home; and, for the time being, the place seemed like a very Bethel.” Before long the mists rolled away and “before us stretched the most wonderful of views.”
This hymn is remembered as the dying prayer of our martyred President McKinley.
