Few hymns are surrounded by more legends than Nearer, My God, to Thee. The text of this hymn was written around 1841 by Sarah Flower Adams. Most of the world sings this text along with the tune “Bethany” by Lowell Mason, however in Great Britain the tune “Horbury” is preferred.
This text is often associated with catastrophic events. It is reported that the string quartet aboard the Titanic played Nearer, My God To Thee as the ship sank and thousands of people lost their lives. In 1906 passengers aboard the SS Valencia reportedly sang the hymn during their last moments before death.
CNN’s founder Ted Turner, at the launch of the channel in 1980, promised: “We won’t be signing off until the world ends. … We’ll be … covering it live. … [And] when the end of the world comes, we’ll play ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ before we sign off.”
Nearer My God To Thee – Lyrics
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.
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.
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.
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.
