Nearer My God to Thee

The Hymn Nearer My God to Thee has often been suggested as the last tune played by the Musicians on the Titanic.

There are different versions of the hymn, all are set to verses, written in 1841, by the English poet Sarah Fuller Flower Adams (1805-48) (1). An English version is set to the tune Horbury composed in 1861 by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876). Methodists use the accompaniment Propior Deo composed by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900), while an American version is sung to the tune Bethany (written in 1859) (2) by Lowell Mason (1792-1872).

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 the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be 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 my way appear
Steps unto 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.

5. Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

6. There in my Father's home,
Safe and at rest,
There in my Saviour's love,
Perfectly blest;
Age after age to be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Notes
1. Verses 1-5 are by Adams, an additional verse 6 was written by Edward Henry Bickersteth, Jr.
2. Another source says 1856.

Samples
Horbury (Dykes) (Instrumental midi) (1912 Recording wav)
Propior Deo (Sullivan) (midi)
Bethany (Mason) (Instrumental midi) (1999 Recording wav from 'Be British!' - and Other Classic Titanic Songs courtesy Johan Tötterström).

References
The Oxford Dictionary of Music
Walter Lord (1986) The Night Lives On: Thoughts, Theories and Revelations about the Titanic. London, Penguin. ISBN 0 140 27900 8

Links
The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/)

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