Nearer, My God, to Thee

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Feel God’s presence in the reassuring lyrics of this original arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee,” performed by siblings Yahosh and Oyoyo Bonner and accompanied by pianist William Wilkinson and violinist Mikayla Billings. Then keep reading to print the hymn’s lyrics and learn more about its author.

  • “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 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!

    There let the way appear, steps unto heav’n;
    All that thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
    Angels to beckon me, nearer, my God, to thee;
    Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

    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!

  • Click on the image to download a PDF of the heartwarming lyrics of “Nearer, My God, to Thee”

    A printable song lyric of the song "Nearer, My God, To Thee" | The Good and the Beautiful
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Watch this video of “Nearer, My God, to Thee” and feel the nearness of God.

  • The Story Behind “Nearer, My God, to Thee”

    Sarah Flower Adams’s Early Life

    Sarah Flower Adams was born February 22, 1805, in Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom, to Eliza and Benjamin Flower. Benjamin was a political writer and editor for a newspaper. His work influenced Sarah’s views, and his passion fueled her love of writing.

    When Sarah was only five years old, her mother passed away, leaving Benjamin to dutifully raise young Sarah and her older sister, who was also named Eliza. The two sisters would remain lifelong friends.

    Sarah Flower Adams’s Early Adulthood

    As the Flower sisters reached adulthood, they enjoyed the company of many famous writers and poets, including Robert Browning, Harriet Taylor, and John Stuart Mill. While traveling, Sarah broke a woman’s record for climbing Ben Lomond, a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. She was only 18 when she beat this speed record. 

  • Sarah Flower Adams’s Married Life and Acting Career

    Sarah married engineer and writer William Bridges Adams in 1834. William encouraged Sarah in her writing and her acting career. 

    Sarah played several leading roles, including Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, with her health declining, she retired from the stage and turned her focus to writing.

  • A black and white photo of Lady MacBeth carrying a candle | The Good and the Beautiful

The Writing of “Nearer, My God, to Thee”

Because of Eliza’s deep love for composing music and Sarah’s literary talents, their church pastor, Reverend William Johnson Fox, asked the sisters for help writing and composing hymns for his collection Hymns and Anthems. 

  • One day, Reverend Fox was preparing a sermon on the passage Genesis 28:11–19, where Jacob sees a ladder reaching into heaven. Fox asked the sisters to write a hymn to go with it. Sarah set to work. 

    She studied the Bible passage carefully, and she wrote the five gorgeous verses to the beloved hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” Sarah’s inspiring hymn soon began spreading near and far.

  • And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
    Genesis 28:12

Sarah contributed 13 hymns to Fox’s collection, and she helped revise other hymns as well. 

Today, “Nearer, My God, to Thee” isn’t sung with Eliza’s original melody; it is sung to the tune of “Bethany,” which was composed by Lowell Mason in 1856.

  • Sarah Flower Adams’s Legacy

    When Eliza became ill with tuberculosis (consumption), Sarah helped care for her. Tragically, both sisters passed away from this disease just two years apart, both at the  age of 43. Today, they are remembered for their beautiful hymns.

    Modern-day tourists can see the home where Sarah was born in Essex, United Kingdom. It is a private historic building with a lovely plaque that remembers Sarah Flower Adams as the “authoress of the hymn ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’”

“Nearer, My God, to Thee”: A Favorite Hymn of Two US Presidents

The beloved hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” has touched and inspired many hearts, lifting them upward on “joyful wing.” Some of the hearts touched by this song belong to two US presidents: James Garfield and William McKinley.

  • A black and white photo of James A. Garfield | The Good and the Beautiful

  • At James Garfield’s funeral, a Marine Corps band played a select few songs while a line of viewers that stretched over a mile long at times filed through the president’s viewing pavilion. One of these songs was “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

  • President William McKinley, who is remembered for his great faith and tenderness, cherished hymns, in particular “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” Records show that it was likely his favorite hymn. As he was lying on his deathbed, President McKinley softly sang “Nearer, My God, to Thee” to comfort his heartbroken wife.

  • A black and white photo of William McKinley | The Good and the Beautiful
  • A black and white photo of the Titanic ship | The Good and the Beautiful

  • The Last Song of the Titanic 

    “Nearer, My God, to Thee” was famously sung at the sinking of the Titanic. When the passengers realized that their ship was going down, they requested that the band play hymns. The faith-inspiring songs brought a sense of peace during moments filled with fear and sorrow. 

    Although there is some historical debate as to whether “Nearer, My God, to Thee” was the last hymn sung before the ship was submerged, there is substantial evidence that hymns, in particular “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” were sung during the sinking of the ship.

Today, congregations all over the world are edified by the beautiful hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” It reminds us that God is always near, no matter our life’s circumstances, if we are willing to draw close to Him.

  • Learn More About Hymns

    Learn about the history and beauty of more incredible hymns with our exciting Music Appreciation electives courses. Check out our other engaging electives and curriculum by visiting our website, goodandbeautiful.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About “Nearer, My God, to Thee”

Who wrote the lyrics to “Nearer, My God, to Thee”?

Sarah Flower Adams wrote the inspiring lyrics to the beloved hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” She also wrote and revised several other hymns that were published in the collection Hymns and Anthems.

Who wrote the music for “Nearer, My God, to Thee”?

Eliza Flower, the sister of the author of “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” composed the music that originally accompanied the hymn. However, today “Nearer, My God, to Thee” is sung to the melody of “Bethany,” which was composed by Lowell Mason in 1856.

Which Bible verses inspired "Nearer, My God, to Thee"?

"Nearer, My God, to Thee" was inspired by Genesis 28:11–19, the passage in which Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching into heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Reverend William Johnson Fox asked Sarah Flower Adams and her sister Eliza to write a hymn to accompany a sermon on this passage. After studying the Bible verses carefully, Sarah wrote the five verses of “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

When has “Nearer, My God, to Thee” been famously sung throughout history?

“Nearer, My God, to Thee” has been sung countless times throughout history, but it played an especially significant role in the lives of US presidents James Garfield and William McKinley. The beloved hymn was also famously sung during the sinking of the Titanic.

How can I listen to “Nearer, My God, to Thee” for free?

Watch a beautiful rendition of “Nearer, My God, to Thee” performed by siblings Yahosh and Oyoyo Bonner and accompanied by pianist William Wilkinson and violinist Mikayla Billings on the Good and Beautiful Media YouTube channel.

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