Nearer, My God, to Thee

Sarah Flower Adams · 1841 · tune BETHANY
Key of G · public domain

Words

Verse 1Nearer, 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

Verse 2Though 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

Verse 3There let the 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

Verse 4Then 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

The story

Sarah Flower Adams wrote this in 1841 in England, taking Genesis 28 as her frame: Jacob running for his life, sleeping in the open with a stone for a pillow, and seeing a ladder set between earth and heaven. That is why the second verse says darkness be over me, my rest a stone. Notice what the hymn does not ask. It does not ask to be taken out of the trouble. Every verse says the same thing a different way, that the trouble itself is the thing carrying him upward. The tune most people know is BETHANY, written by the American Lowell Mason in 1856. The hymn is often linked to the sinking of the Titanic, though survivors disagreed about what the band actually played, and which tune it was.

Chords in G

Verse 1 G C G Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee G C D E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me G C G Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee G D G Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee Verse 2 G C G Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down G C D Darkness be over me, my rest a stone G C G Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee G D G Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee Verse 3 G C G There let the way appear, steps unto heaven G C D All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given G C G Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee G D G Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee Verse 4 G C G Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise G C D Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise G C G So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee G D G Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

In the app you can move this to any key and it works out the capo for you.

Common questions

Who wrote Nearer, My God, to Thee? Sarah Flower Adams wrote the words in 1841.

What tune is it sung to? BETHANY, set here in the key of G.

What scripture is it built on? Genesis 28:12.

Is Nearer, My God, to Thee free to use in church? Yes. The words are public domain, which means any church may sing them, print them in a bulletin, put them on a screen or record them, without asking permission and without paying anyone.

Themes

Trial · Nearness · Hope

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