Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
Words: The earliest known publication was in A General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use, by Stith Mead (Lynchburg, Virginia: Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1811). That version was in a rarely used structure sometimes called Captain Kidd
meter, due its association with a ballad about the pirate Robert Kidd, who was executed in 1701.
Music: From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835). Arranged by William J. Reynolds (1920–2009) (🔊 pdf nwc).
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse
For my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse
For my soul.
When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down,
Sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown
For my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown
For my soul.
Ye wingèd seraphs fly,
Bear the news, bear the news!
Ye wingèd seraphs fly,
Bear the news!
Ye wingèd seraphs fly,
Like comets through the sky,
Fill vast eternity
With the news, with the news!
Fill vast eternity
With the news!
Ye friends of Zion’s king,
Join His praise, join His praise;
Ye friends of Zion’s king,
Join His praise;
Ye friends of Zion’s king,
With hearts and voices sing,
And strike each tuneful string
In His praise, in His praise!
And strike each tuneful string
In His praise!
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb
Who is the great I Am;
While millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme,
I will sing.
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity,
I’ll sing on.
Yes, when to that bright world
We arise, we arise,
Yes, when to that bright world
We arise;
When to that world we go,
Free from all pain and woe,
We’ll join the happy throng,
And sing on, and sing on,
We’ll join the happy throng,
And sing on.