When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707 · Tune "Hamburg": arr. Lowell Mason, 1824 · Public domain
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Verse 1
GWhen I Dsur-Gvey Amthe won-Gdrous cross
Gon which the CPrince Gof glo-D7ry Ddied,
Gmy rich-Dest Ggain AmI count Gbut loss,
Gand pour con-Dtempt Emon C6all D7my Gpride.
Verse 2
GForbid Dit, GLord, Amthat I Gshould boast,
Gsave in the Cdeath Gof Christ D7my DGod;
Gall the Dvain Gthings Amthat charm Gme most,
GI sacri-Dfice Emthem C6to D7his Gblood.
Verse 3
GSee, from Dhis Ghead, Amhis hands, Ghis feet,
Gsorrow and Clove Gflow min-D7gled Ddown;
Gdid e'er Dsuch Glove Amand sor-Grow meet,
Gor thorns com-Dpose Emso C6rich D7a Gcrown?
Verse 4
GWere the Dwhole Grealm Amof na-Gture mine,
Gthat were a Cpres-Gent far D7too Dsmall;
Glove so Da-Gmaz-Aming, so Gdivine,
Gdemands my Dsoul, Emmy C6life, D7my Gall.
Chords in the key of G
- G
- D
- Am
- C
- D7
- Em
- C6
About this hymn
- Words
- Isaac Watts, 1707
- Music
- HAMBURG, Lowell Mason, 1824, adapted from Gregorian chant; ROCKINGHAM by Edward Miller is the usual British tune
- Meter
- 8.8.8.8 (Long Meter)
- In
- 2,193 hymnals
- Scripture
- Galatians 6:14, Luke 23, Hebrews 12
The story
Isaac Watts published this in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and Hymnary lists it as a communion hymn. He did not write it for general praise. He wrote it for the Lord's Supper. At the time, hymns were mostly versified scripture, and this one broke that pattern. It is Watts thinking out loud, anchored on Galatians 6:14. He changed the second line for the 1709 edition. One stanza, the graphic one about dying crimson, almost always gets left out, and that goes back to George Whitefield in 1757. In America we sing Lowell Mason's HAMBURG from 1824. In Britain they sing ROCKINGHAM. At 2,193 hymnals it is one of the most printed hymns in English.
Where it fits in a service
Often used at communion, on Good Friday, and through Lent. It also works as a quiet response after the sermon when the message has been about the cross.
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This hymn in three keys, and 49 more
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