I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it in the light of glory,
Sing it through eternity.
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me;
Faint was I from many a fall;
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s paths I often tread,
But the Savior still is with me;
By His hand I’m safely led.
He will keep me till the rapture,
Day by day He’ll wash my feet,
And will transform all my nature
That in glory we may meet.
SONG STORY
Words: Francis Harold Rowley, 1886:
I was minister of the First Baptist Church of North Adams, Massachusetts, in 1886. The church and the community were experiencing a period of unusual interest in religious matters, and I was assisted by a remarkable young singer named Peter Bilhorn. One night after the close of the service he said, "Why don't you write a hymn for me to set to music?" During the night these verses came to me. Bilhorn provided the music.
The original lyrics began, "Can't you sing the wondrous story…" Ira Sankey changed them before publishing the song in the 1887 edition of his Sacred Songs and Solos.
Music: Peter Philip Bilhorn, 1886