“What’s your favorite song?” That’s a question that is quite common in today’s culture. Until a few years ago, I had a hard time responding. One song would be my favorite because of the lyrics and another because of the rhythm, and those favorites would change at the drop of a hat.
The lyrics are beautifully poetic but portray very simple truths. Over the past 258 years, thousands of artists have created their own versions of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
My personal favorite is my husband’s guitar rendition, which he plays using fingerpicks, as opposed to a single flatpick. That’s how he performed it as I walked down the aisle at our wedding (shown in the photo above).
Based on my research, I believe that these are the original lyrics, but as you’ll hear in the video embedded above, they have since been altered. What’s your favorite song?
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothèd then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
I love The Summons and Here I Am, Lord! The lyrics make me cry every time. 🙂
This song is such a blessing! It sends a beautiful message to the world.
I don't have a favorite but love Have Thine Own Way Lord, Wounded Soldiers, I Surrender All…
Like Ellie, cant say i have a favorite.. there are to many fun, enjoyable songs around. I love when you post updates on your life/family.
This is a beautiful song! We sing it often at church. I was wondering Ellie, if you were able to share with us the actual video of this from your wedding – would love to see it! 🙂
Hi there!
I'll check with the videographer and let you know. 🙂
Ellie
I have two favorites each for very different reasons. My first is Jesus loves me. I realize it is a child's song but growing up it help me through some very tough times when I felt so very alone it reminded me that I was not alone at all but that Jesus is always there. The second is At Last sung by Etta James. It was a song played at my Wedding. My husband and I found each other later in life and it was the first real relationshipfor both of us so that song reminds me of our story waiting so long to find each other.
I've been thinking about all the wonderfully rich hymns I learned as a little girl, with my mom playing them on the piano either at home or at church. Occasionally I'll find one I don't know and enjoy learning a "new" one. This has long been one of my favorites. And yes, I much prefer the original language. I can't stand how the modern hymnals have taken out words like "Ebenezer." Once you know the meaning behind the word Ebenezer, you never want to sing it any other way.
As I said, I have many, many favorite hymns. Sometimes when I sing them in church, I remember times when I was going through a particularly tough time, and that hymn hit me at just the right spot with just the comfort I needed, and it was like God scooped me up in His arms and took me to His safe place for me to hide for a while. When I was first saved, my song was, "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn…" At that time, there was much uncertainty. I had no idea what my life would look like. I was 13 at the time, and just entering those years when you start thinking about things like this. But looking back on the last 25 years, I can honestly say, God has led me and guided me and given me wisdom and strength and protected me when I didn't have the courage to go on. And music is a language of my soul. My husband doesn't understand my need and love for music, but that's ok. He's still a wonderful man, God has been good to me.
Amazing Grace! I love the original version but I also love Chris Tomlin's version as well
Love it too! When I gave a witness talk at church, Tomlin's version was what I played afterwards.
I really love "laat de volken tot U zingen", which means "let the nations sing to You", and "Heer, Uw licht en Uw liefde schijnen", which means "Lord, Your light and Your love shine bright". They are both dutch hymns. The lyrics are beautiful and make me happy everytime I hear them.
I too have only too many favorites. I sometimes tell people, when the topic of death and funerals comes up, use the last songs and Bible verses I quote for my funeral. Here's a current favorite; Grace Wins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQqZltmA0eM
Another is one I'm always trying to use in worship teams; where hymns and contemporary songs are combined. There's another one based on Come Thou Fount as well; hope you find it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCtqvFL0cc8
Thanks for this topic; music can be so therapeutic in different ways. I think that's why we have so many different genres.
Hi godly-young-widow,
Thanks for sharing those! I have heard "Grace Wins," and I love the message. The combined version of "How Great is Our God" and "How Great Thou Art" that you posted the link to is wonderful. I would love to hear the one based on "Come Thou Fount." Where can I find it?
Ellie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhd5dUVxOJ8
Thanks so much for sharing the link, godly-young-widow!
Ellie
My all time favorite song is "Be thou my vision." I absolutely love the way Ginny Owens sings it.
Please please please stop calling him Mr Handsome – surely he has a first name like most normal people. Tell us his name and use it on your blog.
Oh good grief. Give her a break and respect Ellie's choice and her privacy. If referring to her husband as Mr. Handsome upsets you that much, don't read her blog.
Random question: did you live by yourself in between finishing college and getting married, or were you living in your parents' house until you moved in with Mr. Handsome?
Hi there!
Between college and our wedding, I lived with my brother, who is two years older than me. I worked in the communications department of a ministry about an hour away from where I went to school, and my brother just happened to live nearby and to have a spare bedroom and bathroom. It was wonderful to spend some time with him before getting married and moving away!
Blessings,
Ellie
Victory in Jesus
The third and fourth verses are especially meaningful. Thank-you for this post.
This is a great song, as are so many of the old hymns. It's too bad so many churches are transitioning away from the hymns to "worship music." I'm so glad I know the old hymns and taught them to my kids. They always seem to come to mind at just the right time.
I really love this song too! Except where it says: here's my heart o take and seal it, I sing: here's my heart Lord take and seal it…
I just think it sounds better that way
Beautiful song!!!
I really love this song too! Except where it says: here's my heart o take and seal it, I sing: here's my heart Lord take and seal it…
I just think it sounds better that way
Beautiful song!!!
Ellie,
What a beautiful song. I had never heard it before and it was so uplifting and relaxing. Thank you for sharing. I too would love to hear your husband's version as you walked down the aisle. Peace.
Ellie,
Thank you so much for posting the link via godly – young -widow. What beautiful medleys!! Thank you and your mom also for your wonderful blog. Peace.
Ellie,
What a beautiful song. I had never heard it before and it was so uplifting and relaxing. Thank you for sharing. I too would love to hear your husband's version as you walked down the aisle. Peace.
Thank you for sharing the original lyrics! They are beautiful! This is one of mine & my husband's favorite hymns!
wow that soooo cool I was just learning about that in school im homeschooled btw