Words - Sarah F. Adams (1841)
Music - Lowell Mason (1856)

Arrangement - Marina Sadzakov

Audio recording - Emma Mojzes
Studio mixing - Valerijan Buila
Video - Daryl Gungadoo

Location: All Saints Church in Bisham, England -The twelfth-century church sits on the Thames riverbank

Ladies' Vocal Ensemble:

ELVIRA DUARTE-BLACKBURN
ALINA BALAN
MARIJA SKOBE-PILLEY
ELIZABETH BRECHELMACHER ABRAMOVIC
EBERECHI ANUCHA
MARINA SADZAKOV

This hymn is about joy and comfort found in being close to God. The first verse introduces the theme of the hymn, with repeated phrase "Nearer, my God to Thee". The second through fourth verses are based on the story of Jacob and the ladder to Heaven, found in Genesis 28:10-22. God's close connection to Jacob in this story is seen as a way of relief from the 'darkness' (verse 2) and ''stony griefs' (verse 4) of his human journey. In the last chorus we look forward to the time when we will come to stand before God in eternal song.

1.Nearer, 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!

2. Though 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!

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
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!

4. Then, 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!
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!