1
Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
At the cross, at the cross where
I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
2
Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
3
Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, His creature’s sin.
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, His creature’s sin.
4
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears.
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.
While His dear cross appears.
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.
5
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
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Nashville, TN, United States
This seemingly simple hymn, written in ABAB form, set to a lilting melody, was written by a teenage boy who grew tired of the music of the Anglican Church. It was radical! Instead of all this showy, complex musical composition that few could master, Isaac Watts brought praise to the people. Simple choruses, but full of emotion! Easy to remember, catchy... they may have been derided as "jingles" by some, but Watts -- and the blind girl his music inspired, Miss Fanny Crosby -- brought the Word of God to life in musical form and put it in a book for all to learn and sing. A revolutionary indeed!
Storrs, Connecticut, United States
Isaac Watts was a rather amazing character on every aspect (except in appearance, as he was all of 5 feet tall! ) At the time of his birth, his father was in prison for being a “dissenter“ of the Church of England. Isaac learned Latin at age 4, picked up Greek by age 9, and Hebrew at 13. As a teenager, he was frustrated with the tedious music of the Anglican Church, so his father challenged him to write church songs. He responded by setting out on a hymn-writing frenzy, eventually composing 600 of the best known hymns, mostly written in his teens and twenties! Eventually, Watts became known as the “Father of English hymnody. ” This hymn, “Alas! and did my Savior Bleed, ” spoke powerfully and convincingly to the blind Fanny Crosby 100 years later, and then she became a greater hymn writer herself.
L. Codington
Nairobi, Kitui, Kenya
Good song
Staten Island, New York, United States
Amazing
Kampala, Somerset, Uganda
I have loved this song for nearly 15 years now. I first learnt about in high school and now it's many years gone but I still feel the rhythm. Glory be to God Almighty 🙏
Nairobi, Kenya
When I sing this song I am full of joy, knowing what Jesus Christ did for me at the cross.
It makes me know that my relationship with Christ Jesus and God was made permanent at the Cross.
Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom
Wonderful, wonderful song.
"Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do."
That, indeed, is all He asks us to do.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
In the exposing light of God at the Cross, when we are unveiled to see what we are, surely, we would agree with the hymn writer, that we are just a low and dirty "worm." Yet the precious wonder is that Christ on the Cross was made a "worm" for us! David prophesied of Christ, "I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people" - Psalm 22:6. "God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be made sin on our behalf" - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Lord, You are so precious, we give ourselves to You!
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
When I was a kid we sang this song and I recall saying to my mom, "Mom, I ain't a worm". So last night I had these words on my mind and could not remember the song which had, "for such a worm as I". I thought the song was "At the Cross" but not. Then I Googled the words "For such a worm as I" not really thinking that it would find the song and sure enough.... found the song!
Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
I just woke up from a dream singing thins song but not knowing all the lines, another lady joined me in that dream to sing it. It felt so so beautiful that I had to look for the full lyrics. It is indeed a great song and I feel so blessed. Thank you Lord