Abide with me! fast falls the eventide

Of Lyte's hymns, "Abide With Me" is the best known. According to the traditional story given in the "Remains", Lyte wrote it a few hours after conducting the final service at his church, which was probably 5 September 1847. More likely the hymn was actually written in July or August of that year. Lyte himself created for the hymn what his biographer has disparaged as "a dull tune." When "Hymns Ancient and Modern" was published in 1861, the editor, William H. Monk—whose three-year-old daughter had just died—composed his own tune, "Eventide," for Lyte's poem. The hymn became a favorite of Kings George V and George VI and was sung at the former's funeral. The hymn also inspired Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener and General Charles "Chinese" Gordon, and it was said to have been on the lips of Edith Cavell as she faced a German firing squad. "Abide with Me" has been sung at the Football Association Cup finals since 1927 when the association secretary substituted the hymn for the playing of "Alexander's Ragtime Band." In Rugby League, the hymn has been sung before the Challenge Cup final since 1929, the first year the match was staged at Wembley Stadium. The hymn is the also the Portora Royal School (where Lyte went to school as a boy) victory song and is sung its remembrance service.

Leon Litvack has written in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography that although Lyte's "poetic energies were directed at scripturally and evangelically minded audiences, his lyric gift was universally appreciated. The example of ‘Abide with me’ is instructive: intensely personal and contemplative, yet nationally popular—even being sung (always, after its publication in 1861, to W. H. Monk's tune, ‘Eventide’) on secular occasions such as at football matches, and especially, since 1927, at the English cup final." The 20th-century hymnologist Erik Routley referred to the "much-loved H. R. Lyte" who "though scriptural and evangelical in his emphases, always writes good literature and is rarely deserted by an exquisite lyric gift. Perhaps the centrally 'romantic' hymn of all hymns is the intensely personal yet, as it has proved, wholly universal hymn, 'Abide with me.' - Wikipedia

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As others have pointed out, this hymn was sung by Emeli Sande at the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony in London.

Thank You MOST HIGH LORD, EVERLASTING FATHER, ALMIGHTY GOD for giving us this beautiful hymn, it soothes, comforts and heals the soul. GLORY BE TO YOUR HOLY NAME FOR EVER. THANK YOU JESUS. Amen.

This song brings such a healing and comfort to me. I am thankful for this man and his obedience to God to pen these words on paper. Still inspiring and encouraging for years to come.

I learnt the song from my late mother who sang it whenever she spiritually low. Very inspiring and is my favourite.

Awesome song to awesome God. A song I learnt as a primary school pupil; it makes more meaning to me now than back in the days. It rejuvenates the soul and renews faith in the Almighty God. Thank You Holy Spirit for putting this in my heart this day. What a blessing! Glory to Jesus - the Redeemer of my soul.

Abide with us oh Lord in Jesus Name. Please our Lord Jesus stay close to us forever and ever in Jesus Name. Thanks for uploading this beautiful song. God bless you.

My mother's and her mother's favourite hymn. I learnt it long ago. It always reduces me to tears.

So very beautiful.. . So Moving. So True...

I am not a Christian - but born a Muslim..

This hymn composed by a simple pastor in his Great Hour of Need is one I always turn to in my own hours of need.

It never fails to console - always strengthens me.

I believe in the Universality of Religion. Don't you??

What is religion for...but to bring about a Brotherhood of ALL Human Beings??

Wonderful hymn, this is one of my favourite. I love it. Abide with me oh Lord. I need Thee always.

Great hymn. I sang it out in my sleep three days ago. But maybe you will need to modify the beginning of the second line because a lot of born again Christians personalize their songs. Maybe we say: EVEN THROUGH THE DARKNESS, LORD WITH ME ABIDE.