My Redeemer

“Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.” Romans 15:16

1. I will sing of my Redeemer
And his wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Chorus:
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

2. I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

3. I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I’ll tell:
How the victory he gives me
Over sin and death and hell.

4. I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heavenly love for me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.

On December 29, 1876, gospel composer and singer Philip Paul Bliss and his wife died in the Ashtabula (Ohio) Bridge Disaster. They were traveling to Chicago to participate in evangelistic services led by Daniel W. Whittle at Dwight L. Moody’s Tabernacle. The Ashtabula River bridge collapsed as the train in which they were riding was crossing it. Bliss escaped the train alive, but died in the flames trying to get his wife out of one of the cars. The lyrics of “I will sing of my redeemer” were found in their surviving trunk, and James McGranahan set the hymn to music. McGranahan’s tune begins in 9/8 time, then changes to 12/8 time in the chorus.

My Redeemer, written sometime in 1876, was first printed in Welcome Tidings, a New Collection for Sunday School, compiled by Robert Lowry, William Howard Doane, and Ira David Sankey, and published by Biglow & Main in 1877, song # 52. A “subtitle” under the book title and names of the editors read, “Embracing New Hymns and Music by the Late P. P. Bliss.” Underneath the song title this text was printed: “Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people” Romans 15:16. Other appropriate Bible verses include Ephesians 5:19-20, Titus 2:13-14, and Psalm 89:1, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

The text includes four stanzas and a chorus. The hymn speaks of “My redeemer,” his suffering on the cross to pay the debt of sin and seal the pardon of sinners. Because of the vicarious work, we can “sing,” “tell,” and “praise.” Jesus won the victory over sin and death and hell – and gives that victory to his people.

One interesting recasting of the hymn fits it to the tune Hyfrydol by Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887).