To God Be the Glory
Words: Fanny J. Crosby, 1875 · Tune: William H. Doane, 1875 · Public domain
Verse 1
DTo God be the Gglory, great Athings He hath Ddone;
DSo Gloved He the Dworld that He gave us His ASon,
AWho Dyielded His Glife an Aatonement for Dsin,
DAnd opened the Bmlife gate that Aall may go Din.
Chorus
DPraise the Lord, praise the ALord,
ALet the Dearth hear His Avoice!
DPraise the GLord, Dpraise the A7Lord,
A7Let the Dpeople A7rejoice!
DO come to the GFather, through AJesus the DSon,
DAnd give Him the Bmglory, great Athings He hath Ddone.
Verse 2
DO perfect Gredemption, the Apurchase of Dblood,
DTo Gevery Dbeliever the promise of AGod;
AThe Dvilest Goffender who Atruly Dbelieves,
DThat moment from BmJesus a Apardon Dreceives.
Verse 3
DGreat things He hath Gtaught us, great Athings He hath Ddone,
DAnd Ggreat our Drejoicing through Jesus the ASon;
ABut Dpurer, and Ghigher, and Agreater will Dbe
DOur wonder, our Bmtransport, when AJesus we Dsee.
Chords in the key of D
- D
- G
- A
- Bm
- A7
About this hymn
- Words
- Fanny J. Crosby, first printed 1875
- Music
- TO GOD BE THE GLORY, William H. Doane, 1870
- Meter
- 11.11.11.11 with refrain
- In
- 289 hymnals
- Scripture
- John 3:16, Psalm 29:2, John 14:6
The story
Fanny Crosby wrote the words and William Doane wrote the tune. It reached print in 1875 in a songbook called Brightest and Best. Here is the part that surprises people. It caught on in Britain first. Ira Sankey used it during Moody's British campaigns in 1873 and 1874, and then it sat quiet in America for about eighty years, showing up in very few hymnals here. In 1954 Billy Graham's music director Cliff Barrows was talked into using it at the London Crusade. The response was strong, so he brought it back for the Nashville Crusade that same year. That late start is why the hymnal count is only 289 for a song everybody knows.
Where it fits in a service
Often used as an opening hymn or a closing song, and it fits well after a testimony or a baptism. The refrain is big and easy, so it carries a congregation that is already on its feet.
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