Sometimes, a song feels like it was written to carry you straight into the arms of something greater than yourself, and How Great Thou Art is exactly that kind of masterpiece. Whether you’ve sung it in a quiet church or heard it performed in a grand concert hall, it’s a hymn that touches the soul with a power that feels eternal.
This song is more than just lyrics and melody—it’s a prayer, a declaration, and a celebration of awe. Inspired by a Swedish poem written in the 19th century by Carl Boberg, it found its way to music and evolved into the beloved hymn we know today. The imagery is breathtaking: the grandeur of the heavens, the might of storms, the stillness of forests—all reminders of the divine artistry that surrounds us.
What makes How Great Thou Art truly special is its universal reach. It’s been embraced by countless cultures and translated into numerous languages, each one adding its own flavor of reverence. Whether it’s sung in English, Swedish, or another tongue, the message is always the same: a profound acknowledgment of God’s greatness and the hope we find in that truth.
Elvis Presley famously brought the hymn to a wider audience, delivering it with the passion only he could bring. His rendition turned this humble hymn into a gospel anthem that still inspires today. And let’s not forget the countless church choirs, soloists, and ordinary people who’ve poured their hearts into it over the years.
When you hear or sing this hymn, it’s hard not to feel a lump in your throat or tears threatening to spill. It’s as if the song calls you to stop, look around, and remember just how vast and beautiful the world—and the Creator behind it—truly is
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Lyrics
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim My God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art