Ethan Walker
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is a Christian hymn written by pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old. It is considered one of the most well-known and loved hymns in church history. The hymn has been covered by various Christian artists and has appeared in different versions in hymnals, with changes to stanzas and phrases. While it is a popular hymn, it is not exclusive to Catholic churches, as evidenced by a Reddit user sharing their experience of hearing the hymn in a Catholic mass but with different lyrics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing |
| Writer | Robert Robinson |
| Year | 1757 or 1758 |
| Age of Robert Robinson when he wrote the hymn | 22 or 23 |
| Melody attributed to | A. Nettleton |
| First appearance | Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second (1813) |
| Recorded versions | Christian artist Fernando Ortega (1994), David Crowder Band (1999), Jars of Clay, Scott Wesley Brown, Celtic Worship, Sufjan Stevens, Gateway Worship, Phil Wickham, Clark Davis (in the film Love Comes Softly), Enfield (2011), Johnnie Vinson, Chris Tomlin (2016), Billy Wiginton (2019), Shane & Shane (2016), ElenyiMusic (2016), Audrey Assad (2013) |
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What You'll Learn
The hymn was written by Robert Robinson in 1757
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn penned by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old. Robinson, born in Suffolk, England, to Christian parents, had a religious awakening at the age of 20 after hearing the Methodist preacher George Whitefield. Two years later, he expressed his joy in his newfound faith by writing the aforementioned hymn.
The earliest known printed text of the hymn is from 1759 and is housed in the library of the Drew Theological College, Madison, New Jersey. The hymn first appeared in a Church Book kept by Robinson of Cambridge, with an entry in his handwriting reading:
> "Mr. Wheatley of Norwich published a hymn beginning 'Come, Thou Fount of every blessing' (1758). This entry forms part of a manuscript list of the works which R. Robinson had written and published."
The hymn has since been revised and covered by various artists, including Fernando Ortega, David Crowder Band, and Jars of Clay.
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It has been covered by many Christian artists
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a beloved Christian hymn written by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 at the age of 22. The song has been included in most Protestant hymnals in England and the United States and has been covered by many Christian artists.
Christian artist Fernando Ortega recorded a version of the hymn on his album "Hymns & Meditations" in 1994. It has also been covered by the David Crowder Band on their 1999 album "All I Can Say". Christian rock band Jars of Clay and veteran Christian artist Scott Wesley Brown have also interpreted the song.
The Scottish group Celtic Worship recorded a version incorporating traditional Scottish instruments on their album "Morningtide". Sufjan Stevens recorded a rendition for his "Hark! Songs for Christmas" album, which reached 122 in the US charts and is featured in the closing minutes of the season four premiere episode of "Friday Night Lights".
Other notable covers include Gateway Worship, who performed the song on their album "Living for You" and added a chorus to the song, calling it "Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King". The hymn also appears on Phil Wickham's album "Sing-A-Long". Additionally, Christian hymn writers Enfield covered the hymn with adjustments to several stanzas and phrases for doctrinal purposes. Their version can be found on their 2011 release "Resolved Music: Vol. II".
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It has been altered and revised many times
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn penned by Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old. The hymn underwent several revisions over the years, with various versions appearing in different hymnals and publications.
One notable alteration to the hymn was made by Martin Madan in 1760, which resulted in the accepted text that gained extensive use in all English-speaking countries. This version appeared in three stanzas of eight lines each in Madan's Psalms & Hymns. The original text, likely from the Angel Alley Collection in 1759, had four stanzas.
Another variation of the hymn, titled "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing," is attributed to Robert Robinson and found in several shape-note hymnals of the American South. This version features changes to several phrases and is set to a melody attributed to A. Nettleton.
The hymn has also been adapted by various Christian artists and choirs, who have made adjustments to the stanzas and phrases for doctrinal purposes or to incorporate different musical styles. For example, the Nazarene hymnals and those of the Holiness movement replace the word "wandering" with "yielded" and "prone to wander" with "let me know Thee in Thy fullness." The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs an arrangement by Mack Wilberg that splits the second verse into two parts and appends the last half of the third verse to each new part to form two verses.
The enduring popularity of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is evident in its continued presence in hymnals and its ability to resonate with people across different denominations and cultural contexts.
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It is one of the most well-known and loved hymns
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn written by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old. The hymn has stood the test of time and remains a favourite even 250 years later. It is one of the most well-known and loved hymns, with many artists covering it and giving it their own unique touch. The song has also been featured in films, such as "Love Comes Softly", where it is sung by Clark Davis, and has appeared in the popular TV series "Friday Night Lights".
The hymn has a fascinating history. Robert Robinson, the writer, was a headstrong boy who lost his father at a young age. At 14, his mother sent him to London for an apprenticeship, but he fell in with the wrong crowd and led a life of sin and debauchery. Despite this, he wrote the hymn to express his faith and devotion to God. The first stanza is filled with praise and adoration, while the last two stanzas feel like a spiritual autobiography, detailing his future episodes of straying from his faith.
The song has undergone several revisions over the years, with various artists and choirs adopting it to their style. Christian artist Fernando Ortega recorded a version on his album "Hymns & Meditations" in 1994. It has also been covered by the David Crowder Band, Christian rock band Jars of Clay, and veteran Christian artist Scott Wesley Brown. The song has even been adapted with traditional Scottish instruments by the group Celtic Worship.
The hymn has also been arranged with different instruments, such as the trumpet and oboe solo arrangement by Johnnie Vinson. Additionally, the song has been covered by Shane & Shane, incorporating modern pop and hip-hop elements by Pastor and producer Billy Wiginton, and adding a chorus by Gateway Worship, who renamed it "Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King".
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" has touched many lives and continues to be a beloved hymn in Christian communities worldwide. Its enduring popularity and ability to inspire and move people make it a cherished part of Christian worship and devotion.
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The original text is in four stanzas
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn penned by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old. The original text, written in four stanzas, is found in the Angel Alley Collection of 1759. The hymn underwent several revisions, and the accepted text, widely used in English-speaking countries, is the version found in three stanzas of eight lines in Madan's Psalms & Hymns of 1760.
The first stanza of the hymn begins with praise and adoration, while the last two stanzas resemble a spiritual autobiography. The second stanza starts with "Here I raise my Ebenezer," expressing gratitude for divine help and guidance. The third stanza acknowledges God's grace and mercy, recognizing the heart's tendency to wander. The fourth stanza, beginning with "O that day when freed from sinning," yearns for freedom from sin and a closer connection with God.
The hymn has a rich history and has been a favourite for over 250 years. It has been covered by various artists, including Christian artists Fernando Ortega, the David Crowder Band, and Jars of Clay. The song has also been adapted by different choirs, such as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, which performs an arrangement by Mack Wilberg.
The melody of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is often attributed to A. Nettleton and is set to an American folk tune known as "Nettleton." The earliest known printed text of the hymn is from 1759, and it has undergone several alterations over time, with various versions appearing in hymnals.
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Frequently asked questions
No, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn. It was written by the pastor and hymnodist Robert Robinson in 1757 when he was 22 years old.
Robert Robinson was a headstrong boy whose behaviour worsened after his father's death. At 14, his mother sent him to London for an apprenticeship, where he fell in with a bad crowd. In later life, he strayed from his faith and lived a life of sin. A young woman used this hymn to encourage him to return to the Lord.
The lyrics to the hymn are as follows:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I'll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothèd then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry me
To realms of endless day.
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" has been covered by many Christian artists, including Fernando Ortega, the David Crowder Band, Jars of Clay, Scott Wesley Brown, Celtic Worship, Sufjan Stevens, Gateway Worship, and Phil Wickham. Catholic artist Audrey Assad also recorded a version of this hymn on her "Good to Me" EP in 2013.
