Puneet Varma (Editor)

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

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Written
  
1757 (1757)

Meter
  
8.7.8.7

Text
  
by Robert Robinson

Melody
  
by John Wyeth "Nettleton"

"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian hymn written by the 18th century pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. Robert Robinson penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757.

Contents

Tunes

In the United States, the hymn is usually set to an American folk tune known as "Nettleton", composed by printer John Wyeth, or possibly by Asahel Nettleton. In the United Kingdom, the hymn is also often set to the tune "Normandy" by C Bost. The "Nettleton" tune is used extensively in partial or full quotation by the American composer Charles Ives, in such works as the First String Quartet and the piano quintet and song "The Innate". The "Nettleton" tune is also quoted at the end of "My Trundle Bed" by Tullius C. O'Kane. A shape note song called "Warrenton" also has been sung with a chorus being in 4/4 time or 2/2 cut time; to fit the text to this melody, the second half of each verse is omitted and replaced with a refrain of "I am bound for the kingdom, will you come to glory with me? / Hallelujah, praise the Lord!"

Cover versions

  • It has been covered by the David Crowder Band on their 1999 album All I Can Say.
  • Christian rock band Jars of Clay has also covered the song, as well as veteran Christian artist Scott Wesley Brown.
  • Sufjan Stevens recorded a version 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.
  • Gateway Worship performed the song on their album Living for You and added a chorus to the song, calling it "Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King".
  • It also appears on Phil Wickham's album 'sing-a-long'.
  • This song is also sung by Clark Davis in the film Love Comes Softly and is a recurring background music in the film.
  • Mumford & Sons have covered it in a small amount of their live shows.
  • Leigh Nash has covered it in Hymns and Sacred Songs.
  • Additionally, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir recorded this hymn as part of their album titled The Sound of Glory, and frequently sing it in their live performances.
  • Christian punk pop band Eleventyseven covered the hymn in their Good Spells EP.
  • Gospel recording artist Anthony Brown and group therAPy covered the first verse of the hymn in the song "Without You" on their sophomore album Everyday Jesus.
  • Pop musician Adam Young posted his version on his Soundcloud page

    • Lyrics

    The lyrics, which dwell on the theme of divine grace, are based on 1 Samuel 7:12, in which the prophet Samuel raises a stone as a monument, saying, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (KJV). The English transliteration of the name Samuel gives to the stone is Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help. The unusual word Ebenezer commonly appears in hymnal presentations of the lyrics (verse 2).

    References

    Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA