Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
Hymn
Written	1757 (1757)
Text	by Robert Robinson
Meter	8.7.8.7
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.^[1]

Tunes

In the United States, the hymn is usually set to an American folk tune known as "Nettleton", composed by printer John Wyeth,^[2] or possibly by Asahel Nettleton.^[3] In the United Kingdom, the hymn is also often set to the tune "Normandy" by C Bost.^[4] 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!"^[5]

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.
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).

The original text^[6] of the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing":	It has been revised and now appears in modern hymnals^[7] as the following:	The following version was adapted by E. Margaret Clarkson in 1973.:^[8]	The following version appears in Nazarene hymnals and those of the Holiness movement. It replaces "wandering" with "yielded," and "prone to wander" with "let me know Thee in Thy fullness".:	Many choirs, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sing it as follows, in an arrangement by Mack Wilberg. It is essentially the modern hymnal version, except that verse 2 is split into two parts and the last half of verse 3 is appended to each part to form two verses:
1. 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.	1. 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 God's unchanging love.	1. 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 His Name I'm fixed upon it Name of God's redeeming love.	1. 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.	1. 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.
2. 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.	2. Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I'm 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.	2. Hitherto Thy love has blessed me Thou has brought me to this place And I know Thy hand will bring me Safely home by Thy good grace Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Bought me with His precious blood.	2. Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I'm 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.	2. Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I’ve come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. 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.
3. 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 I cannot proclaim it well.	3. O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let that grace now 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.	3. 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.	3. O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let that grace, now, like a fetter, Bind my yielded heart to Thee. Let me know Thee in Thy fullness; Guide me by Thy mighty hand Till, transformed, in Thine own image In Thy presence I shall stand.	3. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood. 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.
4. 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.				4. 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.
5. 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.

This version, titled "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and attributed to Robert Robinson, is found in several shape-note hymnals of the American South. The melody is attributed to A. Nettleton:	This version is found in America's 25 Hymns Vol 2 and International 25 Favorite Hymns Volume 2 both Arranged by Don Marsh	This version is found in Michael Card's album Hymns	This version is found in "Songs of Worship and Praise," a new compilation of songs made by Jose T. Guerra, August 2013.
1. O Thou Fount of ev'ry blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me ever to adore Thee; May I still Thy goodness prove; While the hope of endless glory, Fills my heart with joy and love.	1. 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 His name I'm fixed upon it, Name of God's redeeming love.	1. 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.	1. Come, O fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing your grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above; Praise his name– I’m fixed upon it! Name of God’s redeeming love.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer: Hither by Thy help I've come; And I hope by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand'ring from the fold of God; He to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood.	2. 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.	2. Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I'm 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.	2. Thus far your love has blessed me, You have brought me to this place; And I know your hand will lead me, Safely home by your good grace. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Bought me with his precious blood.
3. O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee. Never let me wander from Thee, Never leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.	Gateway Worship added a chorus to the song for their album "Living For You" but left the verses untouched Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace Hear Your bride, to You we sing, Come, Thou Fount of our blessing Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace Hear Your bride, to You we sing, Come, Thou Fount of our blessing.	3. 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.	3. O to grace how great a debtor, Daily I’m convinced it’s true! Let your goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to you; 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 your courts above.

Notes

↑ Did Robert Robinson Wander as He Had Feared?, Christian History Institute, 2006
↑ John Wyeth, biography at the Cyber Hymnal
↑ Christian Worship Appendix I: Worship That Is Biblical, Reformed, and General Assembly Relevant on Worldwide Classroom, Mark Dalbey, pcsnews.com, 2003
↑ Hymns and Psalms, Methodist Publishing House, London, 1983, no.517
↑ Frank Garlock, ed. (1997). Majesty Hymns. Majesty Music. p. 11.
↑ Lyrics at the Cyber Hymnal
↑ Lyrics at igracemusic.com
↑ Center for Christian Music

External links

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