Skip to content

Chords and Lyrics for Nearer, My God, to Thee

Note: Lyrics display best on screens sized 768 pixels or larger. If your screen is smaller than this, you may be able to view the lyrics better in landscape orientation.

Music by Lowell Mason
Words by Sarah Flower Adams

VERSE 1

G   D7  Em C             G         D 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee,

G    D7     Em C          G    D7      G 
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

      C   G                    C   G  D    G  D 
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

G   D7  Em C             G   D7    G 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

  
VERSE 2

G      D7   Em C         G            D 
Though like a  wanderer, The sun gone down,

G   D7   Em C        G  D7     G 
Darkness be over me, My rest a stone,

    C  G                    C   G  D    G  D 
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

G   D7  Em C             G   D7    G 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

  
VERSE 3

G     D7  Em  C           G          D 
There let the way appear, Steps unto heaven;

G   D7   Em   C           G  D7    G 
All that Thou sendest me, In mercy given;

   C   G                C   G  D    G  D 
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

G   D7  Em C             G   D7    G 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

  
VERSE 4 

  
G     D7   Em C                G               D 
Then, with my waking thoughts, Bright with Thy praise,

G   D7 Em C             G   D7      G 
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise;

   C  G                 C   G  D    G  D 
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

G   D7  Em C             G   D7    G 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

  
VERSE 5

G  D7  Em C            G            D 
Or if, on joyful wing, Cleaving the sky,

G      D7 Em C             G       D G 
Caught up to meet my King, Swiftly I fly,

      C   G                    C   G  D    G  D 
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

G   D7  Em C             G   D7    G 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

More Like This

Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo C Major D Major D7 E Minor G Major
Guitar C Major D Major D7 E Minor G Major
Mandolin C Major D Major D7 E Minor G Major
Piano C Major D Major D7 E Minor G Major
Ukulele C Major D Major D7 E Minor G Major