Hallelujah! What a Savior
This page includes a lyric video, history, sheet music, and other resources for the classic hymn “Hallelujah! What a Savior (Man of Sorrows, What a Name).” Enjoy!
Enjoy this YouTube video, performed by The Austin Stone (who added a beautiful chorus), with lyrics for “Hallelujah! What a Savior.”
History of “Hallelujah! What a Savior”:
Words and Music by Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876), Published in 1875
In 1838, Philip Bliss entered the world in a Pennsylvania log cabin. At age eleven, he left home to work on farms and in lumber camps. Soon thereafter, he attended a revival meeting where he gave his life to God. Philip had a particular interest in music, and though he continued to farm, he sought out training in music. About a year after marrying Lucy Young (in 1859), he began working as a professional music teacher. He taught singing schools, worked with a music publisher, and held music conventions. In time, Philip became widely known as a leader in the field of music.
Due to the encouragement of evangelist D.L. Moody and other friends, Philip eventually left his career, and in 1874, he began serving as the music director for evangelist Major D.W. Whittle. In December of 1876, after completing 25 revival meetings, Philip returned to his home in Rome, Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with his family. A few days later, Philip and his wife Lucy left their young children home while they traveled by train to an engagement at Moody’s church in Chicago. Tragically, as their train crossed a bridge, it collapsed and sent seven cars plunging into the icy river bed below. Bliss survived the fall and escaped through a window, but after he returned to rescue his wife, the wreckage burst into flames and both of them perished.1 Philip was only 38 years old.
Though Philip died young, he managed to write the text and melody for numerous gospel songs, as well as edit and publish numerous songbooks. In fact, Philip’s publication titled “Gospel Songs” (1874) is credited with being the source of the name for songs of this type.2
Ira Sankey, the music director for evangelist D.L. Moody, gives an account of the song “Hallelujah! What a Savior”:
“Written…shortly before his death, this was the last hymn I heard Mr. Bliss sing. It was at a meeting in Farwell Hall in Chicago, conducted by Henry Moorehouse. A few weeks before his death Mr. Bliss visited the State prison at Jackson, Michigan, where, after a very touching address on ‘The Man of Sorrows,’ he sang this hymn with great effect. Many of the prisoners dated their conversion from that day.
“When Mr. Moody and I were in Paris, holding meetings in the old church which Napoleon had granted to the Evangelicals, I frequently sang this hymn as a solo, asking the congregation to join in the single phrase, ‘Hallelujah! What a Saviour,’ which they did with splendid effect. It is said that the word ‘Hallelujah’* is the same in all languages. It seems as though God had prepared it for the great jubilee of heaven, when all his children shall have been gathered home to sing Hallelujah to the Lamb!”3
Lyrics for “Hallelujah! What a Savior”:
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious king,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Additional Resources for “Hallelujah! What a Savior”:
Sheet Music (PDF Compliments of Hymnary.org)
Guitar Chords (Links to Ultimate Guitar)
Visit Hymnary.org or Hymn Time.com for more on this hymn.
See our Hymn of the Week page for a list of the hymns that are included on this site.
This page was created by:
We welcome your ideas! If you have suggestions on how to improve this page, please contact us.
You may freely use this content if you cite the source and/or link back to this page.
Sources:
1 Reynolds, William Jensen. Hymns of Our Faith: A Handbook for the Baptist Hymnal. Broadman Press, 1964, pp. 253-254.
2 Dowley, Tim. Christian Music, A Global History. Fortress Press, 2011. p.180.
3 Sankey, Ira. My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns. Harper & Brothers, 1906, pp. 146-7.
*The word “Hallelujah” is the transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “praise God!”
Hymn of the Week
