Titanic Sinking Hymn? (video)
100 years ago today, the RMS Titanic sank, after hitting an iceberg the night before. As the ship sank, the band played on – but what did they play?
Some of the survivors claimed that the last song the band played was "Nearer My God to Thee". But today, there may not be enough evidence to know for sure.
If this hymn was the last song played, it would certainly be appropriate. And the very fact that the band played on, calming the passengers, and giving their own lives to do it, is heroic enough, hymn or no hymn.
But as my Dad recently pointed out in his blog, the tune played may not be the tune you’re familiar with. The scene from A Night to Remember (1958) got it right. Here’s the clip:
Nearer My God to Thee is a beautiful hymn alluding to the dream of Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22).
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.
There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.
16 April 2012 @ 11:25 pm
What a poignant scene! Some hope held out to terrified people in the darkness, in the night of their souls. These band members used what they had to encourage others, knowing their own imminent fate.
May we Christians do the same, despite our own grief and frustration.
Thanks for posting this Jim.