The Cyber Hymnal ‎#3732

3732. Lord, I Cannot Let Thee Go

1. Lord, I cannot let Thee go,
[originally, Nay, I cannot let Thee go]
Till a blessing Thou bestow:
Do not turn away Thy face,
Mine’s an urgent, pressing case.

2. Dost Thou ask me who I am?
Ah! my Lord, Thou know’st my name;
Yet the question gives a plea
To support my suit with Thee.

3. Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold,
Scorn Thy grace, Thy power defy:
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.

4. Once a sinner, near despair,
Sought Thy mercy seat by prayer;
Mercy heard, and set him free:
Lord, that mercy came to me.

5. Many days have passed since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now;
Who could hold me up but Thou?

6. Thou hast helped in every need;
This emboldens me to plead:
After so much mercy past,
Canst Thou let me sink at last?

7. No, I must maintain my hold;
’Tis Thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesus’ sake.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord, I cannot let Thee go
• Title: Lord, I Cannot Let Thee Go
• Author: John Newton (1779)
• Meter: 77.77
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 10
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: SEYMOUR
• Composer: Carl Maria von Weber (1826)
• Adapter: Hen­ry W. Great­or­ex (1851)
• Meter: 77.77
• Incipit: 32436 53233 33471
• Key: F Major
• Source: From the op­e­ra Ober­on
• Copyright: Public Domain