1000 Songs/God moves in a mysterious way (William Cowper)

God moves in a mysterious way (Cowper)

1000 Songs

Text edit

Supposedly, "God moves in a mysterious way" was Cowper's last him that he wrote.

Author edit

William Cowper was an extremely popular and well-known poet in his time. Unfortunately, he suffered from bouts of occasional madness. He tried to commit suicide several times during his life. Fortunately, this helped him to realize the power of God to forgive sins (as displayed in this hymn when he writes, "And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains"). He is also notable for translating Homer's Iliad and Odyssey into English blank verse. He was also closely associated with John Newton.

Translations/Challenges edit

Editor's Choice edit

Music edit

Tune edit

This song has several arrangements but the most common one from the Scottish Psalter was DUNDEE. Other ones include BELMONT, LONDON NEW, and UNION.

Arrangements edit

Editor's Choice edit

I, personally, like DUNDEE. The Scottish Psalter was and is well known and used for a reason.

Background edit

Author biography edit

Author's circumstances edit

Historical setting edit

Cultural setting edit