Music by Phillip P. Bliss (1838-1876)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

It is well with my soul,

it is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin--oh, the joy of this glorious thought--

My sin, not in part but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

It is well with my soul,

it is well, it is well with my soul

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

It is well with my soul,

it is well, it is well with my soul

     It Is Well With My Soul has a tragic history. This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daugh­ters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.

     The tune was written by Philip Bliss for these words, and he named it VILLE DU HAVRE after the name of the ship the girls were on. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.