Rock of Ages (Christian hymn)

"Rock of Ages" is a popular Christian hymn written by the Reverend Augustus Toplady in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.

"Rock of Ages"
The Rock of Ages, Burrington Combe where the Rev Augustus Toplady is reputed to have sheltered from a storm
GenreHymn
Written1763 (1763)
Textby Augustus Montague Toplady
Based onPsalm 94:22
Meter7.7.7.7.7.7
Melody"Toplady" by Thomas Hastings

Traditionally, it is held that Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics.

The fissure that is believed to have sheltered Toplady (51.3254°N 2.7532°W / 51.3254; -2.7532) is now marked as the "Rock of Ages", both on the rock itself and on some maps, and is also reflected in the name of a nearby tea shop. The German translation is called "Fels des Heils".

Commentary on lyrics
Augustus Toplady

"When my eyes shall close in death" was originally written as "When my eye-strings break in death".[1]

There has been speculation that, though Toplady was a Calvinist, the words, "Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath, and make me pure," suggest that he agreed with the teachings of the Methodist preacher under whom he received his religious conversion, and of his contemporary, John Wesley, who taught the "double cure", in which a sinner is saved by the atonement of Jesus, and cleansed from inbred sin by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.[2] Toplady's own published hymnal of 1776, however, contains a variant which reads: "Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power".[3]

Music settings

"Rock of Ages" is usually sung to the hymn tune "Toplady"[4] by Thomas Hastings or "Redhead 76", also called Petra,[5] by Richard Redhead or "New City Fellowship" by James Ward. "Toplady" is most typical in the United States and "Redhead 76" in the United Kingdom, although both tunes circulate in the churches of both countries.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

[6][7]

Film appearances
  • The Gunfighter (1950) – sung at the funeral at the end of the film.[8]
  • How the West Was Won (1962) – performed by all at the Prescotts' burial.[9]
  • Norwood (1969)[10]
  • In director Peter Bogdanovich's film Paper Moon (1973), Rock of Ages is sung during the opening sequence at Addie Pray's mother's funeral
  • House Calls (1978)
  • In the film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), the hymn is sung poorly by the character of Major Jack Celliers, played by David Bowie.
  • In the film The Silence of the Lambs (1991), the hymn is being played on the organ in the funeral scene in which the protagonist experiences a flashback to her father's own funeral.
  • In the film Hang 'Em High (1968), the hymn is sung by the crowd watching the six-man hanging at Fort Grant.
  • In the movie "The Doolins of Oklahoma" starring Randolph Scott (1949)
  • In Rogue Male(1976), Peter O'Toole escapes from the Nazis. In the boat he takes from France crossing the English Channel back to England, O'Toole recites The Ancient Mariner to himself while the captain of the boat sings Rock of Ages.
  • In Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) The main character Ernest P. Worrell disguises himself as a backwoods snake handler in order to sneak Santa Clause into a movie studio. When a security guard tries to inspect the bed of his pickup truck, where Santa is hiding, he warns him that the "snakes" are dangerous. He then mentions that he gave one to his son last year, and starts to mumble the first few lines of Rock of Ages. [11]

Notable recordings

Uses

The hymn was a favourite of Prince Albert, who asked it to be played to him on his deathbed, as did Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. It was also played at the funeral of William Gladstone.[18]

In his book Hymns That Have Helped, W. T. Stead reported "when the SS London went down in the Bay of Biscay, 11 January 1866, the last thing which the last man who left the ship heard as the boat pushed off from the doomed vessel was the voices of the passengers singing "Rock of Ages".[19]

The opening lines of the hymn are used in the chorus of "Birmingham" by the band Shovels & Rope.

Other

1980s British rock band Def Leppard were inspired by the ancient hymn's text when a member of a choir left their hymn book in their recording studio. Joe Elliott later wrote the lyrics to their song "Rock of Ages" after reading it and in their music video the band members dress up as monks.

This hymn tune was featured throughout the Westminster location in the game Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. It is heard from the music boxes as well atop Buckingham Palace at the vantage point.

This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns[20] of the 19th century.

Johannes Maas, a leader in the faith movement, commented on this hymn, "The words of this hymn are among the most profound, inspiring, encouraging, sacred, devotional and precious words ever penned."[2]

In his score for Altered States, John Corigliano made reference to this hymn many times, to symbolise the religious struggle of the hero and the memories of his anti-religious father, which figures in one of his hallucinations.

A large rounded stalagtite in Carlsbad Caverns is named "Rock of Ages." Rangers leading tours would stop there, turn out the lights, and lead the group in singing the hymn.

Translations

The hymn has appeared in other languages including German (as "Fels der Ewigkeit") and Swedish ("Klippa, du som brast för mig").

There were also Latin translations by William Gladstone as "Jesus, pro me perforatus" and by Canadian linguist Silas Tertius Rand as "Rupes saeculorum, te."[21][22] On reading this version, Gladstone wrote to Rand, "I at once admit that your version is more exact than mine".[23]

This hymn was also translated to Tamil, a south Indian language spoken by nearly by 120 million people. The hymn is included in Christhu Sabai Paamalai, the hymnal of the Church of South India (CSI) headquartered in Chennai. It is titled Pilavunda malaye and is hymn number 350.

This hymn was also translated to Telugu, a south Indian language spoken by nearly eighty million people. The hymn is included in Andhra Christava Keerthanalu, the hymnal of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church headquartered in Guntur. It is titled Naakai cheelcha badda and is hymn number 342. It was translated into Mizo (a language of northeast India) by Rev. Rohmingliana as Chatuan lungpui, aw Krista and appears in a hymnbook called Kristian Hlabu.

Notes

    References
    1. Barkley, John M (1979), Handbook to the Church Hymnary (3 ed.), London: Oxford University Press, p. 96, ISBN 978-0-19-146811-7
    2. Maas, Johannes, "Comments on lyrics", Hymnal
    3. Toplady, Augustus M, Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship
    4. Toplady tune in mp3, organ only with four verses
    5. Petra tune in mp3, organ only with four verses
    6. Worship and Service Hymnal. Chicago: Hope Publishing. 1957. p. 223.
    7. "Rock of Ages Lyrics". Timeless Truths.
    8. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
    9. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    10. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    11. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hmfH2A7Iz6g
    12. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 175. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
    13. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    14. http://jostafford-discography.com/Discography/Capitol-CC-9014/
    15. "Perry Como Discography". kokomo.ca. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    16. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    17. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
    18. "Rock of Ages". The Cyber Hymnal. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
    19. Stead, William Thomas (1900). Hymns that have Helped. New York: Doubleday & McClure Co. p. 141.
    20. Breed, David R., D.D. (1903), The History And Use of Hymns And Hymn-Tunes, London: Fleming H. Revell Co., pp. 142–3
    21. Littell's Living Age, November 1882. It originally appeared in The Spectator in the late 1850s.
    22. Burrage, Henry Sweetser (1888), Baptist Hymn Writers and Their Hymns, Brown Thurston & Co, p. 345
    23. Clark, Jeremiah S. (1881), Rand and the Micmacs, Charlottetown, P.E.I.: The Examiner Office, p. 24

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