Eric Clapton
How Great Thou Art
From a Swedish thunderstorm to state funerals—the definitive anthem of awe in the face of death
Quick Facts
- Composer
- Carl Boberg (text) / Stuart K. Hine (English)
- Written
- 1885/1949
- Artist
- Traditional Hymn
- Genre
- HymnGospelTraditional
- Best For
- •Religious services
- •State funerals
- •Traditional ceremonies
- •Recessional
The Swedish Thunderstorm
In 1885, Carl Gustav Boberg, a 26-year-old Swedish preacher, was returning from church when a sudden thunderstorm erupted. Lightning flashed, strong winds swept over meadows.
Upon returning home, Boberg opened his window to calm waters. In that moment, church bells tolled for a funeral service. This confluence—the terror of thunder, the relief of sunshine, the solemn memento mori of funeral bells—catalyzed the nine-stanza poem "O Store Gud."
The Billy Graham Connection
The 1957 Crusade at Madison Square Garden was the flashpoint. George Beverly Shea sang the hymn nearly every night—over 100 times during the crusade alone.
Live broadcasts carried the song into millions of American living rooms. Billy Graham loved the hymn, noting it turned the eyes of the listener away from themselves and toward God.
The Theological Journey
The hymn progresses from General Revelation to Special Revelation to Glorification:
- Verses 1-2: Natural Theology—"The heavens declare the glory of God"
- Verse 3: The Cross—"God, His Son not sparing"
- Verse 4: The Homecoming—"take me home, what joy shall fill my heart"
This final verse makes it a funeral staple. "Take me home" reframes death as repatriation.
Practical Information
Best placement: Recessional—the energy of Verse 4 provides a strong, hopeful conclusion.
Choosing a version:
- George Beverly Shea: Traditional religious services
- Elvis or Carrie Underwood: Celebration of Life but may be too performative for strict liturgy
- Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Grand choral—less personality-driven
Copyright note: Stuart K. Hine's English lyrics are under copyright. A license (CCLI or OneLicense) is required for printing or streaming.
Key Lyrics & Their Meaning
"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made"
The opening establishes God as both creator and subject of contemplation. "Awesome wonder" captures the dual response to nature and death—terror and reverence.
"I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed"
Born from an actual thunderstorm in Sweden, these lines portray God as the overwhelming mystery that humbles humanity.
"When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart"
The reason this hymn is a funeral staple. Death is reframed as a "homecoming"—the ultimate unknown transformed into a source of joy.
Popular Versions
| Artist | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| George Beverly Shea | Classic crusade baritone | Traditional religious services |
| Elvis Presley | Gospel with blues influence | Celebration of Life, Southern traditions |
| Carrie Underwood | Powerful country soprano | Modern services, younger generations |
Sarah Mitchell
Funeral Music CuratorFormer church music director with 15 years of experience helping families choose meaningful funeral music. Created YourFuneralSongs after losing her mother in 2019.