Hymn
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me,
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
The Old Rugged Cross — Text from Victory Songs, 1920. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/the-old-rugged-cross
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote The Old Rugged Cross?
The words of The Old Rugged Cross were written by George Bennard; the version here was published in 1920.
Is The Old Rugged Cross public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from Victory Songs, published in 1920. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of The Old Rugged Cross?
The Old Rugged Cross is in 12.8.12.8 with refrain.