Nearer, My God, to Thee

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"Nearer, my God, to Thee" is a 19th century Christian hymn, the verses (based loosely on Genesis 28:11-12) of which were penned by British actress, dramatic poet and Unitarian hymn writer Sarah Flower Adams. In the United Kingdom, it is usually performed to the tune of "Horbury", while in the rest of the world, it is usually performed to the tune "Bethany" by American composer Lowell Mason. Methodists prefer the tune "Propior Deo", written by Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan).

"Nearer, my God, to Thee" is traditionally associated with the RMS Titanic as legend holds that the ship's band played the tune as the Titanic sank. Another tale, surrounding the death of President William McKinley in mid September 1901 quotes his dying words as being the first few lines of the hymn.

The music heard in the external link reflects the version used in Jean Negulesco's 1953 film Titanic, whereas the "Horbury" version was played in Roy Ward Baker's 1958 movie of A Night to Remember. Wallace Hartley, the ship's band leader, who like all the musicians on board went down with the ship, was known to like the song and to wish having it performed at his funeral. He was British and Methodist, and would have been familiar with both the "Horbury" and "Propior Deo" versions, but not with "Bethany".