Phil Coulter - For Those in Peril on the Sea

Eternal Father, Strong to Save", is a hymn often associated with the Royal Navy or the United States Navy. Accordingly, it is often known as the Royal Navy Hymn or the United States Navy Hymn (or just The Navy Hymn), and sometimes by the last line of its first verse, For those in peril on the sea.

The original hymn was written by William Whiting of Winchester, England, in 1860. It was originally intended as a poem for a student of his, who was about to travel to the United States. In 1861, John B. Dykes, an Anglican clergyman, composed the tune "Melita" for this hymn. "Melita" is an archaic term for Malta, an ancient seafaring nation and the site of a shipwreck involving the Apostle Paul mentioned in Acts of the Apostles (chapters 27-28)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• For
• Those
• in
• Peril
• on
• the
• Sea
• Eternal
• Father
• Navy
• Hymn

[TheMmafighter92]

My Father - a Korean War Veteran - lies on his death bed. Two songs that he insists be played at his funeral, The Marine Corps Hymn and Eternal Father, Strong to Save. I have asked the funeral director to have this version played. It moved me and those you listen to it.

[GlasgowCeltic88]

@TheMmafighter92

Oh wow... thank you. I'm honoured. My condolences for your father my friend. I hope his passing into the next world is a quiet and peaceful one.

[director289]

lovely arrangement of this wonderful hymn

[GlasgowCeltic88]

Thank you.

Your right. Phil and the The Balleyclare Male Choir do somehow make this sad and poignant ballad even more haunting...

GC88

[thebigJM92]

Thanks for putting this on GlasgowCeltic. It is such a poignant hymn, my favourite. Written by a British clergyman who travelled to America in later life, a man who was proud of his countries naval history and who heard every week the news of brave sailors and innocent passengers drowned in the icy depths or dashed against rocks. It used to be such a common occurrence and still is too common. Every Novemeber 11 we sing this at church and my heart swells with pride and my eyes water in sympathy

[GlasgowCeltic88]

@thebigJM92,

Thank you for taking the time to listen and thank you for leaving such a lovely comment. I'm glad to be of service.

Even though I come from a military family , I still find this moving hymn difficult to listen to, without welling up or suffering from goosebumps.

God bless all those who fell, in the service of their country, at sea.

GC88

[ChawinHoomz]

R.I.P who died in the sea :(

[acdcamp33]

really really beautiful. thanks for sharing

[rweerakkody4565]

RIP Beloved fallen President John F. Kennedy

[dbrown1254]

This so lovely as i just lost a friend to the sea in Northern Ireland (rathlin) today

How Worthy of Honour is the SEA!!

[billymusic]

beautiful!

and nice to hear the tempo is not rushed.

mostly you hear good hymns ruined by instrumentalists that are in a hurry.

[sibuyaolian]

haunting.

[W138277M]

We used to sing this at our church services when I was in the WRNS/Royal Navy. It never ceases to put a lump in my throat. Thanks for posting.

[FUSTOM1]

R.I.P ALL MARINRES AND NAVAL CREW WHO DIED ABORD THE U.S.S ARIZONA  December 7, 1941

[Joyce120246]

My Dad was a WWII vet. This was the background music for his funeral. I always think of him when I hear this beautiful song.

Thank you for including it on your "Lake of Shadows" CD.

[JesseJamesNaughton]

@TheMmafighter92

yes it is a mighty song, powerful and strong and yet fragile, like us.

[Whitbywatcher]

I am extremely proud to state that this tune was written by a fellow Yorkshireman "John Dykes", the tune is called "Melita" and has been adopted as the navy hymn by countless nations.

The hymn was sung at my own grandfathers funeral, he served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.