This deeply moving hymn comes from the rich heritage of the African American spiritual, first appearing in print in an 1892 collection for the Jubilee Singers. The hymn places the singer directly at the scene of the Passion with haunting questions about the crucifixion, the crown of thorns, the pierced side, and the tomb. For the communities who first sang it, the imagery of Jesus "nailed to the tree" carried a heartbreaking dual meaning, resonating with those who had witnessed the horror of lynching. The cross was not only the center of salvation but also a cultural symbol of enduring shame and anguish. As the hymn builds to its emotional climax with the prolonged, mournful "Oh!" and the shuddering "tremble, tremble, tremble," we are all invited to stand at the foot of the cross and personally witness the cost of our redemption.
Sung at Our Saviour
2026