‘Only a Sinner’
Only a Sinner was written and recorded some years before the First World War. Despite its rather plodding and mournful tune it is easy to imagine that religious hymns like this became popular again once men found themselves confronted by the horrors of modern warfare.
Year:1912
Location:Recorded in the United Kingdom
‘Only a Sinner’
Only a Sinner was written and recorded some years before the First World War. Despite its rather plodding and mournful tune it is easy to imagine that religious hymns like this became popular again once men found themselves confronted by the horrors of modern warfare.
Year: 1912
Length: 02:26
Production Company: unknown
Credits: Written and composed by James M. Gray and Daniel B. Towner / Vocalist: Marsh Little
Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Catalogue Reference: NFSA title 1001431
People: Written and composed by James M. Gray and Daniel B. Towner / Vocalist: Marsh Little
Location: Recorded in the United Kingdom
Tags: James M. Gray, Daniel B. Towner, Marsh Little, hymn, religion, music, popular music, Australia
Subject: religious
Image Title: Only a Sinner sheet music
Image Source: http://www.hymnary.org/text/naught_have_i_gotten_but_what_i_received?extended=true&sort=text-refrainFirstLine
A deeply religious man, James M. Gray was the author of about 20 books, as well as many tracts and pamphlets on Christianity. He wrote the lyrics to Only as Sinner in 1912, referencing the Gospel of Luke and Ephesians. The lyrics make it plain that nothing a person can do could ever make him or her acceptable to God. It is only God’s unmerited grace that redeems the sinner.
Only a Sinner – lyrics
Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!
Only a sinner, saved by grace!
Only a sinner, saved by grace!
This is my story, to God be the glory—
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!
Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart,
Causing my footsteps from God to depart;
Jesus hath found me, happy my case;
I now am a sinner, saved by grace!
Tears unavailing, no merit had I;
Mercy had saved me, or else I must die;
Sin had alarmed me fearing God’s face;
But now I’m a sinner saved by grace!
Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows,
Loving his Saviour to tell what he knows;
Once more to tell it would I embrace—
I’m only a sinner saved by grace!