JESUS CHRIST >> GLORY & PRAISE
SDAH 255
I cannot tell why He whom angels worship
Should set His love upon the souls of men,
Or why as Shepherd He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how nor when.
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: I Cannot Tell Why
This beloved Irish hymn by W. Y. Fullerton acknowledges the mystery of Christ’s incarnation and mission. Each stanza begins in wonder and ends in faith: though we cannot fully understand, we believe and trust. Set to the beautiful LONDONDERRY AIR, the melody brings warmth and dignity to this heartfelt expression. Sing this hymn in awe and assurance—our Savior reigns in glory.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This is a hymn of four eight-line stanza, each of which is divided into two parts. The first four lines express amazement and wonder at the “why” and “how” of Jesus’ coming to earth from heaven; the final four lines form an affirmation of faith in the success of Jesus’ rescue mission — in spite of our lack of understanding of the mystery.
William Young Fullerton was born March 8, 1857, in Belfast, Ireland, and reared a Presbyterian. Moving to London in 1875, he attended the Metropolitan Tabernacle, where the great Charles Spurgeon was the preacher, and became a Baptist. Answering a call to the ministry, he attended Pastor’s College now Spurgeon’s College) and held evangelistic campaigns in Britain for 15 years before the settling down to be a pastor at Melbourne Hall, Leicester. At various times he held several important positions in the church, and recognized as one of the most prominent Baptist personages of his time in Britain. He wrote a biography of Spurgeon, and devotional and expository books. He died at Bedford Park, Middlesex, on August 17, 1932.
LONDONDERRY AIR is familiar to nearly everyone as an Irish folk song. It has been arranged and sung to different sets of words countless times. A.P. Graves used it with two Irish songs, “Erin’s Farewell” and “Erin’s Apple Blossom.” Perhaps the most well-known in America is “Danny Boy,” written by F.E. Weatherly in 1912. The natural flowing beauty of the tune; its overall style, which is in keeping with a sacred atmosphere; and the way the words and music fit so well together, furnish the reasons this hymn was chosen by the SDAH Committee.
John Barnard, the arranger of this tune, was born April 20, 1948, and educated in England, becoming organist and choirmaster at Emmanuel Church, Northwood, Middlesex, England, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organist. His main occupation, however, is that of teacher of French and German at the John Lyon School, Harrow.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Stanza:
1 – Hebrews 1:6
Luke 15:4
Luke 2:37, 39
John 4:42
2 – Luke 4:18
Matthew 11:28
3 – Luke 3:6
4 – Matthew 8:26
Revelation 11:15
Text
1
I cannot tell why He whom angels worship
Should set His love upon the souls of men,
Or why as Shepherd He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how nor when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured;
And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, has come.
2
I cannot tell how silently He suffered
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Nor how His heart upon the cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know He heals the brokenhearted
And stays our sin and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
For still the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here.
3
I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun will shine in splendour
When He the Saviour, Saviour, of the world, is known.
4
I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When at His biding every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all our hearts with love for Him are filled.
But this I know the skies shall sound His praises,
Ten thousand thousand human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth will answer,
At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Heb 1:6; Luke 15:4; Luke 2:37, 39; John 4:42 (b) Luke 4:18; Matt 11:28 (c) Luke 3:6 (d) Matt 8:26; Rev 11:15
Author
W.Y. Fullerton (1857-1932)
Copyright
Arr. copyright Jubilate Hymns Ltd. Used by permission.
Hymn Tune
LONDONDERRY AIR
Metrical Number
11.10.11.10.11.10.11.12
Tune Source
Irish melody arr. by John Barnard (1948-)
