Traditional Hymns

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Listen to:
  All Things Bright and Beautiful (.midi)
  All Things Bright and Beautiful (.mp3)
  All Things Bright and Beautiful Bells Version (.mp3)




Refrain: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings. (Refrain)

2. The purple-headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky. (Refrain)

3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one. (Refrain)

4. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. (Refrain)



Story of the hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful"

The beloved hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful" was written by Cecil Frances Alexander in the mid-19th century. It is one of the most cherished children’s hymns in the English-speaking world, celebrating the wonder of God’s creation.

Story Behind the Hymn

  • Written: Around 1848–1849
  • Published: In her book “Hymns for Little Children” (1848)
  • Purpose: To illustrate the line from the Apostles’ Creed: "Maker of heaven and earth."

Alexander believed that children should not only recite theological truths but also understand and feel them through everyday observations like flowers, rivers, birds, and seasons. This hymn was her way of expressing that God is the Creator of all that is beautiful, big or small.