Eternal Father

Hymn lyrics and .mp3 Download

Listen to:
  Eternal Father Army Chorus (.mp3)
  Eternal Father Army Chorus without words (.mp3)
  Eternal Father Instrumental (.mp3)
  Eternal Father Submarine tribute (.mp3)
  Eternal Father Piano (.mp3)

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1. Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

2. Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Words by: William Whiting
Music by: Rev. John Bacchus Dykes

The "Navy Hymn" is Eternal Father, Strong to Save. The original words were written as a poem in 1860 by William Whiting of Winchester, England, for a student who was about to sail for the United States. The melody, published in 1861, was composed by fellow Englishman, Rev. John Bacchus Dykes, an Episcopalian clergyman. (Now public domain)
Video so you can sing along to Eternal Father

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Story of the hymn Eternal Father

William Whiting's Background

William Whiting (1825–1878) was an Anglican churchman, schoolmaster, and headmaster of the Winchester College Choristers' School in England. He grew up near the sea on England's coasts, which gave him a deep respect for its power.

In his mid-30s (around 1860), Whiting survived a terrifying violent storm while traveling by sea (accounts often mention the Mediterranean). The experience left a profound impression on him—he felt God had spared his life and gained a strong sense of divine control over the "rage and calm of the sea."

The Inspiration for the Hymn

Later, as headmaster, Whiting was approached by a young student who was about to sail to the United States and was overwhelmed with fear about the ocean voyage. Whiting shared his own survival story to encourage the boy and wrote the hymn specifically to "anchor his faith" in God's protection.

The text draws heavily from Psalm 107 (especially verses 23–32), which vividly describes sailors facing storms at sea, crying out to God in peril, and witnessing His power to calm the waves. It also alludes to New Testament stories, such as Jesus calming the storm and walking on water.

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