How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)
by Matt Redman (featuring Chris Tomlin)

Album: released as a single (2024)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)" is a reworking of the famous hymn "How Great Thou Art," which dates back to the 1800 but was popularized in America in the 1950s when many churches started to perform it. Elvis Presley recorded a famous version in 1967, and Carrie Underwood in 2011. This updated version marks the 75th anniversary of when the song was translated into English in 1949.
  • Sixteen different artists sing on this track, including Matt Redman and Mitch Wong, who wrote a new verse to acknowledge the struggles and injustices in the world while offering hope and faith in God's ultimate plan.

    "We tried to tie into the old verse structure, but with a melodic lift and words saying, 'Hey, we can't avoid or ignore that we live in a broken, warring world, and we have to face that, but we're also going to sing with hope," Redman told Billboard, adding, "It feels like a bit of a weird word, 'War,' to put in a hymn, but that's our reality, whether it's on a personal level or on a national, actual war level, that's the world we live in. I don't want to sing a song that feels escapist or doesn't engage with reality."

    The other artists are:

    Chris Tomlin
    Hillary Scott
    Cody Carnes
    Kari Jobe
    Naomi Raine
    TAYA
    Ryan Ellis
    Jon Reddick
    Blessing Offor
    Brian Johnson
    Jenn Johnson
    Matt Maher
    Pat Barrett
    Benjamin William Hastings
  • The song marks the the 75th anniversary of when "How Great Thou Art" was translated to English in 1949.
  • The project was not just a musical tribute but also a way to raise awareness and funds for The Stuart Hine Trust CIO, a charitable organization providing humanitarian aid in Eastern Europe. All proceeds from the song benefit humanitarian efforts to aid those impacted in the conflict in Ukraine.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.