Have Thine Own Way Lyrics
Adelaide A. Pollard, 1902
Tune Name: ADELAIDE
Composer: George C. Stebbins
Meter: 5.4.5.4 D
Hymnbook Source: Northfield Hymnal; evangelical hymnals
- Verse 1
- Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
- Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
- Mold me and make me after Thy will,
- While I am waiting, yielded and still.
- Verse 2
- Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
- Search me and try me, Master, today!
- Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
- As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
- Verse 3
- Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
- Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
- Power, all power, surely is Thine!
- Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
- Verse 4
- Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
- Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
- Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
- Christ only, always, living in me.
Hymn Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Have Thine Own Way, Lord |
| Author / Lyricist | Adelaide A. Pollard (1862–1934) |
| Composer / Tune | George C. Stebbins (1846–1945) |
| Date Written / Published | 1907 |
| Historical Context | Written in early 20th-century America, reflecting themes of personal surrender amid hardship. |
| Theme / Message | Submission to God’s will; yielding personal control to divine guidance. |
| Notable Features | Repetitive refrain reinforces surrender; ideal for devotional singing. |
| Cultural / Religious Impact | One of the most enduring hymns emphasizing personal obedience to God. |
| Source / Scholarship | American Gospel Hymns and Their Writers – Kenneth W. Osbeck |
Hymn Similarities and Biblical Scholar Analysis on This Hymn:
| Scholar | View / Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Adelaide A. Pollard, Evangelical Hymn Writer, 1862–1934 | Pollard authored the hymn; early publications show its devotional focus on surrendering to God’s will. |
| John Julian, Author, A Dictionary of Hymnology, 1829–1913 | Julian highlights the hymn’s use in early 20th-century evangelical circles as a model of personal submission. |
| Philip Doddridge, Nonconformist Minister & Hymn Writer, 1702–1751 | Doddridge’s writings on submission and reliance on God illustrate the theological concepts central to this hymn. |
| Charles Wesley, Anglican Hymn Writer, 1707–1788 | Wesley’s focus on obedience in his hymns parallels the themes in “Have Thine Own Way Lord.” |
| John Newton, Anglican Clergyman & Hymn Writer, 1725–1807 | Newton often wrote about guidance and surrender, echoing the hymn’s central devotional message. |
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Have Thine Own Way (Adelaide Addison Pollard)… George Coles S.
- "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" is a hymn written by Adelaide Addison Pollard in 1907, with music later composed by George Coles Stebbins.
- The hymn speaks of surrendering oneself to God's will and has become a popular hymn in many Christian denominations, often sung at church services and religious gatherings.
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