"Sailing into Port"

Philip Bliss wrote the words & music to “Sailing into Port” in 1871. Bliss sang evangelical solos with the Dwight L. Moody evangelism team and D.W. Whittle. He and his wife both toured with them frequently. There’s a wonderful story about Bliss, however, that is worth repeating: It seems that a week before he and his wife boarded the train that crashed when a bridge was out in Ashtalbula, Ohio, he had written a letter to his friend, James McGranahan--a great upcoming tenor soloist. In the letter, Bliss encouraged his Christian friend to devote his musical talents to the Lord rather than to become an opera star. When McGranahan learned of the tragic news of his friend’s death, he went to the train wreck site to try to recover anything left of his friend. There he met D.W. Whittle and they began to Philip Bliss’s own relationship with the Lord. It was at that point that James McGranahan decided to devote his own voice to the Lord, as well.

Bliss and his wife not only toured the United States as singing evangelical solos, but they also toured Europe. The song “Sailing into Port” is based on a sermon that Bliss heard once about the different kinds of voyages that ships make and how they may enter the port with celebration or with haggardness. But the voyage is what matters—how the ships were able to stay the course, no matter what the amount or lack of hardship befell them.

“Sailing into Port”

Sailor, though the darkness gathers,

Though the cold waves surge and moan,

Trust thy bark to God’s great mercy,

Falter not; sail on, sail on.

Refrain

Sailing into port, what matter,

Drooping sail or shattered mast?

Glory, glory fills the harbor,

There we’ll anchor safe at last.

Sailor, though with streamers flying,

Yonder proud ship mounts the foam,

And with bands of music playing,

Gains the port and welcome home.

Refrain

Sailor, though the lightning flashes,

Though thy sails be rent and torn,

Peace shall come on Hope’s bright pinions,

And deliverance with the morn.

Refrain

The hymn “Sailing into Port” is typical of the kinds of hymns sung at evangelical camp meetings during the late 1800’s. Its focus is on the experience people have while attempting to live a life pleasing to the Lord, rather than actual praise of God.

“Sailing into Port”

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