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Sometimes the best telling of behind the song is the real story. . .

On December 29th, 1876, during the post Christmas season, Philip P. Bliss and his wife were returning by train from Rome, Pennsylvania, where they had been visiting his mother. Philip, a well known singer/songwriter, had a meeting on the following Sunday scheduled at Moody's Tabernacle in Chicago. As the train approached Ashtabula, Ohio, a bridge collapsed, plunging seven rail cars down the 60 foot ravine and burst into flames. This tragedy resulted in the loss of 100 lives. However, Bliss managed to survive the wreck by climbing out a window. Although he had survived, and was safe, he immediately returned to the burning wreck to rescue his wife Lucy, and both lost their lives in the flames. Neither body was ever recovered.

Ironically, their travel trunk survived the wreckage, and this hymn text was found amongst his belongings on a manuscript he had been working on. It first appeared in print in 1877 in 'Welcome Tidings: A New Collection of Sacred Songs' -J Church and company compiled by Ira Sankey, Robert Lowry, and Wm. Doane.

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I WILL SING OF MY REDEEMER