Alas and did saviour bleed and did my sovereign die
Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
Was it for crimes that I have done he groaned upon the tree
Amazing pity grace unknown and love beyond degree
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
But drops of grief cannot repay the debt of love I owe
Here lord I give myself away it's all that I can do
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
At the Cross Where I First Saw The Light
Isaac Watts originally penned the verses for **Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed** in 1707, focusing on the substitutionary atonement of Christ. The Gaither Vocal Band frequently performs this hymn, often pairing Watts’s somber, introspective lyrics with the more rhythmic, celebratory chorus written by Ralph E. Hudson in 1885. This arrangement balances the weight of human sin—described by Watts as a "worm"—with the relief found in the finished work of the crucifixion.
### Theological Significance
The song centers on the doctrine of grace, emphasizing that human effort cannot repay the debt of sin. By juxtaposing the "drops of grief" with the "love beyond degree," the lyrics move the listener from personal contrition to an act of total surrender. In a worship context, this piece serves as a bridge between acknowledging the gravity of the cross and expressing the subsequent joy of redemption. It remains a foundational hymn that highlights the historical Christian understanding of faith as the mechanism for receiving spiritual sight.