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The Old Rugged Cross

By Guy Penrod

3,082 views Oct 8, 2026 updated Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

Guy Penrod sings “The Old Rugged Cross,” the hymn George Bennard wrote in the early twentieth century and one of the most widely sung in American churches. It begins on the hill: “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff'ring and shame.” The first stanza states the writer's affection plainly, because it was there that “the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.”

The refrain is a promise of loyalty. “So I'll cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown.” The second stanza admits that the cross is “so despised by the world” yet has “a wondrous attraction for me,” because the Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to Calvary. The third sees the beauty in blood “stained so divine” and the last looks ahead to being called home “where His glory forever I'll share.”

The cross as foolishness to the world and power to the saved is 1 Corinthians 1:18. Bearing shame is Hebrews 12:2, and exchanging the cross for a crown matches the crown in 2 Timothy 4:8.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross

The emblem of suff'ring and shame

And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain


So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown


Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world

Has a wondrous attraction for me

For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary


So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown


In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine

A wondrous beauty I see

For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above

To pardon and sanctify me


So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown


To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true

Its shame and reproach gladly bear

Then He'll call me some day to my home far away

Where his glory forever I'll share


So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

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