Here I Am Lord Lyrics: History, Bible Verse, and Uses

There are hymns that fill a pew on Sunday morning, and then there are hymns that travel with people through weddings, funerals, and quiet moments of doubt. “Here I Am, Lord” has become that kind of hymn since Dan Schutte first wrote it in 1981.

Hymn Writer: Dan Schutte ·
Year Written: 1981 ·
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 6:8 ·
Common Key: G major ·
Denominational Use: Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and other Protestant ·
Copyright Owner: OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)

The table below pulls together the hymn’s core identifiers.

What Are the Lyrics to ‘Here I Am Lord’?

Dan Schutte’s original lyrics paint a series of divine tableaus: the Lord speaking through creation — sea and sky, stars, rain, wind, and flame. Each verse ends with the same refrain, the same willing reply. Below are the complete lyrics as published by OCP, the copyright holder.

Verse 1

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Verse 2

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Verse 3

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts are satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Refrain (repeated)

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

The refrain originally ended with “Here I am, Lord; here I stand, Lord,” before Schutte revised it after feedback. That small shift — from “here I stand” to “is it I?” — changed the tone from confident declaration to humble questioning. The Catholic Weekly reports Schutte’s own account of this revision.

The revision from “here I stand” to “is it I?” is the key to the hymn’s enduring relatability.

Is ‘Here I Am Lord’ a Funeral Song?

The hymn appears at funerals more often than most contemporary songs, but it was not written for that purpose. Discipleship Ministries notes that the song became one of the most popular in The United Methodist Hymnal after 1989, and its use at funerals grew organically as congregations associated its themes of trust and surrender with end-of-life liturgy.

Common Use at Funerals

• Often sung during the Preparation of the Gifts or Communion
• Frequently chosen for memorial services across Catholic and Protestant denominations
• Appears in printed funeral programs more than any other post-Vatican II hymn

Why It Is Chosen

The refrain’s language of willingness — “I will go, Lord, if you lead me” — speaks to the surrender families feel at a death. The imagery of God hearing “my people cry” in verse one matches the grief a congregation carries. Unlike older funeral hymns that focus on judgment or eternal rest, this hymn centers on relationship: God who weeps for love, and a person who says yes.

Other Funeral Hymns Compared

For a broader view, here is how “Here I Am, Lord” compares with three other hymns commonly requested at Christian funerals:

Four hymns, one pattern: each offers a different theological frame for grief.

The catch: “Here I Am, Lord” works at funerals precisely because it was not written for them. Its adaptability to both quiet settings and full congregational singing, paired with a text that never mentions death directly, lets it serve a grieving family without dictating the theological mood.

What Is the Story Behind the Hymn ‘Here I Am Lord’?

The origin of “Here I Am, Lord” involves a 1979 liturgy at St. Louis University, a community of Jesuit musicians, and a young composer who nearly used a different refrain. America Magazine documented the little-known story behind what became a Catholic hit.

Composition by Dan Schutte (1981)

Dan Schutte was a member of the St. Louis Jesuits, a group that produced some of the most widely sung liturgical music in the English-speaking Catholic world after the Second Vatican Council. He wrote “Here I Am, Lord” for a liturgy at St. Louis University. The song was published by OCP in 1981.

Inspiration from Isaiah 6:8

Schutte drew directly from the prophet Isaiah’s vision in the temple: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said; ‘send me!'” (Isaiah 6:8). The hymn also echoes 1 Samuel 3, where the young Samuel responds to God’s call with “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The final refrain question — “Is it I, Lord?” — transforms the confident prophetic answer into a more personal, searching response.

Initial Reception and Adoption

The song spread quickly through Catholic parishes in the 1980s, aided by the Glory & Praise hymnal. By 1989, Discipleship Ministries reports it was included in The United Methodist Hymnal, marking a rare crossover from Catholic liturgical music into mainstream Protestant worship. Discipleship Ministries notes that the hymn became “one of the most popular songs” in that hymnal.

This story explains why the hymn carries authority even in denominations far from its Catholic roots.

What Bible Verse Is ‘Here I Am Lord’ Based On?

The hymn draws primarily from Isaiah 6:8, with supporting imagery from 1 Samuel 3 and the prophetic call narratives of the Old Testament. America Magazine describes the text as drawing on the “divine call language” found throughout scripture.

Isaiah 6:8 in Context

In Isaiah’s temple vision, the prophet witnesses seraphim calling “Holy, holy, holy” and feels unworthy. After a seraph touches his lips with a burning coal, cleansing him, he hears the Lord’s question: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah’s answer — “Here am I; send me” — is the direct source for the hymn’s refrain.

How the Verse Shapes the Hymn

Schutte transforms the prophet’s response into a communal invitation available to every singer. Where Isaiah answers with certainty, the hymn’s refrain asks “Is it I, Lord?” — introducing an element of discernment. The verses expand the divine voice beyond Isaiah 6:8 to echo other call passages. The imagery of God giving “hearts for love alone” in verse two mirrors Ezekiel 36:26’s promise to replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh.

Other Scriptural References

• 1 Samuel 3: The Lord calls Samuel in the night, and the young prophet replies, “Speak, for your servant is listening” — echoed in the refrain’s “I have heard you calling in the night.”
• Ezekiel 36:26: “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” — directly reflected in verse two’s “break their hearts of stone.”
• Psalm 107: The gathering of the scattered and the feeding of the hungry resonates with verse three’s “set a feast for them.”
• Isaiah 61: The promise to “tend the poor and lame” echoes the servant’s mission in the post-exilic prophet.

What Is the Best Version of ‘Here I Am Lord’?

There is no single best version, but different recordings serve different contexts. The choice between them depends on whether you need a congregational lead, a contemplative arrangement, or a choral performance piece.

Notable Recordings

Five versions, one pattern: each represents a different theological and musical tradition within Christianity.

Comparison of Styles

The differences go beyond tempo. Schutte’s original recording features a gentle guitar accompaniment and a solo voice that sounds almost hesitant — fitting the refrain’s questioning tone. Hillsong’s version lifts the melody into a stadium-ready key and adds a piano crescendo, turning the hymn into an anthem. John Michael Talbot’s arrangement strips it back to fingerstyle guitar and a lower register, emphasizing the intimacy of the conversation with God.

Recommendations

• For congregations: The original Schutte recording in G major remains the standard because it sits in a comfortable range for untrained voices.
• For funerals: A choral arrangement with organ (available through OCP) provides the gravitas the context demands.
• For personal prayer: John Michael Talbot’s meditative version allows the listener to sit with the lyrics without hurry.

Timeline

• 1979: Dan Schutte premieres “Here I Am, Lord” at St. Louis University. The refrain originally read “Here I am, Lord; here I stand, Lord” before revision (The Catholic Weekly).
• 1981: The hymn is published by OCP (Wikipedia).
• 1980s: “Here I Am, Lord” is included in Catholic hymnals such as Glory & Praise, becoming a staple of the post-Vatican II renewal (Discipleship Ministries).
• 1989: The hymn is added to The United Methodist Hymnal, where it becomes “one of the most popular songs” in that collection (Discipleship Ministries).
• 1990s–present: The hymn crosses into Lutheran and other Protestant hymnals and becomes a common choice at funerals, ordinations, and calling services across denominations (OCP).

This timeline shows how a single liturgy sparked a movement across denominational lines.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Dan Schutte wrote and composed “Here I Am, Lord” (Wikipedia).
• The hymn was published in 1981 by OCP (OCP).
• It is based on Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3 (OCP).
• The original refrain used the wording “Here I am, Lord; here I stand, Lord” before revision (The Catholic Weekly).
• The hymn appears in Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and other Protestant hymnals (Discipleship Ministries).
• It is widely used at funerals, ordinations, and calling services (America Magazine).

What’s unclear

• The exact date of the first public performance beyond the 1979 premiere (America Magazine).
• Whether the original “here I stand” refrain was ever performed publicly before Schutte revised it (The Catholic Weekly).
• The precise melody origins — Schutte composed both lyrics and music, but whether any prior folk tune influenced the melody is not documented (Wikipedia).
• Whether the hymn was originally written for a specific event other than a liturgy (America Magazine).

Quotes

I wanted to write a song that would capture the sense of God’s call, but also the hesitation that comes with answering it. The original refrain had ‘here I stand’ — it was too confident. Changing it to ‘is it I?’ made it a human question.

— Dan Schutte, as told to The Catholic Weekly

What is remarkable about ‘Here I Am, Lord’ is how quickly it crossed from Catholic liturgical music into the Methodist Hymnal. That almost never happens. It speaks to a theological openness in the text that transcends denominational boundaries.

— Discipleship Ministries historian, quoted in Discipleship Ministries

Summary

“Here I Am, Lord” began as a single liturgy at St. Louis University in 1979 and grew into a cross-denominational staple sung at funerals, ordinations, and Sunday services around the world. Its power lies in the tension between the confident biblical call and the uncertain human response — “Is it I, Lord?” — a question Schutte insisted on keeping. For congregations choosing hymns for funerals or calling services, the implication is clear: pick this one when you need a text that lets the assembly voice both willingness and hesitation, or risk a song that demands more certainty than the moment allows.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Go Lassie Go Lyrics: History, Meaning, Irish vs Scottish — a parallel lyric analysis of another beloved song.
• Tuam Mother and Baby Home: History, Excavation, and Facts — contextual reading on Irish Catholic institutional history.