Will­iam Whit­ing (1825-1878) wrote the lyr­ics as a po­em for a stu­dent about to sail for Am­er­i­ca. The hymn was played in 1941 for Am­er­i­can pre­si­dent Frank­lin Roos­e­velt at the re­quest of Win­ston Church­ill, when the two met on board the HMS Prince of Wales to cre­ate the At­lan­tic Char­ter.

The music was composed by John B. Dykes (1823-1876) and named Melita.

Me­li­ta was the is­land the Apos­tle Paul reached af­ter his ship went down (Acts 28:1). To­day we know it as Mal­ta.

The hymn was sung at the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh held at St George's Chapel, Windsor on 17 April 2021.

Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm doth bond the restless wave, Who bids the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea.

Upon the terrace dark and rude, And bid its angry tumult cease, And give for wild confusion peace; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and pow'r, Thy children shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire, and foe, Protect them where-so-e'er they go; Thus, evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.