I like these words by Isaac Watts, but the only sung version of them I know is a bit difficult for congregational singing. You can hear it about 33 seconds into my Easter Journeys contribution from spring 2012:
Now, I’m sure there are other tunes. “Martyrdom” is certainly used sometimes, but that is now so closely associated with “As pants the hart for cooling streams” that it feels a bit odd. “Hudson” is used, with a refrain, but it’s awfully cheerful given the subject matter.
1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?2 Was it for sins that I have done
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
and love beyond degree!3 Well might the sun in darkness hide
and shut its glories in
when Christ, the mighty Maker, died
for his own creatures’ sin.4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears,
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.
AcWriMo 7 — Old Street — PDF
AcWriMo 7 — Old Street — MIDI robots
Again, I’m not entirely happy with this. I should have written a melody that didn’t have the natural minor 7th so early: that sort of forces it into the relative major sooner than I like. But I didn’t start this with the impression that I would write thirty wonderful, amazing hymn tunes, so I’m trying not to beat myself up too much about the ones that are a bit mediocre!