“Wondrous Love,” fully “What Wondrous Love Is This,” is an American hymn whose text first appeared in print around 1811, during the camp-meeting revivals of the early nineteenth century. It was joined to its haunting, modal melody in the shape-note hymnals “The Southern Harmony” and “The Sacred Harp.”
The hymn marvels at the love of Christ. Its verses ask, again and again, what wondrous love it is that would lay down such a sacrifice for sinful souls, and answer with vows to sing of that love through life and beyond.
The hymn’s modal, ancient sound has drawn many bluegrass and folk performers. The version heard here is by Blue Highway.
