For decades, it was the closing piece of India's annual Beating Retreat ceremony (a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi) until 2021. It was also performed at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks.

The lyrics were written by Henry Francis Lyte , a Scottish Anglican minister, in 1847 .

Lyte wrote the hymn while dying of tuberculosis at the age of 54. He had just preached his final sermon to his congregation in Lower Brixham, England, and was preparing to travel to Italy in a vain attempt to recover his health. He passed away just three weeks after completing the poem.

It is frequently cited as one of the hymns played by the ship's band as the Titanic sank in 1912. Thematic Analysis “Hymn meditation on Abide with Me” by Pam McAllister

"Abide With Me" has transcended its religious roots to become a fixture in major international events: