Why Abide With Me is sung at the FA Cup Final: Lyrics, previous singers and origin

The spine-tingling rendition of Abide With Me at the FA Cup Final unites football fans every year.

The hymn is steeped in FA Cup history and like the National Anthem before kick-off, it is synonymous with the showpiece occasion.

This year's final will see Abide With Me sung by up-and-coming singer Sinead Ashiokai.

Continue reading below for details of the Abide With Me lyrics, where the hymn originates from and a list of the singers who have recently sung at the FA Cup Final.

Abide With Me Origin

Abide With Me was written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte.

The Christian Hymn serves as a prayer for God to remain present with the speaker during life and death.

The words were penned in 1847 whilst Lyte was seriously ill with tuberculosis and the hymn was sung for the first time at his funeral.

When was Abide With Me first sung at the FA Cup final?

Abide With Me was first sung at the FA Cup Final in 1927.

The match itself saw Cardiff City defeat Arsenal by a single goal.

Organisers have continued the tradition ever since in an attempt to bring all supporters together in unison prior to kick-off.

Abide With Me Lyrics

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is death's sting?
Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me
Abide with me, abide with me

Abide With Me singers at the FA Cup Final

Season	FA Cup Final Result	Performer
2024/25	Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City	Sinead Ashiokai
2023/24	Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City	Malakai Bayoh
2022/23	Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United	Massed Bands of the Royal Corps of Army Music
2021/22	Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea (Liverpool won on pens)	B Positive Choir
2020/21	Leicester City 1-0 Chelsea	B Positive Choir
2019/20	Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea	Emile Sande
2018/19	Manchester City 6-0 Watford	Urban Voices Collective
2017/18	Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United	For All Choir
2016/17	Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea	Emily Hague
2015/16	Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace (AET)	Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir
2014/15	Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa	Alfie Boe and Songs of Praise FA Cup Fan Choir
2013/14	Arsenal 3-2 Hull City (AET)	Leona Lewis
2012/13	Wigan 1-0 Manchester City	Amore
2011/12	Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool	Mary-Jess
2010/11	Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City	Tenors Unlimited
2009/10	Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth	Faryl Smith
2008/09	Chelsea 2-1 Everton	London Community Gospel Choir
2007/08	Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff City	Katherine Jenkins and Lesley Garrett
2006/07	Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United	Russell Watson
2005/06	Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (Liverpool won on pens)	Lesley Garrett
2004/05	Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (Arsenal won on pens)	Katherine Jenkins