Ira Sankey says of this hymn,

Written in 1876 shortly before his death this was the last hymn I heard Mr, Bliss sing. It was at a meeting in Farwell Hall in Chicago conducted by Henry Moorehouse. A few weeks before his death Mr Bliss visited the State prison at Jackson Michigan where after a very touching address on The Man of Sorrows he sang this hymn with great effect. Many of the prisoners dated their conversion from that day.

When Mr. Moody and I were in Paris holding meetings in the old church which Napoleon had granted to the Evangelicals, I frequently sang this hymn as a solo asking the congregation to join in the single phrase, “Hallelujah, what a Savior” which they did with splendid effect. It is said that the word “Hallelujah” is the same in all languages. It seems as though God had prepared it for the great jubilee of heaven, when all his children shall have been gathered home to sing “Hallelujah to the Lamb!”

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Guilty, vile and helpless, we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He:
Full atonement!— can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

–Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876