Author Gilbert Chase writes that it is without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns, and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that it is performed about 10 million times annually.

They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth.

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.