Category Archives: Hymn of the Week

Wonderful Words of Life

 Easter.  We debated an appropriate Hymn of the Week, and opinions varied, as one might expect.  Handel’s Messiah was suggested (among others), and tho that would have been appropriate and delightful, would not work very well using this format.  What would you  have chosen? We hope you find this favorite that we have chosen appropriate and enjoyable.

 Philip Paul Bliss was born in 1838, and lived only until 1876.  He was an American composer, conductor, singer, and writer of hymns.  Following many interesting life experiences and self-education beginning upon leaving home at age eleven, he became a full-time evangelist in 1874. and gave the royalties from his composing to charities and to his missionary endeavors.

 We have chosen to chord this hymn in the key of “G”.  If you need a refresher on the melody, or need the song transposed to another key, call me.  Meanwhile, no surprises–You’ll need the chords G, C, and D7, which will work for guitar, dobro, autoharp, ukulele, banjo, or the left hand of piano or organ.  We can dress the song up with many more chord changes–call me.   895 4104

        G                         D7                                                G

     Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of Life—-

        G                              D7                                                 G

     Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of Life.

        G                         C    G                                    C   G

     Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,

                     chorus    2 times

           G     D7                       G                                  D7                   G

          Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words oF Life—-

Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling

William L Thompson was a noted American composer,  probably best known for this classic Christian hymn, reputed to have been translated into more languages than any other hymn.  He was a professionally, conservatory educated musician, and founder of a very successful music business and music publishing company in the midwest.  Lived only a few years beyond sixty, and died in 1909.

As With many earlier hymns of the week, we will again chord the accompaniment to this hymn in the guitar (and autoharp, banjo, dobro, mandolin, and ukulele) friendly key of “D”.  There is a modulation in the chorus–remember, that is a brief change of key.  The modulation
goes to the chord “E” (or E7), and returns to the original key by cycling through the chord A Major, followed by an A7.

If you need any help with this, or melody refresher, or transposition to another key, call me at 895 4104.  Meanwhile, make a joyful noise!

       D                                G             D
     Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
        D                            A7
     Calling for you and me;
       D                                     G                    D
     See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
         D            G    D           A7   D
     Watching for you and for me.
             D        A7       D      A7—D
          Come home, come home,
           E                  B7                A–A7
          Ye who are weary, come home!
             D                              G             D
          Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
             D           G   D         A7       D
          Calling, “O sinner, come home!”.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

 The Reverend Anthony J. Showalter, an American composer, teacher and publisher, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church, composed this hymn.  This is his best known song, published in 1887, based upon Deuteronomy 33: 27.

Attending a memorial service for a friend recently, we pondered why
we find these traditional hymns so dear–guess it’s ’cuz they are familiar, praise God, and provide for us comfort and reassurance.  This hymn readily meets all of those criteria.

The hymn has been covered by many familiar names, including Alan Jackson, and George Jones.

This week we remain with the guitar-friendly (and mandolin, dulcimer, banjo, ukulele, and dobro) key, 2 sharps, D major.  If you need transposition, melody refresher, or other help, call me–895 4104.

         D                            G
     What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
         D                                      A7
     leaning on the everlasting arms,
         D                              G
     what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
         D                              A7       D
     leaning on the everlasting arms.

               D            G          D                                      A7
          Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
               D         G            G                                A7      D
          leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Nearer My God to Thee

A  19th century hymn by Sarah Flower Adams, based  on Genesis 28:11-19, the story of Jacob’s dream as he slept in a field.
In the dream, he saw a ladder on which the angels of God were ascending and descending.

Legend has it that Nearer, My God To Thee was the last song played by the ship’s band as the RMS Titanic sank.  I dunno if that is true or not.

The chorus is just four bars in length.  We have chorded the hymn in the guitar (or banjo, mandolin, dobro, autoharp, ukulele, dulcimer)- friendly key of G major.  If you need it transposed to another key, call me.  if you need help with the chord shapes, or a refresher on the melody, call  8954104.

      G             C                       G              D7
Nearer, my God, to Thee!  Nearer to Thee!
   G                   C                 G        D7     G
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
   G                                                                    D7
Still all my song shall be, nearer my God, to Thee

               chorus:
    G              C    
Nearer, my God to Thee,
    G    D7     G
nearer to Thee

     G                      C               G                    D7
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
      G                   C           G             D7
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
  G                                                                    D7
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee,

                chorus:

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

In 1893 James M. Black, a Methodist Sunday school teacher, was inspired to pen this song, when he could not find one appropriate in his song book to express a disappointment he had experienced while teaching.

In 2009 in Delta Junction, two young men performed this number as a duet with their guitars and voices at a Raven Correspondence school assembly.  We remember that fondly.

We include only the first verse and refrain, as usual.  We show chords for accompaniment in the key of “D”.  If you want the key and chords transposed, or more verses, or a refresher of the melody, call  me at 895 4104.  Remember, the chords will work for guitar, banjo, ukulele, autoharp, dulcimer, mandolin, or other instrument.

       D                                                                          G                            D
    When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
       D                                                    E7                A7
    And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
                        D                                D7             G                    D
    When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
        D                                     A7                     D
    And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
               D
          When the roll, is called up yonder,
               D           A7
          When the roll, is called up yonder,
                            D                           G
          When the roll, is called up yonder,
                           D                          A7                     D
          When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

This familiar hymn was written as a poem in 1855 by Joseph M. Scriven.  He penned the poem anonymously and only received full credit for it 30 years later.  He was devoutly religious.  He lost two successive fiancees to death on the eve of the wedding in each case, and then devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy.

Aretha Franklin made a notable recording in 1972.  Brad Paisley, Amy Grant, Alan Jackson, and many others have also recorded it.

 Unlike the last 3 weekly hymns, we have chorded the accompaniment in the key of “G”.  Bear in mind that any song may be accompanied in any of 12 keys.  We are also introducing the chord “A minor” in parentheses, indicating that its use in this song is optional.

Due to space considerations, only the first verse and chorus are included.  If you want more verses, call me.  If you need the accompaniment in a different key, call me.  895 4104

        G                                     C    (Aminor)

     What a friend we have in Jesus,

        G                                    D7

     All our sins and grief to bear!

        G                              C   (Aminor)

     What a privilege to carry

        G        D7                    G

     Everything to God in prayer!

           D               D7                     G

          Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

           C               G                         D7

          Oh, what needless pain we bear,

            G                                C    (Aminor)

          All because we do not carry

            G                    D7             G

          Everything to God in prayer

This beloved, soothing , reassuring hymn about a personal relationship with the Savior was written in 1912 by C. Austin Miles,  once a pharmacist and later an editor and manager at a publishing house for more than 30 years.  The song was publicized during the Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns during the early twentieth century.  It was notably recorded by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1950, Perry Como in 1958 (some readers may remember them) and , of course, scores of gospel solo vocalists and groups.

As with earlier hymns of the week published on the DNW, we herein include only the first verse and chorus.  We also have included guitar (or mandolin, banjo, ukulele, autoharp, piano/organ) chords over the appropriate syllables.  This song has a brief chord change that, at first glance, seems “out of place”, or not to belong.  This is called a modulation.  The song also contains several fermata, for which we have no symbol on the computer keyboard, so will use an underline over the syllable.  This simply advises us to hold the word or syllable longer than one might expect.  This song begs for expressive, even dramatic delivery.

If you try to sing this wonderful and heartfelt song but need it transposed to a key better suited to your voice range, call me.  If you need help accompanying with your instrument, call me.  As usual, we can enhance the arrangement with more chords later.

 D                                                           G                            D

I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses,

               A7                                      D

and the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

         E                   A7    —–

The Son of God discloses…

                D                                   A7

And He walks with me, and he talks with me,

               G                          D

and He tells me I am His own,

                           A7                  G         ——-

and the joy we share, as we tarry there,

            D                 A7         D

none other     has ever     known.

This endearing and enduring hymn is ear-familiar to anyone who attended Sunday School as a child (or as an adult), so we may tend to remember it in that context, tho only the melody and a verse or two.  Most hymnals print only three, or at most four–  we have ten verses in our songbook! 

The lyrics were initially the verses of a poem by Anna Warren written in 1860.  Later William B. Bradbury added the melody and a chorus. 

For space considerations we show it here with only the familiar first verse and chorus.  We have printed finger-friendly chord symbols over the appropriate syllable.  These chords may, of course, be used for any chorded instrument–piano, organ, guitar, ukulele, banjo, autoharp, etc.

If this is not a voice-friendly or finger friendly key for you, call and we’ll transpose the song to another key.  If you want more verses, call me–895 4104.  Meanwhile, enjoy the hymn, and play and sing it with your family. 
                    D               A7      D
                 Jesus loves me!  This I know.
                   G                               D
                 For the Bible tell me so.
                   D              A7              D
                 Little ones to Him belong;
                   G               D                A7      D
                 They are weak but He is strong.
                              D                G
                             Yes, Jesus loves me!
                              D                        A7
                             Yes, Jesus Loves me!
                              D                G
                             Yes, Jesus loves me!
                                    D          A7        D
                             The Bible tells me so.

The hymn for this week is one of the most recognizable songs in the English speaking world, a national favorite, and a favorite of Pastor Cliff Henry of the Greatland Baptist Church in Delta Junction.

Written by English poet an clergyman John Newton in 1773, who was earlier in life a sailor, and experienced the beginning of his spiritual conversion during a fierce and terrible storm at sea. 

AMAZING GRACE may have begun existence as poetry.  Now the melody is performed literally millions of times annually at home, in churches, at memorials and graveside services.   It is a staple of bagpipe bands at law enforcement funerals. 

There are many verses (we have ten in our performance book).  We have included only the familiar first verse here;  all that follow use the same melody and Chord progression.

We have notated guitar-friendly chords above the appropriate syllables–you may accompany with guitar, autoharp, ukulele, banjo, piano/organ, or whatever.  Chord changes enclosed in parentheses are optional–simply sustain the preceding chord until the next change.  And thee are even more chords we may add later to dress up the accompaniment even more! 

If you encounter any trouble, call me–if you want to transpose to another key to better fit your voice, call me–learn, enjoy, sing, and believe!  895 4104

D               (D7)                   G                D

Amazing Grace!  How sweet the sound

D                                       A–(A7)

That saved a Wretch like me!

    D             (D7)           G             D

I once was lost, but now I’m found,

         (Bm)         D     A   D     (G—D)

Was blind, but now I see.     (A—men)