Just a Closer Walk with Thee

"Just a Closer Walk with Thee" is a traditional gospel song that has been performed and recorded by many artists. Performed as either an instrumental or vocal, "A Closer Walk" is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. The title and lyrics of the song allude to the Biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight" and James 4:8, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." 

The precise author of "A Closer Walk" is unknown. Circumstantial evidence strongly suggested it dated back to southern African-American churches of the nineteenth century, possibly even prior to the Civil War, as some personal African American histories recall "slaves singing as they worked in the fields a song about walking by the Lord's side.". Horace Boyer cites a story that repudiates this claim, stating,

“On a train trip from Kansas City to Chicago, composer Kenneth Morris exited the train on one of its stops to get some fresh air and heard one of the station porters singing a song. He paid little attention at first, but after he re-boarded the train the song remained with him and became so prominent in his mind that at the next stop, he left the train, took another train back to the earlier station, and asked the porter to sing the song again. Morris wrote down the words and music and published the song “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” that year, 1940, adding a few lyrics of his own to provide more breadth. Within two years the song became a standard in gospel music, eventually becoming a standard in Jazz, and then moving into the realm of American folk music, known and sung by many (Boyer, 75).” 

Songs with similar chorus lyrics were published in the 1800s, including "Closer Walk with Thee" with lyrics by Martha J. Lankton (a pseudonym for Fanny Crosby) and music by William Kirkpatrick, which was published in 1885. Some references in Atchison, Kansas, credit an African-American foundry worker and vocalist, Rev. Elijah Cluke (1907-1974), for the current rendition of the song. "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" became better known nationally in the 1930s when African-American churches held huge musical conventions. In 1940 Kenneth Morris arranged and published for the first time the well-known version after gospel musicians Robert Anderson and R.L. Knowles listened to William B. Hurse direct a performance of it in Kansas City and then brought it to Morris' attention. Morris added some new lyrics and a choral arrangement. In the 1940s, a boom of recordings recorded the number in many genres, ranging from Southern gospel to jazz and brass bands.

The first known recording was by the Selah Jubilee Singers on October 8, 1941, (Decca Records 7872) New York City; with Thurman Ruth and John Ford lead vocal; Fred Baker, lead baritone; Monroe Clark, baritone; J. B. Nelson, bass vocal; and Fred Baker on guitar. Rosetta Tharpe also recorded the song on December 2, 1941 (Decca 8594), with Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra.

The revived interest in traditional New Orleans jazz resulted in multiple recordings of the number, including a 1945 session by Bunk Johnson's Brass Band featuring numbers Johnson had played in New Orleans before he left in 1915.

In 1950, it was a million-seller for Red Foley.

In 1958, an unreleased home recording was recorded by Elvis Presley, made in Waco, Texas, on May 27. Presley's studio version can be heard on Just a Closer Walk with Thee (2000) (Czech CD on Memory label). Tennessee Ernie Ford made the charts with it in the late 1950s. By the end of the 1970s, more than a hundred artists had recorded the song.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics 

1. I am weak, but Thou art strong;
   Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
   I’ll be satisfied as long
   As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
   • Refrain:
     Just a closer walk with Thee,
     Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
     Daily walking close to Thee,
     Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
2. Through this world of toil and snares,
   If I falter, Lord, who cares?
   Who with me my burden shares?
   None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
3. When my feeble life is o’er,
   Time for me will be no more;
   Guide me gently, safely o’er
   To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley

 This hymn of encouragement in times of difficulty is usually described as an American folk hymn or spiritual, attributed to "traditional" 

It started to be included in hymnals in the USA during the second half of the 20th century - but was likely in use before that.  Some writers believe that it's current form is likely a combination of a simplified Appalachian folk song an African-American spiritual.

The allusion to the Kedron Valley where Jesus walked makes the song suitable for Lent and Good Friday - but it is not confined to these seasons.

With meter of 88.10 8, it is set to a tune called LONESOME VALLEY, which is an African-American spiritual, composer unknown.

As well as the traditional four verses, various others have been added in different publications - espeically ones which emphasise the communal nature of Chrisian life, eg "

As we walk our lonesome valley, We do not walk it by ourselves, For God sent His Son to walk it with us, We do not walk it by ourselves."

An extra three verses by Jack Schrader were included in Worship and Rejoice (2001, Hope Publishing Company), which focus the song on Jesus resurrections:

"Jesus prayed for His disciples; ... nobody else could bear such sorrow ..."
"Jesus died on Calvary’s mountain ... O, nobody else could die for sinners... "
"Jesus rose from death’s dark prison ... O, nobody else could bring us victory ...."

To download th easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics: Jesus walked this lonesome valley. He had to walk it by Himself; O, nobody else could walk it for Him, He had to walk it by Himself. We must walk this lonesome valley, We have to walk it by ourselves; O, nobody else can walk it for us, We have to walk it by ourselves. You must go and stand your trial, You have to stand it by yourself, O, nobody else can stand it for you, You have to stand it by yourself.

Fill My Cup, Lord

 "Fill My Cup, Lord" was written by Richard Blanchard, (Mar. 14, 1925 – April 19, 2004) he was a songwriter who was widely known for writing the popular "Fill My Cup, Lord" (gospel song). 

He was born in 1925 in Chungking, China, to Methodist missionary parents Ralph and Grace Kipka Blanchard. When the Blanchard family returned home to the United States, Richard grew up as a child and youth in Indiana and North Carolina. Rev. Ralph Blanchard moved from Wolcottville, Indiana, to Tryon, North Carolina, in 1942, bringing his family with him. Blanchard was a senior in high school and graduated from Tryon High School in 1943. During that year, he worked at a Tryon bank, putting his income into war bonds. This financial tactic eventually enabled him to buy lakefront property at Lake Conway, Orange County, Florida, in 1953.

There were other interests and hobbies that were consistent throughout Blanchard's life: He loved boating and dining by the water. He was an avid traveler, whether conducting tours or driving on his own, in over 75 countries. Blanchard had a fondness for fine art and art museums. He followed sports closely and often attended various spectator-sports events. A believer that a busy mind is a sharp mind, Blanchard enjoyed word games such as Scrabble as well as collecting stamps and coins. Above all, however, Blanchard enjoyed meeting, learning about, and helping people. By 2000, Blanchard's health began a serious decline. He and his wife Anne moved to Swannanoa, North Carolina, to be near their children. He lived there until his death on April 19, 2004.

After high school graduation in 1943, Blanchard attended Davidson College for one year and then enlisted in the United States Navy. Receiving a medical discharge, he entered Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947. In 1946 he married the former Anne Carlton of Oxford, Georgia, a graduate of Wesleyan College. They had three children—Richard Jr. (d. 1996), Carol Ann, and Emily (d. 2005). After graduating from Mercer University, Blanchard enrolled in Candler School of Theology at Emory University, also in Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1949.

Blanchard was ordained a deacon in 1949 and an elder in 1950, after serving two years as pastor of the four-church ("four-point")^[1] Snellville-Grayson circuit of the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. Transferring to the Florida Conference in 1950, Blanchard completed 40 years in the ministry of the Methodist Church (which became The United Methodist Church on April 23, 1968^[2]), serving the following congregations: First Methodist in Orlando as associate pastor; then as senior pastor, Wesley, Coral Gables; First Methodist in Fort Lauderdale; Trinity Methodist in Miami; Palma Ceia in Tampa; First Methodist in Jacksonville; Riviera Beach Methodist; Community Methodist in Holiday; and Conway Methodist in Orlando. Retiring in 1988, Blanchard later renewed his participation in First United Methodist in Orlando and became a member of the Pendergrass Sunday School Class. 

During the late-1980s, Blanchard wrote a beautiful musical, “Francis of Assisi,” which was produced by Glenn Longacre of Conway for an audience of 600 people. During this period, he was also named “Minister Emeritus” of the Conway Church. In addition to writing numerous gospel songs—many of which were published and recorded—Blanchard also wrote other things. While at Snellville as a young theolog, he wrote a column called Between You and Me every week for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, the Methodist paper for North and South Georgia. He also wrote a story called “The Little Star” which was published in Ideals magazine. Blanchard was selected to write an official biography of Bishop John Branscomb. Blanchard completed “We Remember John” in time for the dedication of the Branscomb Memorial Auditorium in Lakeland, Florida.

Certainly Blanchard's most famous song was "Fill My Cup, Lord" (which became a classic). During the 1970s the song was popularized throughout much of the United States by Blanchard's close friend, musician and evangelist Rev. Ray Vaughn.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy! 

Lyrics: 

1	Like the woman at the well, I was seeking For things that could not satisfy. And then I heard my Savior speaking— “Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”
	Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
2	There are millions in this world who are seeking For pleasures earthly goods afford. But none can match the wondrous treasure That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
3	So my brother if the things that this world gives you Leave hungers that won’t pass away, My blessed Lord will come and save you If you kneel to Him and humbly pray—

Into My Heart

 Into My Heart is composed by Harry D. Clarke. he was  orphaned at an early age, Clarke ran away from the orphanage and worked at sea for almost 10 years. He eventually moved to London, then to America. He attended the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, then went into composing, music publishing, and evangelism. He served as song leader for Harry vom Bruch and Billy Sunday, being so impressed by Sunday that he established the Billy Sunday Memorial Chapel in Sioux City, Iowa (where he served as pastor until 1945). Clarke also worked in the evangelism field in Garards Fort, Pennsylvania, and South Milford, Indiana. 

 This song which urges us to have the kind of commitment by which Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith is "Into My Heart" (#658 in Hymns for Worship Revised). The text was written and the tune was composed both by Harry Dudley Clarke, who was born on Jan. 28, 1888, at Cardiff, Wales, and had a very hard youth. Orphaned at an early age, he ran away from the orphanage and went to sea where he worked for almost ten years. Eventually, with the help of a brother he went to London, then Canada, and eventually to America where he attended the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago, IL, in the early 1920’s. After that he went into composing and music publishing, producing many songs and choruses with both words and music which appeared in his Gospel Truth in Song (three volumes), Fishers of Men, Choruses for Fishers of Men (two volumes), and Songs of Glory. Later he sold his copyrights to Hope Publishing Co. The chorus beginning "Into My Heart" was first published in the 1924 edition of Gospel Truth in Song. The stanzas were added in 1927. Other Clarke hymns in common use are "Awake, O Church of Christ," "Fishers of Men," "What Must I Do?" (or "Believe").

     In addition, Clarke was active in evangelism, serving as song director for revival preachers Harry vom Bruch and Billy Sunday. Impressed by Sunday’s work, Clarke established the Billy Sunday Memorial Chapel in Sioux City, IA, where he served as minister until 1945. In later life, he conducted his own evangelistic campaigns with headquarters first in Garard’s Fort, PA, and finally in South Milford, IN. When the copyrights for "Into My Heart" were renewed in 1952 and 1955, they were owned by Hope Publishing. A couple of years later, Clarke died on Oct. 14, 1957, at Lexington, KY. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the chorus appeared in the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 edited by E. L. Jorgenson. Today it is found in the 1971 Songs of the Church edited by Alton H. Howard; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; as well as Hymns for Worship Revised. In both of the last two there is an additional "stanza" from an anonymous source identified as an "American Folk Hymn."
"Out of my heart, out of my heart, Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus;
Shine out today, shine out alway, Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus."
The entire original song is used in the 1977 Special Sacred Selections edited by Ellis J. Crum.

     "Into My Heart" emphasizes the importance of committing ourselves to let Jesus rule our lives.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

1 Into my heart, into my heart, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; Come in today, come in to stay; Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. 2 Rule in my heart, rule in my heart, Thou King of my heart, Lord Jesus; Make this Thy throne, rule there alone, Thou King of my heart, Lord Jesus.

3.Walking with Thee, walking with Thee, We're walking with Thee, Lord Jesus; In work, in play, we serve, we pray, We're walking with Thee, Lord Jesus.

The Joy Of The Lord

 This gospel chorus song is written by Vale, Alliene G.  This song is based on Nehemiah 8:10, . . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength. This is a chorus enjoyed by all age groups. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

The Joy Of The LORD Is My Strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength

He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He gives me living water and I thirst no more
He gives me living water and I thirst no more
He gives me living water and I thirst no more
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He fills my soul with laughter
Ha, ha, ha … ha, ha (ha ha)
He fills my soul with laughter
Ha, ha, ha … ha, ha (ha ha)
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

If you want joy you must ask for it
If you want joy you must ask for it
If you want joy you must ask for it
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He Is Lord

 "He is Lord" the composer for this popular chorus is unknown at the writing of this blog. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord!
Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.