Give Me Jesus

Give Me Jesus (also known as And I heard The Mourner Say) is a traditional Christian American spiritual song. The song references Matthew 16:26 and other passages in the Book of Matthew regarding the Judgment Day.

Early version of "Give Me Jesus" as published in the Evangelical Harp in 1845

Possibly the earliest known version of "Give Me Jesus" was published in the United States in 1845 by Rev. Jacob Knapp, a Baptist minister from New York.[1] By 1849 the Methodists published a version, and the song was popularized by the mid-nineteenth century through various camp meetings and hymnals.[2][3] "Give Me Jesus" was popular among African American congregations, and Slave Songs of the United States (1867) mentions that former slaves in Port Royal, South Carolina sang the song but the song may not have originated solely with slaves, as it was published previously by the Methodists.[4][5] However, African American congregations likely influenced the modern form of the song.[6] By 1873 the Fisk Jubilee Singers published a version of the song which remains popular today.[7] Notable nineteenth century songwriters published versions and derivations of the song, including Fanny Crosby's "Take the World, But Give Me Jesus",[8] and musicians such as Vince Gill[9] and Fernando Ortega have covered and interpreted the song in the twenty-first century.

References
  1. Jacob Knapp, The Evangelical Harp: A New Collection of Hymns and Tunes Designed for Revivals of Religion, and For Family and Social Worship (Utica, NY: 1845), p. 152
  2. Rev. D.H. Mansfield, The American Vocalist: A Selectin of Tunes, Anthems, Sentences, and Hymns, (Boston, 1849) p. 345
  3. Revival Hymns: Designed for Protracted, Camp, Prayer, and Social Meetings (Methodist Protestant Reading Rooms: 1852) p. 91
  4. Slave Songs of the United States, (1867), vi
  5. Thomas L. Bayham, Jr. and C. Michael Hawn, History of Hymns: 'Give Me Jesus' https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-give-me-jesus
  6. Thomas L. Bayham, Jr. and C. Michael Hawn, History of Hymns: 'Give Me Jesus' https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-give-me-jesus
  7. G.D. Pike, The Jubilee Singers and their Campaign for Twenty Thousand Dollars (1873), p. 180
  8. https://spiritualhymns.weebly.com/take-the-world-but-give-me-jesus-sweeny.html
  9. https://www.countrythangdaily.com/vince-gill-give-me-jesus/
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