“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Description

"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer." The singer describes all the ways in which God can help with life's troubles and burdens

Notes

According to Johnson, Scriven had two fiancees die shortly before marriage. He ended up writing this, in 1855, for his mother. - RBW

Same tune

  • Hymn to Cheeses (Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 12)
  • What a Friend We Have in Congress (on PeteSeeger39, PeteSeeger44)
  • Dump the Bosses Off Your Back (by John Brill; DT, DUMPBOSS)

Recordings

  • Caravans, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (States S-128, n.d.)
  • E. R. Nance Singers, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (ARC, unissued, 1930)
  • Old Southern Sacred Singers, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (Brunswick 172, 1927; Supertone S-2117, 1930)
  • Frank Welling & John McGhee, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (Broadway 8136, c. 1931)

References

  1. Silber-FSWB, p. 364, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" (1 text)
  2. DT, FRNDJSUS*
  3. ADDITIONAL: Charles Johnson, One Hundred and One Famous Hymns (Hallberg, 1982), pp. 182-183, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (1 text, 1 tune)
  4. Roud #16213
  5. BI, FSWB364A

About

Author: Words: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819-1886) / Music: Charles Crozat Converse (1832-1919)
Earliest date: Words written 1855, tune 1870 (Johnson)