Scripture Verse

I have called you friends. John 15:15

Introduction

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
(1856–1922)

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in New Songs of the Gos­pel, ed­it­ed by C. Aus­tin Miles & Mau­rice A. Clif­ton (pseu­do­nym of J. Lin­coln Hall) (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Hall-Mack, 1900), num­ber 68. Note: This edi­tion mis­spelled the first word of the lyr­ics as There. Lat­er edi­tions cor­rect­ed the er­ror.

Music: Ben­ja­min F. Butts (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Butts (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Oat­man,

Lyrics

There’s One above all earth­ly friends
Whose love all earth­ly love trans­cends;
It is my Lord and Christ di­vine,
My Lord, be­cause I know He’s mine.

Refrain

I know He’s mine, this friend so dear;
He lives with me, He’s ev­er near;
Ten thou­sand charms around Him shine,
And best of all, I know He’s mine.

He’s mine be­cause He died for me;
He saved my soul, He set me free;
With joy I wor­ship at His shrine
And cry, Praise God, I know He’s mine.

Refrain

He’s mine be­cause He’s in my heart,
And ne­ver, ne­ver will we part;
Just as the branch is to the vine
I’m joined to Christ: I know He’s mine.

Refrain

Some day up­on the streets of gold
Mine eyes His glo­ry shall be­hold;
Then, while His arms around me twine,
I’ll cry for joy, I know He’s mine.

Refrain