05 Sep ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’

This is the second in our series of blog posts highlighting some old ‘forgotten classic’ hymns. If you missed the first one, you can read it here.

I’ve been flicking through an old hymnal and coming across a few gems. If you know these songs, or still sing them (or just if you like it!) leave a comment below.

I Need Thee Every Hour, Annie Hawks

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Saviour,

I come to Thee.

What a prayer to pray. This hymn is one I would naturally been drawn to sing when going through times of struggle. It was however apparently not the original intentions of the hymn writer. Written by wife and mother of three, Annie Hawks in 1872, she stated;

“I remember well, the morning when in the midst of the daily cares of my home, I was so filled with the sense of the nearness of the Master, that wondering how one could live without him either in joy or pain, these words ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ were ushered into my mind. The hymn was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, rather than under the stress of great personal sorrow. It was not until long years after when the shadow of a great loss fell over my way that I understood something of the comforting in the words I have been permitted to write.”

So let’s sing this in times of love and joy too. I recently stumbled upon this beautiful rendition by Chelsea Moon & The Franz Brothers. Enjoy.

Ellyn