The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A Negro Spiritual: "I Need Thee Every Hour"

I need thee every hour most gracious Lord;
No ten-der voice like thine can peace af-ford:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee!
I need thee ev-ery hour, stay thou near by;
Temp-ta-tions lose their power when thou art nigh:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.
I need thee ev-ery hour, in joy or pain;
Come quick-ly and abide, or life is vain:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.

I need thee ev-ery hour most Ho-ly One;
O make me thine indeed, thou bless-ed son:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.

Submitter comment: This is a very special song. My mother would sing it in the
kitchen and I would find myself humming it in the other room.
Now I sing it in the kitchen and I've heard my daughter humming
it in the other room.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1980