"I Have Found A Friend in Jesus"

Charles W. Fry wrote “I Have Found A Friend in Jesus” as a Salvation Army hymn in 1881.  This hymn is also known as “The Lily of The Valley.”  “I Have Found a Friend in Jesus” first appeared in the Salvation Army’s hymnal in 1881 called “The War Cry.”  Fry’s family was musicians who worked with Salvation Army founder William Booth.

William Shakespeare Hays (1837-1901) set to music the Salvation Army hymn, “I Have Found a Friend in Jesus.”  W.S. Hays was a reporter during the Civil War and wound up in a New Orleans jail for writing Southern sympathy music.  He wrote over 350 songs during his lifetime. 

“I Have Found A Friend in Jesus”

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.

Refrain

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.

Refrain

He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessèd will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessèd face,
Where the rivers of delight shall ever roll.

Refrain

The Salvation Army bands, like The New York Staff band (all brass), continue to play the more popular Salvation Army hymns, such as “I Have Found A Friend in Jesus.”

“I Have Found A Friend in Jesus”

For hymns & gospel songs & praise & worship piano music instruction, click here:

Christian music - piano lessons using piano chords

Copyright 2005 by Shinn Trading Inc.

Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Children Privacy Policy     Terms of Use