Gospel Song Lyrics

In Memory of George Douglas "Doug" Riefler
(May 6, 1963-March 6, 2005)
by Jack Hayford, Program Director DurangoSong.com

Gospel lyrics so often have a special place in our hearts. Likely that's because so many gospel songs are performed at funerals and wakes and are inherently about the profound topic, GOD.

Such is the case with me and this song, Just A Closer Walk With Thee . On March 6th, 2005, I lost a great friend and the world lost a great young musician, George Douglas Riefler. Doug suffered a fatal heart attack in Jacksonville, Florida. He was just 41 years old.

I think a lot of people have a premonition about their own death shortly before they die. I think Doug had a premonition. I think so because just a few days before his unexpected heart attack, he recorded a video of himself playing the guitar and singing Just A Closer Walk With Thee . He recorded it as a birthday present for his mother and he had emailed it to her. Doug's family showed the clip at his funeral. To me, Doug never looked better. Never sang with such inspiration. Never seemed happier.

Doug's little three-minute music video is a treasure , no doubt, for Doug's family, and a reminder of his special talent, and the beauty of his eternal soul.

After the funeral I asked Doug's sister what, if anything, I could do as a comfort to the family. "Keep the memory of Doug's music alive," she said.

This little article and the words to Just A Closer Walk With Thee are my humble attempt to do just that. God Bless You, Doug...thanks for the good times we had together and the many laughs we shared.

Just A Closer Walk With Thee*
( Traditional )

I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

Thru' this world of toil and snares
If I falter, Lord, who cares
Who with me my burden shares
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

*This song has been recorded hundreds of times by dozens of such diverse artists as Red Foley, Louis Armstrong and Ike and Tina Turner. It is the title song of a newly released CD of recordings by the late, great Roy Acuff ("The Great Speckled Bird") . See Roy Acuff's CD .

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He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,

He's got the wind and the rain in His hands,
He's got the wind and the rain in His hands,
He's got the wind and the rain in His hands,
He's got the wind and the rain in His hands,

He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,

He's got you and me in His hands,
He's got you and me in His hands,
He's got you and me in His hands,
He's got you and me in His hands,

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Some versions of the hymn include an additional verse:

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

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On the wings of a snow white dove
He sends his pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

When trouble surrounds us
When evils come
The body grows weak
The spirit grows numb
When these things beset us
He doesn't forget us
He sends down his love
On the wings of a dove

(Chorus)

On the wings of a snow white dove
He sends his pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

When Noah had drifted
On the flood many days
He searched for land
In various ways
Troubles he had some
But wasn't forgotten
He sent down his love
On the wings of a dove

(Chorus)

On the wings of a snow white dove
He sends his pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

On the wings of a snow white dove
He sends his pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

According to Wikipedia , "During the period of slavery in the United States prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865), slaves sang some spiritual songs that bore hidden, non-religious content. The hidden content of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was to encourage other slaves of the U.S. Southern states that the 'Chariot' drivers ( Underground Railroad [slave escape route] 'conductors') would someday enable their safe escape to freedom."

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home

I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home
A band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home

(Chorus)

If you get there before I do
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all my friends I'm coming too
Coming for to carry me home

(Chorus)

Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul feels heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home

(Chorus)

Artist Song Name Composer Composition Instrument

Note: Many historians have claimed that this is the song played by the band on the Titanic as she sank. The controversy continues.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E?en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I?d be nearer, my God to Thee.

Refrain

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav?n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I?ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I?ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

There in my Father?s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior?s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

Refrain

Click here to hear this hymn played at CyberHymnal.org.

Some reports say that it was this hymn, not Nearer, My God, to Thee , that was played by the Titanic's band as she slipped into the frosty deep.

God of mercy and compassion!
Look with pity on my pain:
Hear a mournful, broken spirit
Prostrate at Thy feet complain;
Many are my foes, and mighty;
Strength to conquer I have none;
Nothing can uphold my goings
But Thy blessed Self alone.

Saviour, look on Thy beloved;
Triumph over all my foes;
Turn to heavenly joy my mourning,
Turn to gladness all my woes;
Live or die, or work or suffer,
Let my weary soul abide,
In all changes whatsoever
Sure and steadfast by Thy side.

When temptations fierce assault me,
When my enemies I find,
Sin and guilt, and death and Satan,
All against my soul combined,
Hold me up in mighty waters,
Keep my eyes on things above,
Righteousness, divine Atonement,
Peace, and everlasting Love.

Following are some interesting facts from Wikipedia , about what many consider to be America's other National Anthem :

"Katharine Lee Bates (August 12, 1859 - March 26, 1929), is remembered as the author of the words to the anthem, 'America the Beautiful.'

"Bates was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The daughter of a Congregational pastor, she graduated from Wellesley College in 1880 and for many years was a professor of English literature at Wellesley. She lived there with her partner Katharine Coman, who herself was a history and political economy teacher and founder of the Wellesley College Economics department. The same-sex pair lived together for twenty-five years until Coman's death in 1915.

"The first draft of America the Beautiful was hastily jotted in a notebook during the summer of 1893, which Miss Bates spent teaching English at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Later she remembered,

"'One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.'

"Several existing pieces of music were adapted to the poem. The hymn Materna, composed in 1882 by Samuel A. Ward, was generally considered the best music as early as 1910 and is still the popular tune today.

Ray Charles is credited with the song's most well known rendition in current times (although Elvis Presley had a good success with it in the 70s)."

America The Beautiful Lyrics

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful, for pilgrims' feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

Oh beautiful, for patriot's dream
That sees beyond the years!
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

This famous hymn was popularized by gospel singer George Beverly Shea who sang it regularly during the Reverend Billy Graham Crusades.

Elvis Presley made a famous recording of the song in 1972.

Verse 1:

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power through-out the universe displayed.

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Verse 2

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Verse 3

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

Verse 4

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God. how great Thou art!

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Gotta Serve Somebody

You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a business man or some high degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk,
You may be the head of some big TV network,
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame,
You may be living in another country under another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a construction worker working on a home,
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome,
You might own guns and you might even own tanks,
You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side,
You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair,
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy,
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy,
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray,
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

The Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum is an outgrowth of a memorial cross erected and dedicated on September 14, 1954, north of Reed City, Michigan, near the Home of Rev. and Mrs. George Bennard. Rev. Bennard was the author of the well-loved hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross," written in 1913.

This song is included on Eartha Kit and the 100 Voices Gospel Choir's ? My Way: Musical Tribute to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I?ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ?twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He?ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I?ll share.

Refrain

Hear this famous hymn played at CyberHymnal.org .