The Word Chapel
Hymnal
The Word Chapel
923 Vanderbilt St.
Birmingham, Alabama  35206
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Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
Psalm 119:169
Pastor:
Chaplain Larry McDowell
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Click on the song's name to view the written lyrics for the hymn. If there is a video link, then clicking on it will reveal the lyrics and the music in a presentation of slides so that you can sing to the presentation with the music. It is assumed that all the songs below are in the public domain or that we have permission. If you are the owner of the song rights and feel this is in error, contact the website provider through the contacts link at ChurchProvider.com.
Prayer and Fellowship with God
16
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
By Unknown, probably African American Origins

1
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.

Chorus
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.

2
Through 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.

3
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more,
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom's shore, to Thy shore.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee" is a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists. Performed as either an instrumental or vocal, "A Closer Walk" is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. The title and lyrics of the song allude to the Biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight"[1] and James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."[

The precise author of A Closer Walk is unknown. Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests it dates back to southern African-American churches of the nineteenth century, possibly even prior to the Civil War, as some personal African American histories recall "slaves singing as they worked in the fields a song about walking by the Lord's side." Songs with similar chorus lyrics were published in the 1800s, including "Closer Walk with Thee" with lyrics by Martha J. Lankton and music by William Kirkpatrick, which was published in 1885. Some references in Atchison, Kansas credit an African-American foundry worker and vocalist, Rev. Elijah Cluke (1907-1974), for the current rendition of the song. Just a Closer Walk with Thee became better known nationally in the 1930s when African-American churches held huge musical conventions. In 1940 Kenneth Morris arranged and published for the first time the well-known version after gospel musicians Robert Anderson and R.L. Knowles listened to William B. Hurse direct a performance of it in Kansas City and then brought it to Morris' attention. Morris added some new lyrics and a choral arrangement. In the 1940s, a boom of recordings recorded the number in many genres, ranging from Southern gospel to jazz and brass bands.

Hymn background from:
wikipedia.org
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