Precious Lord Take My Hand

Scripture Meditation

Isaiah 41:13  For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

lyrics by Thomas Dorsey 1932

music adapted from "Maitland" by George Allen by Thomas Dorsey

Thomas Andrew Dorsey's wife died in childbirth,  and within a few days the child died as well.   Shortly afterward Dorsey wrote these lyrics.  He sang his new son to a friend, and it was performed by the choir at Ebenezer Baptist Church the following Sunday.  He was the son of a Baptist minister and wrote secular songs for Bessie Smith, Tampa Red, and Ma Rainey.  This is considered his most memorable sacred song, though Peace in the Valley is surely a close second.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand has been recorded by Mahalia Jackson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, and Elvis Presley.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. named this as his favorite Gospel song and had asked that it be sung at the rally held the night before his assassination.  It was also sung at the funeral of President Lyndon Johnson, at his request.

George Andrew Nelson was a professor of sacred music and a professor of geology and natural history at Oberlin College.