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1 I am close to the Friend who has banished my shame,
And am singing sweet praises each day to his name;
And, because to redeem me, from heaven he came,
He will always be precious to me.
Refrain:
He will always be precious to me,
He will always be precious to me,
To the end of my story,
Then forever in glory,
He’ll be precious, so precious to me.
2 He has gladdened my life by his wonderful grace,
And has brightened my path by the light of his face;
So his presence divine shall be always my place;
He will always be precious to me. [Refrain]
3 When I meet him at last on the heavenly shore,
What a song in his presence my soul will outpour;
Thru eternity him I will praise more and more;
He will always be precious to me. [Refrain]
Pseudonym: James S. Apple.
James Rowe was born in England in 1865. He served four years in the Government Survey Office, Dublin Ireland as a young man. He came to America in 1890 where he worked for ten years for the New York Central & Hudson R.R. Co., then served for twelve years as superintendent of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. He began writing songs and hymns about 1896 and was a prolific writer of gospel verse with more than 9,000 published hymns, poems, recitations, and other works.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
Display Title: He Will Always Be PreciousFirst Line: I am close to the Friend who has banished my shameTune Title: [I am close to the Friend who has banished my shame]Author: James RoweDate: 1918Subject: Comfort | ; Jesus | Friend, Helper
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