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1 I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.
2 Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.
3 The world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me;
no turning back, no turning back.
Source: Hymns of Promise: a large print songbook #85
First Line: | I have decided to follow Jesus |
Title: | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus |
Author: | Anonymous |
Meter: | 10.10.10.8 |
Language: | English |
Liturgical Use: | Songs of Response |
There are a variety of different stories about the origin of this hymn. All of them agree that it was written in northeastern India by someone facing persecution for his or her faith who wanted to affirm loyalty to Christ. In some accounts, an Indian convert is the author. One of the more dramatic and widespread stories comes from the book Why God, Why? by Dr. P. P. Job, in which a Christian missionary first sang this song as he and his family were being murdered for their faith.
Whatever its origin, this song has been passed down as a folk song, and the number of stanzas and their content varies. Three stanzas appear in virtually every version. The opening stanza is always “I have decided.” “The world behind me” and “Though none go with me” are always included, in some order. Another common stanza is “Will you decide now to follow Jesus?” which is usually fourth. Some hymnals do not include this hymn because it implies, especially in the opening line, that salvation is purely a human decision.
This text is always sung to the melody that was passed down with it – ASSAM, which is named after a region in northeastern India. It is an Indian folk song, probably from the Garo tribe. This tune is quite flexible in terms of accompaniment style and tempo. Choose a tempo that will accentuate the desired mood, whether it is slow for quiet meditation on the seriousness of commitment to Christ, or a more upbeat, march-like style. It is simple enough to be easily learned, and therefore could work very well unaccompanied.
This song is appropriate whenever a song of commitment is desired. For use as service or special music, a variety of choral settings exist, often combining this text with another. “No Turning Back with 'I Have Decided to Follow Jesus'” combines this folk hymn with an original song by Joel Raney for SATB choir, unison choir (either children or adult voices), and rhythm section. “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is a slow, contemplative choral arrangement of this simple song. Another setting of “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” includes a stanza of “He Leadeth Me” in a three-part choral setting. This combination of texts reminds us that, though we may claim to have “made a decision” to follow Christ, nevertheless God is the One who leads us.
Tiffany Shomsky, Hymnary.org
Instances (1 - 30 of 30) | Title | First Line | Tune | Tune Key | Author | Meter | Scripture | Date | Subject | Source | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small Church Music #501 | Assam | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Unknown | ![]() | ||||||||||||
African American Heritage Hymnal #400 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Matthew 8:19 | 2001 | Cross | of the believer | Ascribed to an Indian prince; as sung in Garo, Assam | ![]() | |||||||||
Ambassador Hymnal: for Lutheran worship #501 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | I HAVE DECIDED | 10 10 10 4 4 | 1994 | Aspiration | ; Challenge | ; Children's Hymns | ; Choruses | ; Commitment | ; Confirmation | ; Decision | ; Discipleship | ; Sanctification | | Attributed to an Indian prince as sung in Garo, Assam | ||||||||||
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #305 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | John Clark | 10.10.10.8. | John 12:26 | 1991 | Garo Christians | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Baptist Hymnal 2008 #434 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | John Clark | 10.10.10.8. | 2008 | Surrender, Submission | | Garo Christians (sts. 1, 2) | |||||||||
Celebrating Grace Hymnal #497 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | John Clark | 10.10.10.8 | 2010 | The Church at Worship | Commitment; Commitment | ; Discipleship | | Garo Christians of India (st. 1, 2, and 4) | ![]() | ||||||||
Chalice Hymnal #344 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Anonymous | 10 10 10.8 | 1995 | God's Church | The Church at Worship: Invitation to Discipleship; Acceptance of Christ | ; Discipleship | ; Invitation | | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #575 | I have decided to follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | 2000 | ||||||||||||||
Complete Mission Praise #272 | I have decided to follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | Irr | 2000 | |||||||||||||
Hymns for a Pilgrim People: a congregational hymnal #322 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | 10.10.10.8 | John 12:26 | 2007 | Conversion | ; Discipleship | ; Faithfulness | ; Gospel Call and Response | ; Obedience | ; Repentance | | Ascribed to an Indian prince; as sung in Garo, Assam | |||||||||
Hymns of Faith #299 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | Matthew 8:19; Luke 9:62 | 1980 | Invitation | for Consecration | Unknown | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
Hymns of Promise: a large print songbook #85 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | S. Sundar Singh, 1889-1929 | 10.10.10.8. | 2015 | Walking in Faith | | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #613 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | 10 10 10 8 | Matthew 4:20; Matthew 8:19; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 19:27; John 8:12; Hebrews 12:1-3; Revelation 14:4 | 2012 | Commitment | ; Courage | ; Cross | ; Discipleship | | Ascribed to an Indian prince; as sung in Garo, Assam | |||||||||
Lift Every Voice and Sing II: an African American hymnal #136 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | 1993 | Hymns and Songs | Baptism and Conversion | as sung in Garo, Assam; Ascribed to an Indian Prince | ![]() | ||||||||||
New Hymns of Hope #116 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | S. Sundar Singh, 1889-1929 | 10.10.10.8. | Commitment | | ![]() | ||||||||||
Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #454 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | 1979 | Commitment | | Attributed to an Indian prince | ![]() | ||||||||||
Rejoice Hymns #399 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | 10.10.10.8. | Mark 10:21 | 2011 | Choruses | ; Consecration | ; Discipleship | ; Invitation | ; Missions and Evangelism | ; Obedience | ; Testimony | | Unknown | |||||||||
Sing and Rejoice!: new hymns for congregations #39 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | James E. Byrne | 1979 | Commitment | ; Discipleship | ; Faith | ; Holy Spirit | ; Joy | ; Suffering and Death | | |||||||||||
Sing Joyfully #427 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | 1989 | Unknown | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||
Sing the Faith #2129 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Anon. | 10.10.10.8 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Songs for Life #226 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | Anonymous | 1995 | Living in God's World | Walking with God | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||||
Soul-stirring Songs & Hymns (Rev. ed.) #316 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | 1989 | Consecration | ; Youth | | Garo, Assam</i>, As sung in | |||||||||||
The Celebration Hymnal: songs and hymns for worship #602 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Irregular meter | 1997 | Walking with God | Commitment and Obedience | Source unknown | ![]() | |||||||||
The Cyber Hymnal #2805 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | Anonymous | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||
The Faith We Sing #2129 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Anon. | 10.10.10.8 | 2001 | Grace | Invitation | ![]() | |||||||||
The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #376 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Irregular meter | 1986 | Commitment and Consecration | ; Discipleship | ; Invitation and Acceptance | ; Testimony and Praise | ; Youth Songs and Hymns | | Source unknown | ![]() | |||||||||
The New National Baptist Hymnal #164 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | 1994 | Attributed to an Indian prince; As sung in Garo, Assam | ||||||||||||
The Worshiping Church #576 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Anonymous | Irregular | Joshua 24:15; Matthew 8:19; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 26:33 | 1990 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Timeless Truths #168 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | [I have decided to follow Jesus] | S. Sundar Singh | 10.10.10.8 R | Luke 9:57 | Decision | | Timeless Truths (http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Have_Decided_to_Follow_Jesus); http://www.gottesbotschaft.de/?pg=2045 (18 August 2008); Anonymous/Unknown, <i>The Blue Book</i> (68) | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Worship and Rejoice #344 | I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | I have decided to follow Jesus | ASSAM | Anonymous | 10.10.10.8. | Matthew 4:20; Revelation 14:4; Matthew 19:27; Joshua 23:15; Hebrews 12:1-3; Matthew 16:24; John 8:12; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 26:58; Matthew 8:19; Matthew 26:33 | 2008 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |