When this hymn was first published in 1873, this Bible verse was included underneath the title: “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5 KJV). Each of the first four stanzas of this hymn dwells on a different facet of our dependence on God: our need for His peace, our inability to resist temptation alone, our need to find true meaning in life, and our desire to see God's promises fulfilled. The fifth stanza is an intense plea for God's presence.
Text:
The stanzas of this hymn were written by a housewife, Annie S. Hawks, in 1872. She belonged to the church where Robert Lowry was pastor, and she showed him her poem. Lowry wrote the lyrics of the refrain. The song was first sung publicly at the 1872 meeting of the National Baptist Sunday School Association in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its first publication was in 1873 in a Sunday School hymnbook compiled by Lowry and William H. Doane, Royal Diadem for the Sunday School.
The first line of each stanza is identical. There are slight variances on which of the original five stanzas are included in hymnals. Some contain all five, while others omit one stanza, usually either the fourth (second line “teach me thy will”) or the fifth (second line “Most Holy One”).
The theme of the text is our constant need for God's presence. The first four stanzas each deal with a particular part of life, and the fifth stanza intensifies the plea that we truly become disciples of Christ.
Tune:
When his parishioner, Annie Hawks, showed him her hymn, Robert Lowry wrote the tune NEED, to which this hymn is always sung. His widow wanted the tune called I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR, but hymnal editors usually shorten the name.
This tune is short and simple. It has a repeating rhythmic pattern that makes it easy to learn, and its range is within a octave.
When/Why/How:
This hymn can be used whenever a hymn of devotion is needed. It could be used as a prelude, offertory, or choral anthem to provide the congregation with a time for reflection and silent prayer. Mark Hayes has written two medley settings including “I Need Thee Every Hour” that are suitable for contemporary or blended worship services. One is “Draw Me Close/I Need Thee Every Hour,” a combination of a contemporary worship song and this hymn, that is flexible enough for a variety of musical resources. Try this anthem with any vocal ensemble of youth or adults and an accompaniment varying from just the piano to the whole praise team. Another combination is the gospel song “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” with “I Need Thee Every Hour” for choir and piano, with optional rhythm parts.
For more traditional services, piano solo settings of “I Need Thee Every Hour” are included in the collections “Gospel Hymns We Love” and “Hymnprovisations.”
Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org
Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia, March 12, 1826. His fondness for music was exhibited in his earliest years. As a child he amused himself with the various musical instruments that came into his hands. At the age of seventeen he joined the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and soon became an active worker in the Sunday-school as teacher and chorister.
At the age of twenty-two he gave himself to the work of the ministry, and entered upon a course of study at the University of Lewisburg, Pa. At the age of twenty-eight he was graduated with the highest honors of his class. In the same year of his graduation, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He served as pastor at West Chester, Pa., 1851-1858; in New York City, 1859-1861;… Go to person page >
Hawks, Annie Sherwood. Mrs. Hawks was born in Hoosick, N. Y., May 28, 1835, and has resided for many years at Brooklyn. Her hymns were contributed to Bright Jewels, Pure Gold, Boyal Diadem, Brightest and Best, Temple Anthems, Tidal Wave, and other popular Sunday School hymnbooks. They include "I need Thee every hour" (written April, 1872), "Thine, most gracious Lord," "Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" and others of the same type.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)… Go to person page >
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