Music for the Soul "Jesus, Thou Art Everything to Me" (Brian Davies & Graham Sapwell)

Music for the Soul #13 – “Jesus, Thou Art Everything to Me” (Vs. Col.Edward H Joy/Ch. Col.Arthur S Arnott/arr. William Himes) Music is the language of the soul, it has a unique and special ability to connect directly to the soul to bring joy, soothe sorrows, relieve stress and stir the emotions. Some sacred songs/hymns seem to suffer the same trends as their secular counterparts – their popularity only lasts until the next popular tune arrives on the scene. Perhaps many would agree that this song is beyond fickle trends and has had new life breathed into it with the Ballantine/Clarke songster piece (Musical Salvationist July 1986) and this later William Himes arrangement (New Songs for Male Voices 1991) based on the original tune (Gems 3 1947). This lovely song of consecration began when Arthur S Arnott composed the chorus “Jesus Thou Art Everything to Me”. Edward Joy heard the chorus at congress meetings in Melbourne and later wrote the verses during a spiritual day for cadets at Clapton (1918/19), where General Bramwell Booth spoke of Christ as the 'Gardener for the Soul'. The verses and the chorus use exactly the same melody in the original and this arrangement. Jesus, tender lover of my soul, Pardoner of my sins, and friend indeed, Keeper of the garden of my heart, Jesus, Thou art everything to me. Jesus, Thou art everything to me; Jesus, Thou art everything to me; All my lasting joys are found in Thee; Jesus, Thou art everything to me. What to me are all the joys of earth? What to me is every sight I see, Save the sight of Thee, O Friend of mine? Jesus, Thou art everything to me. Here I lay me at Thy bleeding feet; Deepest homage now I give to Thee; Hear Thy whispered love within my soul; Jesus, Thou art everything to me.