Scripture Verse

Jesus looking upon him, loved him. Mark 10:21

Introduction

portrait
Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by, in The Wells of Sal­va­tion (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1881), num­ber 44.

Music: John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

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John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Lyrics

Though kin­dred ties around us
Like ivy branch­es twine,
Though life has many plea­sures
That o’er my path­way shine,
Though words to friend­ship sacred
More sweet than mu­sic fall,
One look, one smile from Je­sus
Is dear­er far than all.

Refrain

Dearer, yes, dear­er,
Dearer far than all,
One look, one smile from Je­sus,
Is dear­er far than all.

We meet in Chris­tian con­verse,
We speak of joys to come,
We lift our eyes ex­pect­ant
To Ed­en’s bliss­ful home;
Though sweet and pre­cious bless­ings
With ev­ery mo­ment fall,
One look, one smile, from Je­sus
Is dear­er far than all.

Refrain

One look, one smile from Je­sus,
For whom our souls would live,
Not Heav’n’s trans­cend­ent beau­ty
Such ho­ly joy can give;
Beyond the si­lent ri­ver
Though spi­rit voic­es call,
One look, one smile, from Jes­us
Is dear­er far than all.

Refrain