Scripture Verse

Without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Introduction

Words: L. Hall, in Dew Drops of Sac­red Song, ed­it­ed by Tul­li­us O’Kane (New York; Cin­cin­nati, Ohio; Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois; and St. Lou­is, Mis­sou­ri: Phi­lip Phillips and Hitch­cock & Wal­den, 1870), num­ber 6.

Music: Wall Street Tul­li­us C. O’Kane (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Hall’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Tullius C. O’Kane (1830–1912)

The fol­low­ing lines were sug­gest­ed by the dy­ing langu­age of Mrs. Emi­ly L. Frei­sner. Af­ter par­tak­ing of ho­ly com­mun­ion, she looked around up­on her fa­mi­ly and friends, and said: What can I do now with­out Je­sus?

Dew Drops of Sac­red Song, 1870

Lyrics

What can I do with­out Je­sus,
When full of life’s bur­dens and care?
His love and pro­tect­ion so pre­cious,
I’ll seek ev­ery mo­ment to share.

Refrain

Oh, yes, I’ll now cling to Je­sus—
To Je­sus I’ll cling and be saved;
I’ll fol­low His foot­steps with glad­ness,
Till I see Him in glo­ry ar­rayed.

What can I do with­out Je­sus,
When sor­rows un­bid­den arise?
Oh, when I am filled with deep sad­ness,
As on­ward I press to the skies.

Refrain

What can I do with­out Je­sus,
When Sa­tan comes in like a flood—
O’erwhelming my soul with dread ang­uish,
To draw me away from my God?

Refrain

What can I do with­out Je­sus,
When sick­ness and pain are se­vere,
And earth can no com­fort af­ford me?
Oh, then may my Sav­ior be near.

Refrain

What can I do with­out Je­sus,
When near­ing the dark, chil­ly wave?
Alone I must pass through the sha­dow
If none can be near me to save.

Refrain