For me to Live is Christ, to Die is Gain - White

This is a folk-style hymn about salvation in Christ. 

It was written by evangelist Keith White (sometimes incorrectly called J White - ref).    The text is based on Philippians 1 v 21.  The song was published in Youth Praise 2 in the late 1960s / early 1970s, but this is now out-of-print.   According to this post it is in the public domain.

The unnamed tune was also written by White. No sheet music has been located, so far.



Downloads

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Examples

Solo singer, unaccompanied:


Children's choir with piano:


Small choir with piano, recorded Live:


Singer with guitar, semi-professional recording, words on-screen:


Lyrics

Chorus:
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
To hold His hand and walk
His narrow way.
There is no peace, no joy, no thrill,
Like walking in His will.
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

Now once my heart was full of sin and shame.
'Til someone told me Jesus came to save.
When He said "Come home to me"
He set my poor heart free.
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

Now there are things that I still do not know,
But of this one thing I'm completely sure:
He who called me on that day washed all my sin away.
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

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9 comments:

  1. How wonderful,sweet and honest. Praise you LORD

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  2. There seems to be a typo here. It should read 'For me to live IS Christ (not IN Christ). I remember singing this regularly as a teenager and the words and music were recalled recently in a study of Philippians. A powerful reminder of living FOR Christ but knowing that we are in a win-win situation.

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  3. I think the author was Keith White, not J White.

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  4. Perfect this reminds me of the price he paid at Calvary that I have to love each day for him because indeed for me to live is Chris to die is gain

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  5. How sad this song has dropped out of usage. It expresses so beautifully the faith of Paul, and our hope and faith in Christ.

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  6. Amen. Our HS Glee club Director, Ms Atkinson, drilled this piece into the 8 members "Boys Ensemble" 46 years ago. Yes, Anne Kavanagh "IS Christ alone" as we are now dead, having believed that Christ died for us and in us lives. He is risen! Praise be to God. Lord of All.

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  7. We are worshiping out of Phil. 1 this morning, and we are singing this piece as one of our selections. I was unsure of the author. Thanks for the information.

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  8. The songs author Keith White went to Glory on Tuesday, 24th January, 2023. He was a man of God!

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  9. The songs writer Keith White went to Glory on Tuesday, 24th January, 2023. He was a great man of God!

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