I Want to Walk with Jesus Christ / Follow Him Follow Him

This is a folk-style hymn about following Jesus, written during the early 1960s.

The words were written by English music teacher, choir director and church organist, Clive Simmonds in 1964 while we was on a choir trip to Switzerland (ref).

It is set to an unidentified Swiss folk-tune, which is stated to be in the public domain.

Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

• Complete Mission Praise, Marshall Pickering, London, England 1990 - and so also an earlier edition of Mission Praise.
• Songs of Fellowship volume 1, Kingsway Music, UK, 1991.

No in-print published sheet music has been located.   But because the tune is public domain, it is possible to share a lead-sheet which show the tune, chords - and just enough hints about the words for you to complete it if you have a copyright licence which allows this.   (linked below).

Downloads

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Lead sheet (melody + guitar chords) - with minimal words

Examples

Choir with band:

Large church service - congregation with organ and electric guitar, words on-screen:

Duet with guitar, words on-screen:

Singer with piano, words on-screen:

Singer with band / backing track - alternative tune:

Instrumental - flute-voice with backing keyboard.

Instrumental - organ:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1. I want to walk with Jesus Christ all the days I live of this life on earth ...

Chorus:
Follow Him, follow Him, yield your life to Him –
He has conquered death, He is king of kings;
Accept the joy which He gives to those
Who yield their lives to Him.

2. I want to learn to speak to Him, to pray to Him, confess my sin ...

3. I want to learn to speak of Him, my life must show that He lives in me; ...

4. I want to learn to read His word, for this is how I know the way ...

5. O Holy Spirit of the Lord, enter now into this heart of mine;

ABC Notation

About ABC notation

X:1
T:I Want to Walk with Jesus Christ
C:Unknown - Swiss, public domain
C:Words - Clive Simmonds (1964)
Z:abc-transcription www.GodSongs.net
M:3/4
L:1/4
K:Dmaj
F | "D"A2 F |"A7"(G F) E | "D"D2 F | F E D |
"A"E2 G | "A7"G F E | "D"F2 A | "D7"A2 d |
"G"B2 B | (Bc) d |"D"A2 A | A2 d |
"A"c2 A | (AB) c | "D"d3 | d ||
"Chorus" F/2F/2 | "D"A2 F/2F/2 |"A7" G F E | "D"D2 F | F E D |
"A"E2 G | "A7"G F E | "D"F2 A | "D7"A2 d |
"G"B2 B | (Bc) d |"D"A2 A | A2 d |
"A"c2 A | (AB) c | "D"d3 | d |]

See more ...

• Hymns of faith
• Folk-style hymns

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY 1. I want to walk with Jesus Christ
all the days I live of this life on earth;
to give to Him complete control
of body, mind and soul.

Chorus:
Follow Him, follow Him, yield your life to Him –
He has conquered death, He is king of kings;
Accept the joy which He gives to those
Who yield their lives to Him.

2. I want to learn to speak to Him,
to pray to Him, confess my sin
to open my life and let Him in,
for joy will then be mine.

3. I want to learn to speak of Him
my life must show that He lives in me;
my deeds, my thoughts, my words must speak
all of His love for me.

4. I want to learn to read His word,
for this is how I know the way
to live my life as pleases Him,
in holiness and joy.

5. O Holy Spirit of the Lord,
enter now into this heart of mine;
take full control of my selfish will
and make me wholly Thine!