If you Wish to be my Disciple (Take up your cross and follow me)

This is a folk-style hymn about discipleship. The words are based on on a number statements made by Jesus, recorded in different parts of the Bible.

It was written by Indian Roman Catholic priest, musician, liturgist and composer, Aniceto Nazareth (1938-2021).

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Nazareth. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of D, the first few notes of the melody are FF EE D FA A E_.

Downloads

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Lead sheet (melody + guitar chords)

PowerPoint slides

Examples

Choir with electronic keyboard - words on-screen:

Children's choir with electronic keyboard:

Singer with keyboard:

Small group with electronic keyboard:

Lyrics

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

Chorus:
If you wish to be my disciple,
Take up your cross and follow me.
If you wish to be my disciple,
Take up your cross and follow me.

1 The foxes have their holes, the birds their nest,
but I have not a place to take my rest.

2 Whoever loves his life, will only lose it,
It’s only sacrifice that brings one gain.

3 All you who labour, come you who are burdened,
take up my yoke as well and you’ll find rest.

4 The one who holds the plough and looks behind,
my Kingdom cannot serve, my peace won’t find.

5 A servant surely is less than his master,
if they have hated me, they will hate you.

6 Take nothing for your pay, no bread, no money,
your treasure must be one no moth destroys.

7 So let your loins be girt, your lamps aburning,
and be like those who wait for my return.

8 You who have followed me, when life is ended,
will reap a hundredfold eternally.

ABC Notation

About ABC notation

T:If you Wish to be my Disciple
C:
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dmaj
F>F EE "D"D2 FA | A2 "Em"E2 z F GA | "G"B3 G F2 F2 | "A"A4 |
w:If you wish to be my di-sci-ple, take up your cross and fol-low me.
F>F EE "D"D2 FA | A2 "Em"E2 z F GA | "G"B3 G F2 F2 | "D"D4 ||
w:If you wish to be my di-sci-ple, take up your cross and fol-low me.
z F GA |"G" B>B B2 z "Em"G Bc | "F#m"A4 z "Bm"D EF | "Em"G>G G2 z C "A"DE | "D"F4 ]
w:1~~~The foxes_ have their holes, the birds their nest, but I have not a place to take my rest.

See more ...

• Hymns about discipleship
• Hymns about following Jesus

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Chorus:
If you wish to be my disciple, Take up your cross and follow me.
If you wish to be my disciple, Take up your cross and follow me.

1 The foxes have their holes, the birds their nest, but I have not a place to take my rest.

2 Whoever loves his life, will only lose it, It’s only sacrifice that brings one gain.

3 All you who labour, come you who are burdened, take up my yoke as well and you’ll find rest.

4 The one who holds the plough and looks behind, my Kingdom cannot serve, my peace won’t find.

5 A servant surely is less than his master, if they have hated me, they will hate you.

6 Take nothing for your pay, no bread, no money, your treasure must be one no moth destroys.

7 So let your loins be girt, your lamps aburning, and be like those who wait for my return.

8 You who have followed me, when life is ended, will reap a hundredfold eternally.