1. Jesus loves me! this I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong. 2. Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, "Let them come to Me." 3. Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live. 4. Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee. 5. Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven's gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. 6. Jesus loves me! loves me still, Though I'm very weak and ill; From His shining throne on high, Comes to watch me where I lie. 7. Jesus love the children dear, Children far away or near; They are safe when in His care, Ev'ry day and ev'rywhere. 8. Jesus, take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine; Thou has bled and died for me; I will henceforth live for Thee. Chorus: Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me; The Bible tells me so.
Lyrics: Anna Bartlett Warner, altered
Music:
William Batchelder Bradbury
Tune: JESUS LOVES ME
Meter: 7.7.7.7. with Refrain
Anna B. Warner, 1820–1915
The story is told of a brilliant professor at Princeton Seminary who always left his graduation class with these words: “Gentlemen, there is still much in this world and in the Bible that I do not understand, but of one thing I am certain—‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so’—and gentlemen, that is sufficient!”
Without doubt the song that has been sung more by children than any other hymn is this simply stated one by Anna Warner. Written in 1860, it is still one of the first hymns taught to new converts in other lands.
Miss Warner wrote this text in collaboration with her sister Susan. It was part of their novel Say and Seal, one of the best selling books of that day. Today few individuals would know or remember the plot of that story, which once stirred the hearts of many readers. But the simple poem spoken by one of the characters, Mr. Linden, as he comforts Johnny Fax, a dying child, still remains the favorite hymn of countless children around the world.
William Bradbury, the composer of the music, was one of the leading contributors to the development of early gospel music in America. He became recognized as one of the pioneers in children’s music both for the church and in the public schools. In 1861 Bradbury composed the music for Anna Warner’s text and personally added the chorus to her four stanzas. The hymn appeared the following year in Bradbury’s hymnal collection, The Golden Sower. It had an immediate response.