1. Jesus, keep me near the cross There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary's mountain. 2. Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams around me. 3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day With its shadow o'er me. 4. Near the cross I'll watch and wait, Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand Just beyond the river. Chorus: In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest, beyond the river.
Lyrics:
Frances Jane (Fanny J.) Crosby
Music:
William Howard Doane
Tune: NEAR THE CROSS
Meter: 7.6.7.6. with Refrain
Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915
“Near the Cross,” was written by Fanny Crosby and first published in 1869. As with many of her other 8,000 hymn texts, Fanny Crosby wrote this poem to fit an existing tune that had been composed by William H. Doane. Although she worked with a number of other gospel musicians, William Doane was Fanny Crosby’s principal collaborator. Doane was a very successful business man in Cincinnati, as well as a composer and publisher of numerous gospel songs. He was a very wealthy man when he died and he left much of his fortune to philanthropic causes, including the construction of the Doane Memorial Music Building at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.