Today’s post was written by Paul.
Granny and I have always loved the beautiful, true hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
The sublime lyrics were written in 1855 by Joseph M. Scriven. The beautiful melody was later composed by Charles Converse. The hymn is still widely popular today.
Although Granny and I have often sung the song separately, we had never sung it together. We also never sang it exactly the way it is in the book, so you will see/hear us start to sing a little tentatively at the beginning of several lines.
This hymn is one of those hymns where each verse and each chorus has two halves, and those halves can be moved around and interchanged with other parts of the song, and it still works, almost as well as if sung in the correct order. For me, that can make it easier to sing the wrong words at the wrong time, and once I sing them out of order, it makes it harder for me to remember what could come next to make the song work without repeating any lines.
Of all the videos that Granny and I have uploaded together, I think this may be about the best harmony that she has sung. In most of the other songs, we wound up singing a double lead in a few places, but not in this song.
I think the first take was better than the second one, but I thought our Acorns might get a kick out of the take with the phone ringing. I kind of went off the rails a little once the phone started ringing, but we managed to finish the song. I also sang a little too loud in places during the second take.
Although I think the first take was best, I think Granny really nailed the line “who will all our sorrows share” in the second take, so that take was worth including.
I hope all of our Acorns enjoyed getting to see Granny’s new sweater that she just finished. Granny and I hope this song brings you great comfort and joy, knowing that we have the greatest, most perfect Friend that anyone could ever have, the Lord Jesus Christ. As is often the case with such masterpieces, there’s a wonderful story behind “What a Friend We have in Jesus.” You can read it here.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
That was so sweet. I needed that this morning. I miss Granny… love you all.❤️
This is such a beautiful hymn and Granny & Paul did a great job! My eyes tear up as I think of how this video has saved this memory for ever and ever. All my love to Granny and yes her sweater is beautiful.
Hearing this sung the best I’ve ever heard it made my own heart sing. Sometime have the twins join you both or maybe Tipper! Thank you! And Ms. Cheryl, I too have been depressed and lonely along with my only child being upset with me. I understand. I am praying for a sweet time with your mother and one soon with your daughter. Until then and after, remember What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Bless your heart, Sandi. So sorry your situation is like mine. Thank you so much for your comment & encouraging words. Hopefully our depression will pass soon & we will once again have a good relationship with our child. I feel like I have to walk on eggshells with my daughter & son-in-law. Most of the time I really don’t know what to say to them. I will be praying for you, too. Sending a hug to you, my friend.
loved this Paul and Granny! really loved Granny’s sweater!
Beautiful singing, Granny and Paul! Granny, you look lovely in your new sweater!
Takes me right back to summer tent revival meetings I attended with my Mamaw when I was a kid. Most often sung by the congregants as folks streamed to the front to be saved. When we ran out of verses the preacher would start feeding us words. Tent sides rolled up, crickets creaking, fireflies outside, and most importantly waiting for the popsicle I was promised if I didn’t fidget. Thank you both. I can still hear Mamaw singing right beside me.
It’s always a delight to here you both sing together . We do have A FRIEND IN JESUS !
I love this song and enjoyed listening to Granny and Paul sing it.
I love this. I love all the singing of you and Granny plus the ones with you and the girls. I would love to hear the girls sing with Granny!
Beautiful song & singing, Paul & Granny! Granny, I love that pretty peacock blue sweater you made. How long did it take you to make it?
Asking for prayer from everyone. I’ve been dealing with bad depression & feeling very lonely. Also, a text statement I sent to my daughter sharing my thoughts on something upset her & made her mad. I have apologized by text & told her I didn’t mean to upset her or make her mad and that I love her with all my heart. I don’t understand why I can’t share my feelings without upsetting or making her mad. This texting like with my daughter is so
foreign to me at my age of 73. Why can’t we talk on the phone? These younger folks just want to text. So, this discord with my daughter & the only child I have left since my son got killed 14 yrs ago, has upset me & made my depression worse. Will be going to visit my 98 yr old Mom in Assisted Living today & will try to put on a happy face for her. I visit Mom almost every day. I am a tormented soul right now, and need all the prayers I can get. Please everyone, pray for me.
Cheryl, I’m so sorry. I will pray for you and for your daughter.
Tipper, thank you so much for your prayers. Why can’t all families be like yours?
I will pray for you too Cheryl.
Brenda, thank you so much for your prayers. You are sweet.
Miss Cheryl, I’ll be thinking of you and praying for you and your daughter. Life is hard and the loss you have suffered in the past does not make it easy. Honey just remember our God in heaven can get us through anything and everything. We must have trust, faith and belief in Him and lay our burdens at His feet. He will get you through them all. Bless you friend. I’m sending you my friendship and hope for you to recover from this depression and live your life to the fullest. Someone cares. Especially God.
Jennifer, you are so sweet. Thank you for your prayers & encouraging words & I’m sending my friendship right back to you. Thank you also for caring. You are a special person & I’m sending you a warm hug. And you are so right, I believe with all my heart that the good Lord will hold my hand & get me through this as he has so many times. God bless you, friend!
thanks both of you love it have you considered doing a c d or similar together would definately be up for buyong that have a beautiful week all of you best wishes from christchurch new zealand 6 27 am monday morning its now june already wgere did the time go must have blinked and missed some of it
We first meet him as a Saviour who transforms our life. Then we begin to know him as a friend. While as we are learning that, we also begin learning how great a friend he is. Just one of his acts of friendship was to inspire Joseph Striven to write that hymn to their friendship and see that it was published to bless the world. Along the way, Joseph got a mark in history. I hear youth in Granny’s voice yet, though I also know my voice is not now what it once was. No matter age though, when there is grace in the heart it can be heard in the sound.
Hi folks. What a beautiful hymn to start a beautiful day, spending time praising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Granny, that royal blue is a great color choice for you. Brightens your sweet face along with that lovely smile you have. Enjoyed your blog Paul and also with your momma singing too. Comes from the heart. That’s so easy to tell. Have a blessed week and looking forward to the next time. Blessings to your followers and that sweet family of yours. Your momma and papa did a great job raising y’all. Later friends. J.
Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing. Granny I love your sweater. I wish I could crochet like that. Hope y’all have a very blessed week.
I loved hearing this today. It lifted my heart so much. I lost my husband last month unexpectedly. It is hard to keep going. This was precious to me. Thank you Granny and Paul.❤️
Diana, I’m so sorry you lost him.
“What a privilege “ to get to hear the two of y’all sing that great song. Thanks so much for sharing the talent both of y’all have and especially getting to have a connection with Mrs. Wilson.
This was beautiful! What a treasure to record these songs with Granny. I agree with Allen and Tricia’s comments about missing the old hymns we grew up with hardly being sung in church anymore, and younger folks not being blessed by the old hymns’ redeeming words echoing the message in the Bible. Granny, as always, is beautiful. And I always love seeing the pictures of Pap and Granny as “youngsters” that are on the wall above the sofa.
Thank you for blessing us this morning. Granny is just precious. I really adore her sweaters. What I would give just to wear one of her hand-made treasures, each stitch crafted with love.
This was a beautiful harmony! I guess I preferred the 1st take too. The phone ringing was a little funny but I guess it messed up your thought process. Still sounded great, though. Always a blessing to hear you both sing together!
Beautiful!! Always a blessing to hear you and Granny sing these wonderful old hymns.
P.S. thank you Paul for sharing the story behind the song.
Such a beautiful old hymn and beautifully done by you & Granny. I have an old hymnal and love to go through it often just to ‘hear’ these oldies as many of the modern ones do not seem to have the same peaceful heart worship as the oldies. Paul – is that a picture of Granny & Pap just over her left shoulder? Have a blessed Sunday Wilson & Pressley family! I am thankful for you all and the blessing you all are. It is my 84th birthday today and I am thankful and blessed for the truth of this hymn of what a friend we have in Jesus! He has walked with me through some bumpy and/or dark valleys. He is my best Friend.
Wanita, happy birthday! I hope you’ve had a great day! The pictures are Granny and Pap 🙂
I agree that this is Granny’s best harmony I have ever heard. She looks and acts like she is feeling good, and that makes me so happy. Everything is beautiful in today’s post, especially Granny modeling her new sweater.
T’would be a great support to Granny and Paul if all the readers of this blog, who enjoyed this song, would go on YouTube and give them a Thumbs Up and a Comment. I’ve looked and, so far, none have done it. I’ll look again later on!
There are a few of you to whom I need to apologize. I know you have already commented and thumbs upped. I was of a mind to put that in my comment but it escaped me until I had already clicked on “post comment”.
To both Allen and Tricia, I am in full agreement with both of you about today’s so called religious/gospel music. Tricia, I have heard these repetitive songs that are being sung today called dementia music or seven eleven music- say 7 words over and over for eleven times. My old country church still sings the old time hymns from the Baptist Hymnal. A young person told me the old style churches are boring, these new churches and music are entertaining. I told her I go to church to worship, I go to a movie theater for entertainment. I went to one of these churches one time and thought I was at a movie theater, they were popping popcorn and passing it out and then when the service started I thought I was at a rock concert.
This is one of my favorites from childhood and I know most of the words by heart. Granny has such a sweet voice, and she and Paul sound so good together. Her sweater is beautiful. The blue looks so good with her white hair.
as always it does my heart and soul good to hear you and Granny sing hymns together…..if I lived nearby I would bribe Granny with anything I could just to get her to make me one of those sweaters–she seems to be able to make them as quickly as if it was just a simple pot holder instead of difficult sweater. I have yet to see a color on her that does not look good-the blue is gorgeous
I love this song. I often played it in church as a young girl. Granny and Paul did a wonderful job singing and playing. I just love your new sweater, Granny. It looks so pretty on you.
Me and my sister Charlesetta have sung this song all over Sevier County churches. It brings such joy to hear you and your beautiful granny sing it. Thank you. What a wonderful Godly mother. She looks so pretty in her sweater with that white hair. My mother loved her flowers and bright colors. I sure do miss her. She taught me and Charlesetta to sing and harmonize together as young little girls. My parents lived their lives for the Lord. We kids were blessed to have parents that loved the Lord. Great job.
Always enjoy hearing you and Granny singing together. Grew up singing this beautiful hymn in church often. Granny’s sweater is beautiful too.
This is a beautiful way to begin a Sunday morning. Paul & Granny sing so well together. Thank you, Paul, for the songs you share with Granny.
What a wonderful way to begin Sunday morning!! Thank you, Paul and Granny, for the beautiful rendition of this beautiful old hymn which took me back to the days of my youth. Today’s contemporary music can’t compare to the old hymns. Also, I think your harmonizing is beautiful. I enjoyed your singing of this song more than any other that I have heard. Both of you are extremely talented, and I think Granny’s blue sweater is beautiful. Have a wonderful day in the Lord.
I enjoyed listening to Paul and Granny singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” I hardly ever hear these old hymns sung anymore, only the modern ones which are repetitive and have no message about God’s love and Jesus’ saving power. I grew up in a church where all they sang were these old hymns and I miss them. Thanks for posting this wonderful old song.
God bless Granny and Paul
That is one of my favorite hymns, I remember it well and still sing it today. Like Paul said, it’s true, Jesus is our best friend.
Granny’s sweater is really pretty, love the bright blue color!
Love that song brother Paul
So beautiful! I love that song…and that blue looks so beautiful on Granny!! She is so special!
This is one of the old hymns that I often listen to and play over and over on you tube. I will save this and now will be listening to it. Last night I saw an online preview of the church bulletin for a church I intend to go to this morning, this is one of the hymns they will be singing today.