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Advent Hymnals

SDA Hymnal 327

I'd Rather Have Jesus

Words: Rhea F. MillerMusic: George Beverly SheaTune: I'd Rather Have Jesus11.11.11.10 with refrain

Studio

1I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

RefrainThan to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway;

2I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

3He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Scripture
Matthew 16:26; Philippians 3:8

© 1922, 1950, renewed 1939, 1966 by Chancel Music, Inc.

The verse

Meter
11.11.11.11 · the hymnal prints 11.11.11.10 with refrain
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 34% of beats fit
Rhyme
AABC
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,//˘˘/˘˘/˘˘/11A
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;//˘˘˘˘˘/˘˘/11A
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,//˘˘/˘˘/˘˘/11B
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.//˘˘/˘˘???/11C

Verse 2

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10A
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;//˘˘/˘˘˘//10B
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,//˘˘/˘˘///10C
I'd rather be true to His holy name.//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10C

Verse 3

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10A
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10B
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10C
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.//˘˘/˘˘/˘/10D

Refrain

Than to be the king of a vast domain˘˘˘˘/˘˘/˘/10A
Or be held in sin's dread sway;˘˘/˘///7B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.