I Will Guide Thee

In Amidons’ book/CD ‘Fifty-five Anthems for the Small Church Choir‘. The Amidons learned this old American hymn at the Sunday morning gospel sing of the Greater Boston Folk Music getaway weekend in New Hampshire in 1975, just two weeks after they first met. Whoever led the song had probably learned it from Helen Schneyer’s recording (see below).

• Northwest Firelight Chorale of Seattle Washington singing Peter’s arrangement
• Helen Schneyer’s version
• “Voices of Inspiration Choir” gospel version of “I Will Guide Thee”

LYRICS

I Will Guide Thee
chorus words by Nathanial Niles, 1871
verses and tune source unknown

If you cannot sing like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say he died for all.

CHORUS
I will guide thee, I will guide thee,
I will guide thee with mine eyes,
All the way from earth to heaven,
I will guide thee with mine eyes.

If you cannot give your thousands,
You can give the widow’s mite,
For the least you do for Jesus
Will be precious in his sight.

Hark the voice of Jesus calling.
Who will come and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvest ready.
Who will bear my soul away?