“I Need Thee Every Hour” was first sung in 1872 at the National Baptist Sunday School Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was published a year later in Lowry and Doane’s “Royal Diadem” Sunday school hymn book. Its popularity soon grew when Ira Sankey used it in evangelistic meetings with D. L. Moody in London. The hymn was written by Annie Sherwood Hawks (1835-1918).
Annie showed a gift for writing at an early age; she regularly contributed poems to various newspapers when she was only 14 years old. In 1859, she married Charles H. Hawks, and they lived in Brooklyn, where they were members of the Hanson Park Baptist Church. Prominent gospel songwriter Robert Lowry was their pastor and encouraged Annie to write hymns. When she gave her poem to Lowry, he immediately wrote the music and the refrain, and “I Need Thee Every Hour” was written.
After the death of her husband in 1888, Annie wrote these words about the experience:
“I remember well the morning when in the midst of the daily cares of my home, I was so filled with the sense of the nearness of the Master, that wondering how one could live without him either in joy or pain, these words ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ were ushered into my mind. The hymn was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, rather than under the stress of great personal sorrow. It was not until long years after, when the shadow of a great loss fell over my way, that I understood something of the comforting in the words I have been permitted to write.”
When the hymn was first published, this Bible verse was included underneath the title: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5). Each of the first four stanzas begins with the phrase, “I need thee every hour,” that expresses the believer’s constant need for the Lord’s presence. The first four stanzas each express a different aspect of the Christian’s need to depend on God: the need for His peace, the need for the ability to resist temptation, the need to find real purpose in life, and the need to learn God’s will. The last stanza asks for the Lord’s help that one be completely surrendered to Him.
This hymn isn’t often sung in churches anymore. Musical styles may change, but the need for the Lord’s presence remains the same. The believer needs the Saviour every hour of every day. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
No tender voice like thine Can peace afford.
Ev’ry hour I need thee;
O, bless me now, my Saviour!
I come to thee.
Temptations lose their pow’r When thou art nigh.
Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain.
And thy rich promises In me fulfill.
Oh, make me thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
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