J is for Jesus Loves Me

This is  day 10 of the 2016 A-Z April Blog Challenge.  I don't know about you but I am having a ball writing and reading the posts for the month.  Today's song is a juvenile song.  "Jesus Loves Me" is a Christian hymn written by  Anna Barlett Warner (1827–1915). The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of an 1860 novel called Say and Seal, written by her older sister Susan Warner(1819–1885), in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying child.

Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong,—
They are weak, but he is strong.

Jesus loves me—loves me still,
Though I'm very weak and ill;
From his shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me—he will stay,
Close beside me all the way.
Then his little child will take,
Up to heaven for his dear sake

 

The tune that we all know and love was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury(1816–1868). Along with his tune, Bradbury added his own chorus "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me..."After publication as a song it became one of the most popular Christian hymns in churches around the world, especially among children.  There is nothing prettier to me than hearing little children sing this song.