This hymn was written by an African American singer, songwriter and pianist by the name of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in 1943. Dorsey wrote so many classic gospel songs such as Take My Hand, Precious Lord, Peace in the Valley, The Old Ship of Zion, and On the Battlefield. He is widely regarded as the father of gospel music that has touch of blues. He also organized the first Gospel Choir and the first gospel publishing house by an African American composer. Dorsey going through long time of racial discrimination against him and his fellow blacks and his life's personal hardships he realized that all human beings needed the Lord which inspired him to compose this hymn.
This post is inspired by a friend of mine, Newton Sindo, that reached out to me back in 2020 from Malawi, Africa who hosts a radio show on Trans World Radio called "Essence of Hymns where he also shares stories such as this one with his audience. Trans World Radio has millions of listeners in Malawi and the surrounding countries such as Zambia and Mozambique he told me when he first introduced himself to me. It was a true blessing to know that he is sharing our stories with so many people. Who knew how God would use this journal to share with so many people. In this moment I needed this reminder that if I ever needed the Lord before, I sure do need Him now. I need him at all times no matter what we are going through or how life is going we need Him.
Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Ricca, Georgia on July 1, 1899, to Rev. Thomas M. and Etta P. "Spencer" Dorsey. Music and religion were part of Dorsey's young life growing up as his father was a Baptist preacher and his mother was a piano teacher. His family moved to Atlanta Georgia when he was eight years old where he eventually dropped out of school while in the fourth grade at the age of 12. It is here where he learned to play blues on the piano. He later moved to Chicago where he first composed his own copyright song in 1920 making him one of the first musicians to copyright the blues this is when he was best known as Georgia Tom. He battled depression until he received deliverance after a minister prayed for him while attending a church service with his sister-in-law. He called this God's interruption, and his mother often advised him to choose God's music over the devil's. He then turned his focus to serving the kingdom of God.
While traveling he received news that his wife and child passed away in 1931 and this is when he penned his most famous hymn "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" for the memorial service. In 1932 he co-founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses an organization dedicated to training singers and musicians from all over the nation. Dorsey wrote Peace in the Valley for Mahalia Jackon in 1937. He re-married in 1940 to Kathryn Mosely, and they had two children of their own. He was the music director at Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church for 50 years. Dorsey spent time on tour marketing his songs and became a successful Black music publisher. His music has been sung by many famous singers and has had many numbers one gospel hits. He was the first African American to be elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the first in the Gospel Music Association's Living Hall of Fame. Dorsey died of Alzheimer's at his home in Chicago on January 23, 1993, but he sure left a legacy of so many wonderful hymn's that continues to bless so many today.
Lyrics:
If we ever needed the Lord before
My Lord, we sure do need Him now
O, we sure do need Him now
My Lord, I say
We sure do need Him now
O, glory!
If we ever needed the Lord before
My Lord, we sure do need Him now
We need him every day and every hour
We need Him in the mornin'
We need Him in the night
We need Him at the noonday
When the sun is shining bright
If we ever needed the Lord before
My Lord, we sure do need Him now
O, we sure do need Him now
My Lord, I say
We sure do need Him now
O, glory!
If we ever needed the Lord before
I know we sure do need Him now
We need Him every day and every hour
We need Him when we're burdened
We need Him when we're sad
We need Him when we're happy
And when our hearts are glad
If we ever needed the Lord before
My Lord, we sure do need Him now
O, we sure do need Him now
My Lord, I say
We sure do need Him now
O, glory!
If we ever needed the Lord before
I know we sure do need Him now
We need Him every day and every hour
The King's Messenger Quartet 1969
Quartet Style 2006