Jesus Loves Even Me from the pen of P.P. Bliss

 Continuing my stories behind Hymns, I wanted to talk about another song I recall singing when hymnals were more common than they are today. I shared the story behind Jesus Loves Me. The link is here  in February and It is Well With My Soul in March. Link here. The music to this hymn was composed by P.P. Bliss. 

Some believers seem to struggle with the concept that Jesus loves them. Philip P. Bliss, a composure, who in his short life produced many songs and hymns, was one of those people. Jesus Loves Even Me came to him after attending a series of meetings where O How I Love Jesus was sung often. He thought “Have I not been singing enough about my poor love for Jesus? Shall I not rather sing of his great love for me?” Not long after, he composed Jesus Loves Even Me. 

It was first published in 1871 in his hymnbook The Charm For Sunday Schools. It quickly became popular in Great Britain and America. This was during the time of the Sunday School movement. Many hymn writers wrote simple songs that children could easily sing that encapsulated the gospel message of Jesus’ love and redemption. 

 P.P. Bliss  

Philip Paul Bliss was born July 9, 1838, in Hollywood, Clearfield County Pennsylvania. His family were poor farmers. His father, Issac, taught him to pray daily. And his mother taught him to read from the Bible. During his boyhood, the family moved to Ohio and then back to Pennsylvania, eventually settling in Togia County. At ten, he heard his first piano while selling vegetables from the family farm in the city. At eleven he left home to find work in lumber camps and sawmills, finding time to also further his education. In 1850, at age twelve, he accepted the Lord as his savior and became a faithful follower. 

At seventeen, he finished the requirements to become a schoolteacher. And in 1856, he taught his first term as a schoolmaster in Hartsville, New York and worked the summer on a farm. Bliss had a gift for singing and received his first formal singing lessons in 1857. At the same time, he met William B. Bradbury, a well-known music teacher and song writer who encouraged him to become a music teacher. He followed that suggestion and taught at Rome Academy, Pennsylvania. 

The tall, lanky lad of twenty-one married Lucy J. Young in 1859. Lucy grew up in a musical family and encouraged Philip’s talent. Two years later, he became an itinerant music teacher traveling from town to town on horseback with a melodeon. Philip’s Grandmother-in-law paid for him to attend a six-week course at the Normal Music Academy in July 1860. The six-week course changed his life. After that training, he continued as an itinerant teacher but gained crediability as an expert in his area. At this time, he began composing music. 

In 1864 at the age of twenty-six, they moved to Chicago, where he was a sought-after singer and teacher. He wrote a number of gospel songs and received $100 for a two-week concert tour. He was drafted into the Union Army, but the war ended before he could serve. He was offered a job with Root and Cady Musical Publishers, at a salary of $150 a month. Quite a nice sum back then. Bliss worked for them from 1865 until 1873. He conducted musical conventions, singing schools and concerts for the publishing company. He continued composing. All his work at this time was printed in his employer’s music books. Bliss never copyrighted any of his work himself. 

D.L. Moody

Joins D.L. Moody's ministry
In 1869 Bliss became friends with evangelist D.L. Moody. Moody and others appreciated his musical abilities and his strong faith and encouraged him to quit his job and go full-time as a missionary singer. Bliss was a very tall man who struck quite a figure when he sang before a crowd. It wasn’t until 1874, at 36, that he felt God call him to full-time ministry and he joined D.L. Moody’s ministry. He used his royalties for his music sales to support himself. It was during this time he wrote Jesus Loves Even Me. 

 Sadly, he served only two years in the ministry before a train accident took him to his Heavenly home. Bliss and his wife were traveling home to Chicago from Pennsylvania on the Pacific Express. The railroad bridge over the Ashtabula River collapsed as the train neared the other side. Ninety-two of the one hundred and sixty-nine passengers died. Philip and Lucy Bliss were among them. They left two sons ages three and one. 

Ashtabula Train Disaster  Courtesy Wikimedia

Posthumous hymn published
Bliss’ trunk survived and contained a manuscript for another of his hymns, I Will Sing Of My Redeemer. The music was later created by James McGranahan. It became the first music recorded on the phonograph invented by Thomas Edison.

Prolific Composure

 From 1871 to 1875, Bliss published seven different song books. As well as a variety of pieces that appeared in Root and Cady publications, and many were offered as sheet music. 

Jesus Loves Even Me 

Bliss’ faith is expressed strongly in these lyrics. As was expressed earlier, he felt his love for Jesus wasn’t what the Lord deserved, yet joy filled him at Christ’s love for him. Here are the lyrics. 

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n 

Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;

 Wonderful things in the Bible I see,

 This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me. 

 Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me, 

Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

 I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me. 

2. If I forget Him and wander away,

 Still He doth love me wherever I stray;

 Back to His dear loving arms would I flee, 

When I remember that Jesus loves me. 

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,

 When in His beauty I see the great King,

 This shall my song through eternity be, 

“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!” 

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him; 

Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem; 

Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree; 

Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me! 

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell? 

Glory to Jesus, I know very well! 

God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,

 Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

 6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest, 

Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest; 

Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee, 

When I just tell him that Jesus loves me. 

Because it was written with Sunday School Children in mind here is a link to hear it sung by children.

If you love hymn stories, Naomi Musch has a Music For Our Soul series that appears the 29th of the month.

 Did you ever sing Jesus Loves Even Me in Sunday School?

 Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com. 

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