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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

We come, O Christ, to Thee

Praise of the Lord His All-Inclusiveness

English192
1
We come, O Christ, to Thee,
True Son of God and man,
By whom all things consist,
In whom all life began:
In Thee alone we live and move
And have our being in Thy love.
2
Thou art the Way to God,
Thy blood our ransom paid;
In Thee we face our Judge
And Maker unafraid.
Before the Throne absolved we stand:
Thy love has met Thy law’s demand.
3
Thou art the living Truth!
All wisdom dwells in Thee,
Thou Source of every skill,
Eternal Verity!
Thou great I Am! In Thee we rest,
True answer to our every quest.
4
Thou only art true Life,
To know Thee is to live
The more abundant life
That earth can never give:
O Risen Lord! We live in Thee
And Thou in us eternally!
5
We worship Thee Lord Christ,
Our Savior and our King,
To Thee our youth and strength
Adoringly we bring:
So fill our hearts that men may see
Thy life in us and turn to Thee!

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Jim Smith

Mansfield, Ohio, United States

Mar 6, 2026

I love this hymn. It was not written by a great church father or great leader but by a sister who spent her life as a teacher. She speaks of loving and living in God. I see the whole song is written in the plural so we all should be experiencing this Love who is our Life. The last verse ends with the prayer that we would be filled with this life so others may see. This love is in our spirit and builds us together. When we all live Christ and love Him together in oneness there is God’s glory. This reminds me of the Lord’s Prayer in the gospel of John chapter 17. This was Christ’s prayer and should be ours also.

So fill our hearts that men may see. That they might see Your love in us and turn to You!

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Kitty Joubert

Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

Jul 10, 2014

We come, O Christ, to Thee,
True Son of God and man,
By whom all things consist,
In whom all life began:
In Thee alone we live and move
And have our being in Thy love.

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI

May 19, 2014

Margaret Clarkson was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, but grew up in Toronto after moving at age 5. Having graduated as a teacher in 1935, she went to northern Ontario to find work. She eventually returned to Toronto, where she taught for 31 years. She is noted for her poems, hymns, articles for Christian magazines, and 17 books on various subjects in 7 languages. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin

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In 1946 Margaret wrote what she called her "first real hymn" at the request of Stacey Woods, General Secretary of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. "We Come O Christ, To Thee" was written to "link together the widely-scattered groups that made up the young student movement." - Wheaton College Archives

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