Skip to content
hymnal.net
hymnal.net
My Songs

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.

Thou my everlasting Portion

Longings For a Closer Walk with Christ

English386
1
Thou my everlasting Portion,
More than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
 
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
2
Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
Not for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
 
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
3
Lead me through the vale of shadows,
Bear me o’er life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.
 
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.

Delete Comment

Delete this comment? This cannot be undone.
Pastor Kenneth Sharp

Flushing, Michigan, United States

Mar 15, 2014

I have sung this Hymn in church for as long as I can remember but this week we are starting a 4 day revival with speaker Rev. Levi Parish. We will use this hymn as a call to revival each night. The hymn is already blessing my heart.

Read more
Bitrus Kaze

Jos, Plateau, Nigeria

Feb 1, 2014

A superb one, I never grow weary singing this hymn.

Read more
Dotun Jegede

Ogere-remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Dec 9, 2013

I sing this hymn more than any other hymns. It is echoed daily in my heart, as I wake up daily. I beg of God to draw me closer, daily to Him as I am inspired to be closer than ever till our Saviour's return.

Read more
Kathryn

United Kingdom

Nov 19, 2013

I always feel lifted and strengthened whenever I listen or sing this song knowing assuredly that whatever is my portion in this life means nothing to me as long as God is my everlasting portion who is closer to me more than friend or life itself. Hallelluyah! What a glorious hope we have through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read more
Anita Igberaese

Lagos, Nigeria

Oct 18, 2013

My mum loved hymns so much! But she is singing forever more in God's presence now...

I was thinking of her and missing her when I decided to google search her, and found that she came to this site. Wasn't surprised that it was a hymn site. But what more, it was comforting and somewhat bitter-sweet to see this was the hymn she listened to.

Indeed, God was her everlasting Portion, and more than friend or life to her. And along her pilgrim journey, Jesus our Savior, walked with her...

Hallelujah for such hope in eternal life. Miss you so much Mum... You are among the cloud of witnesses now... I long to be with Jesus, my Savior and you too, when the time comes...

Mrs Hephzibah Igberaese (10/03/60-25/07/13)

Read more
Andrea

Sep 3, 2013

Let The Church Say AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

Read more
Charles

Seattle, WA, United States

Jul 20, 2013

so much purer and better than the secular so called Christian music nowadays.

Read more
Wanda Ruth Umstead-meadows

Hempstead, New York, United States

Jul 17, 2013

Well this is a wonderful song. However, I have always heard it sung much slower, so I almost did not recognize it except for the words. Since this is a hymn, try it at a slower pace.

Read more
Abiodun Alabi

Lagos, Nigeria

Jul 17, 2013

Oh! Lord help me to be close to Thee throughout.

Read more
Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

Jun 18, 2013

A Scottish minister once told Fanny Crosby that it was too bad that God had allowed her to become blind. Crosby quickly responded, "If I had been given a choice at birth, I would have asked to be blind ... for when I get to heaven, the first face I will see will be the one who died for me." That desire to see Jesus, to be close to Him, was always foremost in her mind.

When Silas Jones Vail, who was a Long Island hatter by trade, said he had a tune for Crosby, she asked him to play it for her. As he was playing it, Crosby said, "That refrain said 'Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee.'" -Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton

Read more