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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.

Along the shores of Galilee

Preaching of the Gospel Feeding People

English924
1
Along the shores of Galilee,
When Christ five thousand fed,
Not one was omitted
In the breaking of the bread.
Today they die in heathen lands,
They die in want and dread,
For they have been omitted
In the breaking of the Bread.
 
Lord, I would give them the Bread of Life,
The Living Water too;
My heart cries out, “Oh, here am I,
Ready, Thy will to do.”
2
Long years have passed and few have heard
That Jesus Christ has bled,
That they might feed on Him who died
To be that Living Bread.
To gods of stone and wood they cry,
Yet they are never fed,
For they have been omitted
In the breaking of the Bread.
3
Great God, who gave Thine only Son,
Help us, now Spirit-led,
To tell the story of Thy love
To those who ask for bread.
Then gladly will we go or send,
Till this blest news has spread,
And they have been included
In the breaking of the Bread.

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Bea Porter

Camdenton, MO, United States

Jan 27, 2026

I was blessed to meet Beatrice Bush Bixler many years ago at a Women's retreat. She was a wonderful song writer, and she wrote mostly mission songs. This is one of my favorites. She was kind enough to put it on tape singing it and then she wrote how the song came about. It was very interesting. At one time she had book of songs named LIFE IS A SYMPHONY. I was blessed to find it on Ebay.

I was blessed to know her and once in a while send her some fudge.

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Jack Petrash

Irving, TX, United States

Jul 21, 2024

In Matthew 14:14-21 is the account of the feeding of the 5000. Verse 16 says "But Jesus said to them, they do not need to go away, YOU give them something to eat."

Lord have mercy on me! That I would put away all the excuses within me and feed the hungry and the starving with the Living Bread.

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Gary D Herr

Fargo, ND, United States

Jun 3, 2018

I have it in a little green spiral chorus book produced by Bible Memory Association, Inc. P. O. Box 12000, St. Louis, MO "Making Melody" Popular Choruses and Hymns.

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Karen Esson

Pensacola, FL, United States

Sep 20, 2014

I used to have the book with this song in it. I need all four parts, just can't remember the name of the book. Does anyone know the name of the book, or where I might find it.

Thank you so much.

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Leon

Lowell, AR, United States

Mar 19, 2012

This has an unusual minor key in the verse, changing to a major key in the refrain. It has a sound similar to Jewish music. I like it.

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