Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand Thomas A. Dorsey wrote the lyrics of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” in 1938. The melody was adapted from the older hymn “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” by George Nelson Allen written in 1835. Dorsey’s hymn quickly became popular in church congregations, both Black and White, and it is a standard with New Orleans jazz musicians to this day. This instrument is a Viscount Legend organ which is a modern digital re-creation of the Hammond organ developed in 1935. This organ was the first to be accessible to churches that could not afford a pipe organ. The distinctive sound of the Hammond captivated audiences both inside and outside the church; it is still the preferred instrument of Black congregations.