Song facts
- Original key
- F major
- Type
- Hymn
- Music
- Charles Crozat Converse (died 1918)
- Original lyrics
- Joseph M. Scriven (died 1886)
- First published
- 1865
Public-domain songs · Hymn instrumental
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Play the What a Friend We Have in Jesus instrumental in the original key of F major, or from 3 semitones lower to 2 higher. Made by MR Maker from a public-domain score.
Last reviewed:
Backing track by key
The original key is F major. If it sits too high or too low for your voice, try the shifted versions and pick the one you can sing comfortably.
3 semitones lower (D major)
2 semitones lower (E♭ major)
Original key (F major)
2 semitones higher (G major)
About this song
Joseph Scriven, an Irish-born tutor living in Canada, wrote this poem in 1855 to console his mother back in Ireland. It was published anonymously by H. L. Hastings in 1865, and Scriven received full credit only in the 1880s. The lawyer-composer Charles Crozat Converse wrote the tune in 1868 and printed it in Silver Wings (1870) under a pen name. He called it ERIE, after the Pennsylvania city where he practiced law. Ira Sankey popularized the pairing, normally set in F major, 4/4.
Rights
The melody is in the public domain (first published 1865). MR Maker made this accompaniment from a public-domain score. It contains no lyrics, translations or third-party recordings.
Need a backing track for another song?
Upload an audio file you have the rights to use, remove the vocals, and change the key.
Make a backing track from my file