New Arrangement: Precious Name

from Hymncharts arranger Don Chapman:

Right before I was going to take my nightly walk (have to get in my steps!) suddenly the refrain “Precious name, oh how sweet…” popped into my head for some reason. Funny how the mind works.

What was that hymn? Is “Precious Name” the title, I wondered?

Nope, not in the hymnal.

Then I recalled the verse melody, and the words “take the name of Jesus with you…” Oh, yes. My mind isn’t gone just yet – I don’t think I’ve heard or sung that song in over thirty years.

And sure enough, the name of the hymn is, in fact, “Take the Name of Jesus with You.” Upon further research, the hymn does appear to be known by both titles. I’ll go with “Precious Name” as that’s common in modern days – to title the song by the “hook” of the chorus.

After finding it in the hymnal to make sure I had the melody right, I sat down at the piano and had a little worship time. Wow, does that chorus grab you! What you hear is basically what flowed from my fingers that night.

My arrangement is not much different from the hymnal – no unusual chords (except for that ending “gotcha” chord that will lift your spirits!) – but simply a retro-style Hymncharts arrangement with my trademark piano rhythm that would have been at home here twenty years ago.

Close your service with this one and people over 60, I guarantee, will be in tears. I was as I sang through it.

I didn’t quite get all my steps in that night, but tomorrow is another day 🙂

How to use Precious Name in your worship service:

I’d label this hymn as a “tier 2” hymn (as opposed to top twenty, “tier one” hymns that most denominations would know like “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Crown Him with Many Crowns.”) I don’t think it’s known much today outside of the Baptist world. I remember it probably from singing it in church as I grew up.

It’s a perfect thematic match with songs like What a Beautiful Name and I Speak Jesus. Have a “name” themed worship set and close it (or your service) with Precious Name.

Get a good vocal trio together and sing that last chorus acapella (like my demo.) Make sure the singers master the surprise diminished chord (on “sweet”) – I like to throw a curveball in sometimes!

Download Precious Name

Get this arrangement of Precious Name only at Hymncharts.com – you won’t find this fresh take anywhere else! As the arranger, I’m offering this new version exclusively on this website.