Hymn For The Week: In The Garden

Hymn for the week: In The Garden-Instrumental

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:

And He walks with me, 

And He talks with me,
And He Tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of his voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me 

Within my heart is ringing. 

Refrain:

And He walks with me, 

And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho' the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling. 

Refrain:

And He walks with me, 

And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

The song and the story composer C. Austin Miles writes In The Garden. C Austin Miles (1868-1946) was a pharmacist turned hymn writer and church music director. He was also an amateur photographer. One day in March, 1912, while in his dark room waiting for film to develop. Miles had a profound spiritual experience in which he saw an incredible vision of Mary Magdalene visiting the empty tomb. He saw her leave the tomb and walk into a garden where she met the Master and hear Him speak her name.

When Miles came to himself his nerves were vibrating and his muscles tense; the words to a new song were filling his mind and heart. He quickly wrote out the lyrics to In The Garden and later that evening composed the musical score. The song was published that same year and became a theme song of the Billy Sunday evangelistic crusade.

In The Garden was recorded on an album by Perry Como in 1950, and was sung in the closing scene of the 1984 film 'Places in the Heart' and continues to be a favorite of  hymn lovers who treasure that quiet 'garden time' with their savior.