Music by William G. Fischer (1835-1912)

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,

And help me to make a complete sacrifice;

I give up myself, and whatever I know;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat;

I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,

By faith, for my cleansing; I see Thy blood flow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;

Come now, and within me a new heart create;

To those who have sought Thee,

Thou never said'st No;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

James Nicholson (1828-1876) wrote these words based on David's prayer in Psalm 51. Nicholson was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became active in School school work and evanagelism, as well as teaching singing and leading singing groups, and later became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The tune, WHITER THAN SNOW, was composed in 1872 for these words by William Gustavus Fisher (1835-1912). Fischer was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and worked as a bookbinder in Philadelphia, studying music in the evenings. Later he taught music at a college there, then established a retail piano business. He wrote more than 200 gospel songs and was choir conductor and song leader for the evangelistic campaigns of Moody and Sankey in 1876.