Music: H. A. Cesar Malan, 1827 (1787-1864)

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Always, only, for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold:

Not a mite would I withhold;

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my will, and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

Ever, only, all for Thee.

    Take My Life and Let It Be was written in 1874 by Frances Havergal, during a five-day stay in Areley House, in London. There were ten other guests, all of whom were unhappy or unconverted. Havergal prayed for all of them that they might all experience the joy of Christian living: “Lord, give me all in this house.” She visited, talked, and prayed with all of the guests, and by the day of her departure all had given their lives to Christ and trusted in Him. It was midnight on her last night there before she was through with her work for her fellow guests, but she was so happy that she could not sleep, and spent the rest of the night composing this hymn.

The tune, HENDON, was composed by Henri Malan, a French-Swiss emigrant to England. The tune is named after a northern suburb of London where he lived for many years. His principal language remained French, and he is best known as one of the “greats” of French hymnody. Originally Frances Havergal set her words to a tune composed by her father, and the hymn so circulated for many years. Malan’s tune, however, is far superior, and no modern hymnals retain the original tune.