February 25, 2018 (Sunday)
The writer of “Victory in Jesus” was Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr. who was born in Missouri in 1885 and grew up in Arkansas. In 1918, he formed Hartford Music Company, which laid the foundation for Southern Gospel Music. He wrote more than 800 songs. Fans will remember “Just a Little While,” and “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There.” Many will be surprised that he also wrote, “You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down,” and “Take An Old Cold Tater and Wait.”
Bartlett had a stroke in 1939 and died in January of 1941. During that time he studied the Bible, seeking comfort, and wrote the song for which he is remembered, “Victory in Jesus.”
Listen as George Beverly Shea sings this grand old hymn:
VICTORY IN JESUS
Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr.
1939
Chorus:
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
Verses:
I heard an old, old story,
how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary,
to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
and won the victory.
I heard about His healing,
of His cleansing pow’r revealing,
How He made the lame
to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came
and brought to me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
and the old redemption story-
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
the song of victory.
Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr.
1939
Chorus:
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
Verses:
I heard an old, old story,
how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary,
to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
and won the victory.
I heard about His healing,
of His cleansing pow’r revealing,
How He made the lame
to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came
and brought to me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
and the old redemption story-
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
the song of victory.