Jesus Saves Lyrics Priscilla J. Owens, 1882

Priscilla J. Owens wrote We Have Heard the Joyful Sound, which most people call Jesus Saves. According to Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, quoted at Hymnary, she wrote it for a Sunday school mission anniversary. Owens spent her whole life in Baltimore and taught in public schools there for 49 years. She belonged to Union Square Methodist Church and wrote most of her hymns for children's services. The Scotch Church Hymnary of 1898 included this one. Hymnary lists her dates as 1829 to 1907, and one hymnal gives 1822 to 1899.

William J. Kirkpatrick wrote the tune JESUS SAVES, which Hymnary dates to 1882. Kirkpatrick was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania, in 1838. He worked as a carpenter and in the furniture business from 1862 to 1878 and then gave himself to music in Philadelphia, serving as music director at Grace Methodist Church. He compiled about a hundred gospel song collections, beginning with Devotional Melodies in 1859.

Baptist Hymnal 1991 prints the hymn in G major under the first line We Have Heard the Joyful Sound and lists Romans 10:9. Hymnary lists G major in most books and F major in Baptist Hymnal 2008. Hymnary's tune page gives no history of how the hymn first reached print.