No, Not One Lyrics Johnson Oatman Jr., 1895
5 verses and a refrain, sung to No, Not One (10.6.10.6.9.8.10.6), public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! no, not one!
Refrain Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! no, not one!
Verse 2. No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! no, not one!
Verse 3. There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! no, not one!
Verse 4. Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! no, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! no, not one!
Verse 5. Was e’er a gift like the Saviour given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one!
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from Sacred Songs and Solos: Twelve Hundred Hymns (1921). They were published in 1895, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind No, Not One
Johnson Oatman Jr. wrote the words, which open There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. Hymnary dates the text 1895 and does not name the book that printed it first. The tune came the same year from George C. Hugg of Philadelphia. Hymnary lists it as HARPER MEMORIAL, published in 1895 with the text, and several hymnals print the same tune under the name NO, NOT ONE.
Hugg was born near Haddonfield, New Jersey, and became a choirmaster at age 12. He published his first song at 14 and later led music in several Philadelphia churches, including Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. The tune name points to Harper Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he was closely involved. Hymnary credits him with more than 2,000 works, including 18 books of revival and Sunday school music.
Oatman was a Methodist Episcopal local preacher from New Jersey. Baptist Hymnal 1991 prints the hymn at number 181 under its first line. Hymnary lists F major in most hymnals, with G major in a few.
Sources disagree on small points. One hymnal credits Hugg with the words instead of Oatman, and Hymnary's author page gives Oatman's death year as 1922 in most books and 1926 in the African Methodist Episcopal hymnal.
Johnson Oatman Jr.
1856-04-21 to 1922
Johnson Oatman Jr. was born on April 21, 1856, near Medford, New Jersey. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at nineteen, was licensed to preach and was later ordained by Bishop Merrill. He served as a local preacher and worked with his father in a mercantile business in Lumberton. Hymnary says he wrote more than 5,000 hymns, among them Count Your Blessings and No, Not One. Most hymnals give his death year as 1922. One gives 1904 and another gives 1926, so the sources disagree.
George C. Hugg
1848 to 1907
George Crawford Hugg (1848 to 1907) was born near Haddonfield, New Jersey, and became a choirmaster at age 12. He published his first song at 14. He served as choirmaster in several Philadelphia churches, including Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, and he was closely tied to Harper Memorial Presbyterian Church. Hymnary credits him with more than 2,000 works, including 18 books of revival and Sunday school music. His tune for Johnson Oatman Jr.'s No, Not One was published in 1895 under the name HARPER MEMORIAL. He died in Philadelphia in 1907.
- Hymnary.org: No, Not One (text) , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org: HARPER MEMORIAL (Hugg) , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in No, Not One
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Proverbs 18:24
- John 15:15
- Matthew 28:20
- Hebrews 13:5
No, Not One videos
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There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus Savedandkept, Congregation
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St. James Adult Choir - No Not One Marcel West, Choir
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There's Not A Friend (No, Not One!) - A Cappella Hymn A Cappella Hymns, A cappella
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No, Not One (There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus) - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Bill & Gloria Gaither - No Not One [Live] ft. The Martins Gaither Music TV, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Downloads, printing and slides
Sheet music files
- Sheet music PDF 102 KB. Words and all four parts, ready to print.
- Lead sheet PDF 85 KB. Melody, words and chord symbols for piano or guitar.
- MusicXML score XML 92 KB. Opens in MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius and Dorico to change the key or print parts.
- MIDI, all parts MIDI 3 KB. Plays the four-part harmony in any MIDI player or notation app.
- MIDI, melody only MIDI 1 KB. The tune alone, for learning it.
Practice tracks for each voice part, as MIDI: Alto , Tenor , Bass .
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in F or G.
Questions people ask
Who wrote No, Not One?
Oatman wrote the words, which Hymnary dates 1895. George Hugg wrote the tune the same year.
What is the first line of No, Not One?
The first line is There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. The refrain gives the hymn its title.
What tune is No, Not One sung to?
Most hymnals print the tune as HARPER MEMORIAL or NO, NOT ONE. Hymnary lists it in F major in most books.
Is No, Not One in the public domain?
Yes. The words are public domain in the United States, first published in 1895. Hugg's tune dates to 1895 and is public domain as well.
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