Since Jesus Came into My Heart Lyrics Rufus H. McDaniel, 1914
5 verses and a refrain, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Refrain Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Verse 2. I have ceased from my wand’ring and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And my sins which were many are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Verse 3. I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Verse 4. There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Verse 5. I shall go there to dwell in that City I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And I’m happy, so happy as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from Gospel Hymns and Songs (1918). They were published in 1914, 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 Since Jesus Came into My Heart
Rufus H. McDaniel wrote the words, and Charles H. Gabriel wrote the tune, which hymnals call MCDANIEL. McDaniel was a minister of the Christian church, ordained in 1873, and he began writing hymns in the 1880s. A music publisher's account says he wrote this text after he buried his youngest son in 1913. He had written few hymns for years and meant this one to be filled with joy and hope.
Hymnary.org dates both the text and the tune to 1914. The same publisher's account says the song was introduced in 1915 at the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver crusade in Philadelphia. The sources do not settle the exact first printing. Hymnary.org lists printings from 1916, and the original first line was "What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought."
Gabriel was one of the most popular gospel song composers of the Sunday and Rodeheaver crusades. He grew up on an Iowa farm and wrote an estimated seven thousand pieces. The account says Gabriel called this one "the song of the day" within a year and that more than 200 hymnals picked it up.
Hymnary.org shows the original key as G major, and The Faith We Sing prints it in A.
Rufus H. McDaniel
1850 to 1940
Rufus Henry McDaniel was ordained in the Christian church in 1873 and began writing hymns in the 1880s. Hymnary.org lists 39 of his texts. A publisher's account says he wrote Since Jesus Came into My Heart after he buried his youngest son in 1913, and it became his most printed text. Charles H. Gabriel wrote the tune. McDaniel credited his hymn writing to a wish to be a blessing to others and to glorify God. He died in 1940.
Charles H. Gabriel
1856 to 1932
Charles H. Gabriel was born in Wilton, Iowa, and grew up on a farm where neighbors gathered to sing. He taught himself the reed organ and began teaching singing schools at sixteen. He moved to California in 1887 and to Chicago in 1892, where he edited songbooks for publishers including Homer Rodeheaver and E. O. Excell. He wrote under several pen names and produced an estimated 7,000 pieces. His songs spread through the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver crusades. He wrote the tune MCDANIEL for Since Jesus Came into My Heart and died in Los Angeles.
- Hymnary.org, Since Jesus came into my heart (text) , read 2026-10-16
- Melody Publications, Since Jesus Came into My Heart , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, song page with original key , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, The Faith We Sing 2140 (key A) , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Rufus H. McDaniel , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Charles H. Gabriel , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Since Jesus Came into My Heart
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Galatians 2:20
- Psalm 40:2
- Revelation 3:20
- 1 Peter 1:8
Since Jesus Came into My Heart videos
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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart • Congregational Daniel Baptist, Congregation
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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart Congregational Hymn Temple Baptist Church, Congregation
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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart (Hayes) Lakewood Presbyterian Church, Choir
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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart Christian Gospel Choir - Topic, Choir
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Since Jesus Came Into My Heart - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Mark Lowry - Since Jesus Came into My Heart (Live) (Official Music Video) 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.
Print and project
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in A or G.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Since Jesus Came into My Heart?
McDaniel wrote the words and Gabriel wrote the tune. Hymnary.org dates both to 1914.
What is the story behind Since Jesus Came into My Heart?
A music publisher's account says McDaniel wrote it after his youngest son died in 1913. He wanted a song of joy and hope.
Where was Since Jesus Came into My Heart first sung?
The same account says it was introduced in 1915 at the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver crusade in Philadelphia.
Is Since Jesus Came into My Heart in the public domain?
The words and tune are public domain in the United States. They date to 1914, and a 1918 hymnal prints them. Some later arrangements carry their own copyrights.
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