mgpcpastor's blog

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, Graham Kendrick has written some songs that stand up to scrutiny a lot better than Shine, Jesus, Shine.
Another one that I like begins with the words ‘All I Once Held Dear’ and is also known as ‘Knowing You’.
The verses strike me as much stronger than the refrain, which might have benefitted from different phraseology than ‘no greater thing’ and ‘you’re the best’. These can make the song sound a little twee, given the refrain’s repeated use, but care in the singing can can overcome this mild weakness.
The verses do not use a rhyme structure, instead relying on phrasing for their flow. The sentiments expressed in them build and flow in a linear fashion.

Here’s the lyrics from Kendrick’s website.
1.
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Refrain.
Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You’re my all, you’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord
2.
Now my heart’s desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
3.
Oh, to know the power of your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music,
http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk

This YouTube features the vocals of Robin Mark.