Rev. Don Campbell
John 15:5
A SONG A DAY, January 17, 2020
“Without Him”
According to Songfacts, “Mylon Le Fevre was just 17 years old and in the Army when he wrote his first song, “Without Him” in just 20 minutes. Mylon was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina at the time and one weekend he hitchhiked over 600 miles to join his family group, the LeFevres who were performing at a gospel convention in Memphis. Mylon sang this song on stage, not knowing that Elvis Presley was in the audience. After the concert, Elvis asked to meet the young songwriter and shortly thereafter, The Presley recorded it for his album, How Great Thou Art. Within the next year, over a hundred artists would record his song, making Le Fevre a wealthy and famous teenager.
Le Fevre may not have had a particular Scripture in mind when he wrote the song, but one that comes to my mind are the words of Jesus: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
Some readers may recognize the writer’s name, for he became rich and famous and fallen. After overcoming drug addiction, “LeFevre quit secular rock and returned to his home church at Mt. Paran Church of God, in Atlanta—where he worked as a janitor while attending Bible-study classes. His first challenge was to get out of his music contract which, according to the terms, could only be broken “by an act of God”. LeFevre’s attorney argued that being born again is an act of God and won the case. In return for release from his contract, LeFevre agreed to give up all future royalties on his songs, publishing and recordings.
Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I’d surely fail
Oh, Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail
Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don’t turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost would I be
Without Him I would be dying
Without Him I’d be enslaved
And without Him my life would be worthless
But with Jesus, thank God I am saved
Without Jesus we are nothing. That’s not politically correct, but it is gospel.
“Link to YouTube Video – Without Him”
