I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
(Chorus) :
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and bro’t
To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.
— E.M. Bartlett (1939)
Eugene Monroe Bartlett Sr. was born in Missouri with music already stirring in his soul. After graduating from Hall-Moody Institute in Martin, Tennessee, he traveled from town to town teaching singing schools. His skill, enthusiasm, and gift for training others soon made him a sought-after instructor.
In 1918, Bartlett founded the Hartford Music Company in Hartford, Arkansas. Through shape-note songbooks, singing schools, and his monthly magazine, Herald of Song, he helped spread gospel music across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee for more than two decades.
Then a severe stroke changed everything. Paralyzed and unable to continue the active life he loved, Bartlett was confined to bed. Yet his faith did not fade. With his Bible near and his heart fixed on Christ, he wrote the words and music to “Victory in Jesus” in 1939—just two years before his death.
His final song became his most beloved: a joyful testimony of Calvary, redemption, and Christ’s victory over sin, suffering, and death.
#1939 #VictoryInJesus #EMBartlett #Hymn #Hymns #PleaseOpenYourHymnals
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