The Hymn "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" And The African American Gospelized Hymn "Pass Me Not" (videos & lyrics)

hammondxc3. Oct 19, 2009

The Old Choir Song "Pass me not"
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No information is given about the name or the organist or the name of the church and its  denomination.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents a 2021 YouTube video of a White American congregation singing the standard version of the 19th Century Christian hymn "Pass Me Not" O Gentle Savior" by Fannie Crosby. The lyrics to that hymn are included in this post.

This pancocojams post also showcases a 2010 YouTube video of an African American Baptist pastor and congregation's version of that hymn as well as a 2009 and a 2015  YouTube video of African American choirs singing "Pass Me Not", the title for the Gospelized hymn* version of the 19th century hymn "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior". Lyrics for the Gospelized hymn "Pass Me Not" are included in this pancocojams post.

* By "Gospelized hymn" I mean a hymn that is sung and/or played in a Gospel style, particularly an African American Gospel style.

Most of the lyrics for a Gospelized hymn are based on the original hymn, but the arrangement of that Gospelized hymn is different from the original hymn. (There is usually more than one arrangement of a specific Gospelized hymn.)

I don't know the earliest date that the African American Gospelized hymn "Pass Me Not" was first performed and which choir or church congregation sung it. If you have any information about this subject please share it in the comment section for this pancocojams post. 

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The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, socio-cultural, inspirational and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Fannie Crosby and How­ard Doane for this hymn. Thanks to the African American arrangers of this Gospel song and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the videographers and publishers of these YouTube videos.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/versions-of-religious-song-pass-me-not.html for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "African American Versions Of The Religious Song "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior". That post showcases five youTube videos of that now classic old school Gospel song. One of those videos is embedded in this 2025 pancocojams post as Showcase Video #3.

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LYRICS: PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOR
(words: Fannie Cosby,1868; music: How­ard Doane, 1870)

1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.

2. Let me at thy throne of mercy
find a sweet relief,
kneeling there in deep contrition;
help my unbelief.
(Refrain)

3. Trusting only in thy merit,
would I seek thy face;
heal my wounded, broken spirit,
save me by thy grace.
(Refrain)

4. Thou the spring of all my comfort,
more than life to me,
whom have I on earth beside thee?
Whom in heaven but thee?
(Refrain)

Reposted from http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hymn-lyrics/pass-me-not-o-gentle-savior-lyrics.html

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- Pass me not, O gentle Savior  

Savedandkept, Jan 28, 2021

Magheafelt Free Presbyterian Church

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Pastor Dewey Smith Sings - Pass Me Not

Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr., Jan 7, 2010

Sermon - Ministering with Suspect Credentials

-The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church

4650 Flat Shoals Parkway

Decatur, GA 30034

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INFORMATION AND LYRICS FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN GOSPELIZED HYMN "PASS ME NOT"
From AI Overview (retrieved October 23, 2025)

The lyrics for the African American arrangement of "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" are a gospel-style adaptation of the original hymn, often featuring call-and-response and improvisational elements. While the original hymn provides the framework, these arrangements expand on the chorus with repeated phrases like "Do not pass me by," with a spiritual vamp and improvisational callouts for sopranos, altos, and tenors. 

Original Hymn (Fanny Crosby)

Verse 1:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,

Hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

Refrain:

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

African American Arrangement (Example based on common gospel versions)

Chorus:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by, do not pass me by.

Spiritual Vamp/Improvisation:

(Sopranos, Altos, Tenors) Do not (do not) pass me by (pass me by)

(Sopranos, Altos, Tenors) Savior, Savior, do not (do not) pass me by (pass me by)

(Spiritual leader) Hear my humble cry

(Spiritual leader) While on others Thou art calling

(Spiritual leader) Do not pass me by

Note: These arrangements can vary widely between different singers and churches, with the core structure remaining the same but with different improvised vocalizations and ad-libs in the vamp.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - "Do Not Pass Me By" 1.11.15 - Min. Ricky Dillard

Ebenezer AME Church, Jan 13, 2015

Min. Ricky Dillard Leading the Levites - Savior Do Not Pass Me By
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Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Dillard for information about Rev. Ricky Dillard.
"AME"= (the Christian denomination) "African Methodist Episcopal" 
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Here are a few comments from the discussion thread for this video (with numbers for referencing purposes only. :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBJ8k_i99RM&t=464s

1.@preciouswilliams22, 2023
"Thank God I grew up having these type of choirs growing up!! Choirs these days will NEVER understand the power it took to minister with these type of songs👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏"

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2. @kristylelawrence2721, 2024
"So so true!!!"

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3. yvettesissom2613, 2024
"Yes, when choirs marched in."

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4. @Romee20081, 2025
"I just don't know why churches don't get down like this anymore 🙌🏾🙌🏾 bring the robes and mass choirs back!"

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5.. @nhamer615, 2025
"Lord I miss it!!!"

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6.@Standstill-j7g, 2025
"Halalujah Amen "

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7. @ColdCreep6, 2025
"We still carry it like this in Chester Pa"

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8. @emilymiller1083, 2025
"Where are they still active?  I would travel!"

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9. @terranceevans521, 2025
"@emilymiller1083 Piney Grove baptist church 2804 4:01  Holland road Va beach 945 we will be singing this on Sunday." 

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10. @terranceevans521, 2025
" @emilymiller1083 Piney Grove baptist church 2804 4:01  Holland road Va beach 945 we will be singing this on Sunday."

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