During Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline sessions country legend Johnny Cash st… Read Full Bio ↴During Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline sessions country legend Johnny Cash stopped by to visit. A friend and label-mate of Dylan's as well as an early supporter of his music, Cash had been recording next door with his own band. The two wound up recording a series of duets, covering Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" as well as Cash's own "I Still Miss Someone." None of these were deemed usable, but Cash returned the following day to record more duets.

The session on February 18 was devoted exclusively to duet covers with Cash. "One Too Many Mornings" and "I Still Miss Someone" were revisited, and rejected, yet again. "Matchbox", "That's All Right Mama", "Mystery Train", "Big River", "I Walk the Line", and "Guess Things Happen That Way", all made famous by celebrated Sun recordings performed by Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Cash himself, were all attempted on February 18, but none of these were deemed usable. Covers of Jimmie Rodgers' "Blue Yodel #1" and "#5", Cash's "Ring of Fire" (written by his wife, June Carter and Merle Kilgore), "You Are My Sunshine", "Mountain Dew", the traditional ballad "Careless Love", the traditional hymn "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "How High The Water", and "Wanted Man" (a song written by Dylan specifically for Cash) were also attempted, and all were rejected. There was little enthusiasm for any of these tracks, but one duet of Dylan's, "Girl From The North Country" (which originally appeared on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan), was ultimately sequenced as the album's opener.

Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I′ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

And when my feeble life is o'er
And time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely o′er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore

Just a closer (Just a closer walk, just a closer walk with Thee)
Walk with Thee (Just a closer walk, just a closer walk with Thee)
Grant it, Jesus (Just a closer walk, just a closer walk with Thee)
Is my plea (Just a closer walk, just a closer walk)

Daily walking (Just a closer walk, just a closer walk with Thee)

Close to Thee (Just a closer walk with Thee)
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash's song Just a Closer Walk With Thee express a humble desire to stay close to Jesus in order to avoid temptation and sin. The song acknowledges the singer's personal weakness and dependence on Jesus' strength to keep them on the right path. The line "I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee" emphasizes the importance of staying near Jesus in order to find satisfaction and peace.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Just a closer walk with Thee" several times, emphasizing the singer's desire for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus. The line "Grant it, Jesus is my plea" suggests that the singer is asking for Jesus' help in achieving this closeness.

The final verse of the song speaks of the singer's eventual death and their hope for Christ to guide them safely to heaven. The line "To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore" suggests a vision of a heavenly afterlife with Jesus. The song as a whole expresses a deep desire to stay close to Jesus in life and in death.

Line by Line Meaning

I am weak but Thou art strong
Despite my own weaknesses and limitations, I know that You are strong and can guide me through any challenges.

Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I pray to Jesus to keep me from falling into temptation and sin, and to guide me towards making the right choices.

I'll be satisfied as long
For as long as I am able to walk with Jesus and stay true to His teachings, I will be content and at peace.

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
I ask for the strength and guidance to remain close to Jesus as I journey through life, so that I may be in harmony with His will.

Just a closer walk with Thee
All I desire is to have a deeper connection with Jesus, to be closer to Him in all that I do.

Grant it, Jesus is my plea
I implore Jesus to grant my request of a closer walk with Him, knowing that He is my savior and friend.

Daily walking close to Thee
Every day, I strive to walk in the company of Jesus, renewing my faith and upholding His teachings.

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
My heart's desire is to always be close to Jesus, and I pray that He may grant my wish to walk with Him every day of my life.

And when my feeble life is o'er
When my life comes to an end, and my strength and energy are depleted, I trust that Jesus will carry me through to the other side.

And time for me will be no more
At the end of my earthly journey, time will stand still and I will be reunited with Jesus in eternity.

Guide me gently, safely o'er
I pray that Jesus will guide me lovingly and gently to the other side, keeping me safe and secure in His embrace.

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore
My ultimate destination is to be reunited with Jesus in His heavenly kingdom, where I will be in perfect unity with Him forevermore.

Writer(s): Traditional

Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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