Gibson was born in Shelby, North Carolina into a poor working-class family, he dropped out of school in the second grade.
Gibson's first band was called Sons of the Soil, with whom he made his first recording in 1948. Among his greatest hits were "Oh Lonesome Me" (later recorded by both Ray Charles and Neil Young) and "Blue Blue Day" (both No. 1 hits in 1958); "Don't Tell Me Your Troubles" (1959); "Sea of Heartbreak" (1961); "Lonesome No. 1" and "I Can Mend Your Broken Heart" (1962); and "Woman (Sensuous Woman)" (a No. 1 hit in 1972).
Gibson recorded a series of successful duets with Dottie West in the late 1960s, the most successful of which were the No. 2 country hit "Rings of Gold" (1969) and the top 10 hit "There's a Story Goin' Round" (1970). In 1957, Gibson travelled back to Nashville to record "Oh Lonesome Me" for RCA. He and producer Chet Atkins decided to abandon the traditional steel guitar and fiddle and use a new sound featuring only guitars, a piano, a drummer, upright bass, and background singers. It became one of the first examples of what would be called the Nashville Sound and won Gibson a #1 hit; it also set the pattern for a long series of other RCA hits, including “Blue Blue Day” (1958).
A talented songwriter, Gibson was nicknamed "the sad poet" because he frequently wrote songs that told of loneliness and lost love. He wrote and sang "I Can't Stop Loving You", a song that would be recorded by more than 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles with a pop version in 1962. He also wrote and recorded "Sweet Dreams" that would become a major 1963 crossover hit for Patsy Cline. A great fan, in 1967 Roy Orbison recorded an album of his songs simply titled: Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson.
Don Gibson was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and in 2001 into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On his passing in 2003, he was interred in the Sunset Cemetery, in his hometown of Shelby, North Carolina.
I'd Rather Have Jesus
Don Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs;
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead
Don Gibson's song, "I'd Rather Have Jesus," articulates a deep longing for a life centered on Jesus Christ as opposed to the material things that the world offers. The lyrics convey the idea that having Jesus in one's life is more valuable and fulfilling than amassing great wealth, owning property or receiving the adoration of other people. The song emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to Christ, choosing to follow Him rather than being swayed by the temptations of sin or the trappings of fame.
In the first verse, the singer asserts that he values his relationship with Jesus above anything else in the world. He would rather be a servant of Christ than have great wealth, which would eventually fade away. Even though material possessions may appear to satisfy temporary needs, the song speaks to a deeper desire for meaning and purpose that can only be found in the love of Jesus. The lead singer emphasizes this desire with the line, "I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand." The phrase conjures up an image of Jesus' crucifixion and suggests that the singer wants to be guided by Christ's example, selfless love, and sacrifice.
In the second verse, the song emphasizes the idea of living a life dedicated to following Christ's example by submitting to Him and avoiding the trappings of fame or public recognition. The singer chooses the acceptance of God over the applause of men. The singer wants to be true to the "holy name" of Jesus, even if it means giving up worldly status or accomplishments.
Overall, "I'd Rather Have Jesus" echoes the biblical teaching that believers should put God first in their lives and priorities. The message of the song emphasizes the idea that true fulfillment is found in serving Jesus and being faithful to His cause, rather than in the temporal achievements or possessions that the world values.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I value having Jesus in my life more than material wealth such as silver or gold.
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I prefer having a relationship with Jesus rather than unlimited wealth without His presence.
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,
I choose to have Jesus as a companion over the ownership of real estate and property.
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
I desire to be under Jesus' guidance and direction, even though His hands were nailed to the cross.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Being under the leadership of Jesus is better to me than ruling a massive kingdom alone
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I would rather follow Jesus' will and guidance than be under the sway of sin and its dire consequences.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
I prioritize Jesus over anything this world may offer me at present.
This world affords today
This refers to the things that can be acquired or experienced in this world only, such as wealth, fame, or possessions.
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I choose to have Jesus in my life over being praised by people for my achievements or actions.
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I would rather demonstrate loyalty to Jesus and His mission than to any human agency or cause.
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
To me, it is more important to have a relationship with Jesus than to be known and admired globally by others.
I'd rather be true to His holy name
I prioritize acting in accordance with the character of Jesus and His principles than pleasing people or myself.
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
Jesus' beauty surpasses even the rarest and most stunning lilies in the world.
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
Jesus' sweetness makes honey seem dull and unimpressive by comparison.
He's all that my hungering spirit needs;
Jesus is the only one who can fulfill the deepest longings and desires of my spirit.
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead
I prefer to have Jesus in charge of my life, guiding and directing me in all things.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Beverly Shea, Rhea Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind