"Give Me Jesus" is one of many spirituals written during slavery times with no known composer or text writer. The tune "Give Me Jesus" appears in nineteen hymnal collections and supplements, including the Baptist Hymnal (2008), the Moravian Book of Worship and the Seventh Day Adventist Hymnal (Hymnary.org). It is often used for funerals and during the liturgical season of Lent. As was the case with most spirituals, it is difficult to interpret its meaning or purpose. Gwendolin Sims Warren, in her book, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: 101 Best-Loved Psalms, Gospel Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the African- American Church, writes that songs like "Give Me Jesus" "could be a response to a common place tragedy like the brutal loss of children and other family and friends to the auction block". She states further, "Persons in slavery, deprived and besieged in this life, might have nothing earthly to hold on to. But, if they were Christians, they believed they had an inheritance in God". It has been published in 16 hymnals. The lyrics shown here are from ELCA's With One Voice.