In the Garden, traditional Christian hymn with guitar chords midi lyrics and tabs

      G                                      G7
I come to the garden alone
               C                        G
While the dew is still on the roses
       D7                        G
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
          A7                    D D7
The Son of God discloses.

     G                                 D
And He walks with me, and He talks with me
           C                     G
And He tells me I am His own
                    G      B7                Em   C
And the joy we share as we tarry there
          G            D7       G
None other has ever known

In The Garden

1912

Words and Music by: C. Austin Miles

This is perhaps one of the most expressive and beautiful sacred songs written. Recorded frequently ever since its first publication, the song is one that could truly be called a classic "evergreen" hit. Cynthia Clawson recorded this song as the title track on her gorgeous album In The Garden and Amy Grant popularized in in the 80's with several recordings. According to Kenneth Osbeck, author of 101 Hymn Stories, the provenance of this hymn is interesting and inspirational.

It was in 1912 that music publisher Dr. Adam Geibel asked C. Austin Miles to write a hymn text that would be "sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line; one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds." In George W. Sanville's book, Forty Gospel Hymn Stories, Miles has left the following account of the writing of this hymn:

One day in March, 1912, I was seated in the dark room, where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favorite chapter, John 20-whether by chance or inspiration let each reader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm.

As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary's life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, "Rabboni!"

My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she place her hand, she bent over to look in, and hurried away. John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John. As they departed, Mary reappeared; leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing, so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched and looking into His face cried "Rabboni!"

I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.

Next to "The Old Rugged Cross", this hymn has been one of the most popular gospel hymns ever written, beginning with the days when Homer Rodeheaver led singing for the great Billy Sunday campaigns and used the hymn extensively.

C. Austin Miles (1868-1946) Miles attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1892, he abandoned his career as a pharmacist and wrote wrote his first Gospel song, “List ’Tis Jesus’ Voice” which was published by the Hall-Mack Company. He served as editor and manager at the Hall-Mack publishers for 37 years. He wrote many other popular hymns including, Answering Thy Call; A New Name in Glory; He Is Mine; I Love to Think of Jesus and Look for Me!, however, it is In The Garden for which he is most remembered. ( Base biographical data & photo from the