Sally DeFord Music

downloadable sheet music for LDS and other Christian use

 

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If the Savior Stood Beside Me

There are now so many different versions of this song in circulation that this page is set up in a different format than usual. Each version is described, and links to the applicable recordings (where available) and scores immediately follow each description. Lyrics are at the bottom of the page.

Children's Voices     Background Information     Two-part treble voices     Duet/Two-part mixed chorus     Lyrics


Children's Voices

The 2008 Primary Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation includes a simplified version of this song. This version has been translated into several different languages, available in the various language versions of the Presentation through distribution services. I have included a scan of the commonly-requested Spanish version. Other languages may be found in the 2008 program booklets linked on this page.

The following two MP3 files may be copied and distributed as needed to Primary children on practice recordings.

*MP3 Recording featuring vocals by Angie Jack (simplified version) :   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download
*MP3 Accompaniment Track (simplified version) :   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download
*Scores:     Children, simplified  / Optional Flute     Children, simplified--Spanish  / Optional Flute

Here is the original version, written for my second daughter's baptism many years ago. It is a bit more challenging to play than the simplified version, but not too difficult.

This version appeared in the Friend magazine in October of 1993, but contained one very unfortunate typo (or grammar-o, as the case may be) in the second verse. "Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?" is correct--the "was" that made its way into the original score was just carelessness and sloppy proofreading on my part, and it continues to haunt me as the Friend version continues to be used. (If you listen to the children's choir rendition on the lds.org website, you'll find that they were reading from that unfortunate score.) The score linked here is correct.

The following two MP3 files may be copied and distributed as needed to Primary children on practice recordings.

*MP3 Recording with vocals by Heather Prusse : Hi-speed  Dialup   Download   CD:  I Have Not Seen, Yet I Believe
*MP3 piano track :   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download   CD:  I Have Not Seen, Yet I Believe--Accompaniment Tracks
*Scores:     Children, original version w/optional flute

Many of you have requested background on this song and/or a message to your Primary children. I'm posting it here rather than send so many identical responses individually.

    "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" is a song I wrote for my daughter Holly when she turned eight years old. I wrote a song for each of my children, and this one was hers. Holly was such a good example! She was always so kind and loved others so much, it seemed as though she knew Jesus was always close beside her, taking care of her and loving her.

    Holly is now all grown up, and has a family of her own. This is what she says about her song:

      On my eighth birthday, I was baptized. At my baptism, my mom sang the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," which she wrote specially for me. I remember her saying "I wrote this song for Holly, not because it's a lesson I wanted to teach her, but because she has always acted as if the Savior really was there beside her." That meant a lot to me, and I was so proud of myself and my beautiful song!

      It has been more than 15 years since that day, and though there have been times that I have not acted as I would if I could see the Savior next to me, I know that even when we make mistakes and choose to do the wrong thing, Jesus stays near us and watches over us anyway, waiting for us to reach out and hold His hand again. Because He loves us so dearly, we are always in His watchful care, even when we don't know it, and someday we will all look back and realize how close He was, just when we needed Him. I am trying every day to "be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me."

    My young friends, if you will live every day of your life as though you could see the Savior standing right beside you, you will be happy, and you will be ready to live with Him again some day. He loves you and will always--always!--watch over you.

Two-part Treble Voices

In 2006, a third verse was added to this song at the request of the general YW board. Here is a recording done as a solo:

*MP3 by Allyse Smith Taylor and Marvin Goldstein: Hi-speed   Dialup   Download ($) ?   CD:Softly and Tenderly

A wonderful young women's choir performed this version with the additional verse in the April 2007 general YW Broadcast. The organist read from this score, which is also available in the August 2007 New Era magazine:

*Score:     Two-part Young Women

Here is a version that is nearly identical to the one used in the broadcast, but includes an obbligato for two C-instruments. The accompaniment has been altered slightly to accommodate the obbligato.

*MP3 Recording featuring vocals by Becki Madsen:   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download   CD:  A Lamp to Light My Way
*MP3 accompaniment track (inc. verse 3 for YW) :   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download    CD:  A Lamp to Light My Way
*Scores:     Two-part Young Women / Optional obbligato for two C instruments (for this version only)

Here is a very easy SA setting of the original song without the extra verse. The harmonies are very simple, and could be used for the children's version as well. If you want to include the extra verse, just add a repeat.

*Score:     Very easy SA

Also available is this arrangement from Jackman Music. The arranger is Jerry Jackman (though he didn't give himself credit either on the website or on the music). Note that this arrangement doesn't include the extra verse, and it can't be copied.

Duet/Two-part Mixed Chorus

After the April 2007 YW broadcast, I received quite a few requests for a mixed-chorus arrangement that included the new verse. This version is nearly identical to the SA arrangement, but it's voiced for either mixed chorus or alto/baritone duet. It may be used to accompany the SA one whole step lower. The recording for this one is a practice track, in which I have assigned the treble voice(s) to the violin, and the bass voice(s) to the cello.

*MP3 Practice Track (duet or mixed chorus, includes verse 3) :   Hi-speed    Dialup    Download
*Score:     Two-part Mixed Chorus or Alto/Baritone Duet (includes extra verse)

Finally, here is an easy two-part/duet arrangement of the original version without the extra verse.

*Score:     Two-part Mixed Chorus or Duet


      Lyrics:

      If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
      Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
      Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
      If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

      If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
      Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
      Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
      If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

      If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
      Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
      Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
      If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

      He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
      And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
      So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
      If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.