Dion Dimucci's album version
Do you walk in the shadows
Are your dreams swept with fear
Does your heart fill with sadness
With the night drawing near
Do you yearn for the moment
When you'll be safe and warm
Do you search for the shelter
From life's oncoming storms
Come to Him through the darkness
Come to Him through the rain
Walk with Him from misfortune
Walk with Him from the pain
He's the light of salvation
He's the head that's never bowed
He's the first step of wisdom
He's the sun through the clouds
Walk with him
If the winds of disaster
Have blown hard through your night
And the dreams you have cherished
Can't begin to take flight
Take his hand through the sunlight
Lift your head high above
Let your blood flow forever
With the warmth of his love
Come to Him through the darkness
Come to Him through the rain
Walk with Him from misfortune
Walk with Him from the pain
He's the light of salvation
The head that's never bowed
He's the first step of wisdom
He's the sun
The sun through the clouds
Walk with Him
Blend your life with his blessings
Drink the wine of tomorrow
Yesterday must be banished
With the seeds of your sorrow
Do you walk in the shadows
Are your dreams swept with fear
Does your heart fill with sadness
With the night drawing near
Do you yearn for the moment
When you'll be safe and warm
Do you search for the shelter
From life's oncoming storms
Come to Him through the darkness
Come to Him through the rain
Walk with Him from misfortune
Walk with Him from the pain
He's the light of salvation
He's the head that's never bowed
He's the first step of wisdom
He's the sun through the clouds
Walk with Him
Talk with Him
HYMN TO HIM is a song written by Dion DiMucci and Bill Tuohy and released on Dion's 2020 album Blues With Friends. The above lyrics are for Dion DiMucci's album version of HYMN TO HIM as released in 2020.
Dion's Blues With Friends was released on 05 Jun 2020 on Keeping The Blues Alive Records, a newly launched label co-founded by Joe Bonamassa, who appears on the album's first single, BLUES COMIN' ON. The blues album consists of 14 tracks, all featuring guest appearances by notable friends and admirers.
Bruce Springsteen contributed guitar and Patti Scialfa contributed harmony and backing vocals to the album's closing track, HYMN TO HIM. Though not credited as such, Springsteen also seems to sing harmony vocals on the track.
Dion first recorded HYMN TO HIM for his 1987 gospel album Velvet & Steel. "But songs are never finished," Dion wrote. "I kept hearing this with Patti's voice, so I asked her to help me remake the song. When she started singing and layering her vocals down, I got a big surprise. Bruce walked into the studio with his guitar and asked to play a solo. They made it something sublime." "When Patti was listening in the home studio they have, Bruce heard what she was doing and he thought he'd add a try a little something on guitar," Dion told Rolling Stone. "And it was terrific, what he did add just so much gravitas."
The album's basic tracks were recorded in Florida and the album began to take shape over the course of the last part of 2019 and the first part of 2020. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa's part was likely recorded sometime in early 2020 at Stone Hill Studio, Springsteen's permanent recording facility at his horse ranch in Colts Neck, NJ.
HYMN TO HIM is the second single from Blues With Friends. It was released on digital platforms on 01 May 2020.
Bruce Springsteen first met Dion DiMucci in October 1975 when he was invited by Phil Spector to watch him work on a Dion single at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Steven Van Zandt, while touring as a member of the backing band for fifties vocal group The Dovells, had actually played guitar in Dion's backing band at a show in Miami, FL, on 31 Dec 1972. That trip, according to Van Zandt, is the original source of his nickname "Miami" Steve.
On 30 Sep 1976, Springsteen and Van Zandt made an unannounced guest appearance during an encore at Dion's second (late) show at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, CA. They provided backing vocals on Dion's THE WANDERER. Dion introduced the pair as "honorary Belmonts". Since then, Dion and Springsteen have shared the stage on several occasions. They have performed together Dion's A TEENAGER IN LOVE and THE WANDERER and Springsteen's IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND.
Springsteen described Dion as "the link between Sinatra and rock 'n' roll." Dion recorded and released two Springsteen songs IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND in 1992 and BOOK OF DREAMS in 2000. Springsteen appeared on Dion's 2020 album Blues With Friends, playing guitar on HYMN TO HIM, and on Dion's 2021 album Stomping Ground, playing guitar and harmonica on ANGEL IN THE ALLEYWAYS.
Bruce Springsteen has never performed HYMN TO HIM live.
List of available versions of HYMN TO HIM on this website:
HYMN TO HIM [Dion Dimucci's album version]