Music by B.D. Ackley (1872-1958)

Earthly pleasures vainly call me;

I would be like Jesus;

Nothing worldly shall enthrall me;

I would be like Jesus.

Refrain

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

He has broken every fetter,

I would be like Jesus;

That my soul may serve Him better,

I would be like Jesus.

Refrain

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

All the way from earth to glory,

I would be like Jesus;

Telling o’er and o’er the story,

I would be like Jesus.

Refrain

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

That in Heaven He may meet me,

I would be like Jesus;

That His words “Well done” may greet me,

I would be like Jesus.

Refrain

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

     Born on January 1, 1865, at Horrabridge, Devonshire, England, James Rowe was the son of John Rowe, a copper miner. James worked for the Irish government for four years, then emigrated to America at age 24. He settled in Albany, New York, and worked in railroads in New York for 10 years. He then became an inspector for the Hudson River Humane Society. He then worked for music publishers in Texas and Tennessee, and in his later years, moved to Vermont and worked with his daughter, an artist, writing verses for greeting cards. He died on November 10th, 1933 at Wells, Vermont.

     B.D. Ackley, who wrote the tune to this hymn, showed musical talent early, learning the melodeon, piano, coronet, clarinet and piccolo as a boy. After moving to New York City in 1888, he began playing the organ in several churches. In 1907, he joined the Billy Sunday-Homer Rodeheaver evangelism team as secretary-pianist, and traveled with them for eight years. As a composer and editor with the Rodeheaver Company, he wrote over 3,000 Gospel tunes. He died on September 3, 1958 at Winona Lake, Indiana and is buried in Warsaw, Indiana.