Softly and Tenderly

This article is about the Christian hymn. For the 2004 album, see Softly & Tenderly.
Softly and Tenderly
by Will Lamartine Thompson
GenreHymn
Written1880
Based onMatthew 11:28
Meter11.7.11.7 with refrain
SoftlyAndTenderly

"Softly and Tenderly" is a Christian hymn. It was composed and written by Will L. Thompson in 1880.[1] It is based on the Bible verse Mark 10:49.[2]

Dwight L. Moody used "Softly and Tenderly" in many of his evangelistic rallies in America and Britain. When he was in the hospital and barred from seeing visitors, Thompson had arrived to see him; Moody insisted that Thompson be let in and told him:

Will, I would rather have written "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.[3][4]

Thompson was a member of the Churches of Christ, where several of his hymns and gospel songs continue in use. "Softly and Tenderly" is the most widely known of his compositions and has circulated far beyond its origins in the American Restoration Movement. It is among the most prolifically translated gospel songs and is used throughout many denominations of Christianity.[5]

This hymn was sung at the funeral of Martin Luther King Junior.[6]

  1. ^ Bye, P.C. (1982). Family Hymn Book: Chords Given for Guitar and Autoharp. Mel Bay Publications. p. 86. ISBN 9780871667137.
  2. ^ Bible Gateway Mark 10:49 "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee."
  3. ^ "2002 class of inductees announced". Lou Holtz / Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame. East Liverpool, Ohio. 2000. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  4. ^ Evelyn Bence, Spiritual Moments with the Great Hymns, (Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan, 1997/ p. 248
  5. ^ Finley, Gene C. (1980). Our garden of song: A book of biography of song writers of the Church of Christ. West Monroe, Louisiana: Howard. pp. 479–418.
  6. ^ The Tabernacle Choir website