Softly and Tenderly

"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]

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

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]

Selected recordings
"Softly and Tenderly"
Single by Reba McEntire with Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood
from the album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope
ReleasedDecember 16, 2016 (2016-12-16)
GenreChristian country
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s)Will Lamartine Thompson
Producer(s)
Reba McEntire singles chronology
"Just Like Them Horses"
(2016)		 "Softly and Tenderly"
(2016)		 "Back to God"
(2017)

Use in modern culture

The song was featured in the film Urban Cowboy at Bud's (John Travolta's character) uncle's funeral.[12][13]

The film The Trip to Bountiful makes recurrent use of the song, particularly a recording of it by Cynthia Clawson.[14]

An a cappella version is sung by Alessandro Nivola in the film Junebug.[15]

The melody appears twice in the movie Abrupt Decision, released 2011.

The song is performed in A Prairie Home Companion.[16]

In November 2017, Carrie Underwood performed the hymn as part of the In Memoriam segment, which culminated in a tribute to the fifty-eight Route 91 shooting victims, at the 51st annual CMA Awards.[17]

It was performed at the funeral of Adele Stackhouse (Sookie's Granny), in True Blood.[16]

It was also performed in the film Tender Mercies.[18]

References
  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
  7. Sforza, John (2000). The Andrews Sisters Story - Swing It!. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 239. ISBN 0-8131-2136-1.
  8. Million Dollar Quartet, "Softly and Tenderly" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wN-kHHKAOY
  9. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  10. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  11. New Release Today website
  14. Workshop Songs Online website
  15. IMDB website
  16. Hymn For The Day website
  17. Good Morning American website
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