Softly and Tenderly Will L. Thompson, 1880
4 verses and a refrain, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals he’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Verse 2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Verse 3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, death beds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Verse 4. Oh! for the wonderful love he has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Tho’ we have sinn’d, he has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from New Baptist Hymnal (1926). They were published in 1880, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind Softly and Tenderly
Will L. Thompson wrote both the words and the music. He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio. A commercial publisher turned down his early songs, so he started his own company, Will L. Thompson and Co., and later added a store that sold pianos, organs and sheet music. The hymn first appeared in 1880 in Sparkling Gems, a collection edited by J. Calvin Bushey and published by Thompson's firm. The text has four stanzas and a refrain. Some hymnals leave out the third stanza, and a few change one of its lines. The tune goes by SOFTLY AND TENDERLY and THOMPSON, and it moves in a gentle triple pulse. Hymnary.org lists it in A flat in several hymnals and in G in others. Carlton Young, quoted by Hymnary.org, called the song a lullaby, and he linked that feel to the picture of Jesus waiting and caring. Hymnary.org files it under invitation to salvation and counts it in 1,054 hymnals. Its Scripture list includes Matthew 11:28 and Revelation 3:20.
Will L. Thompson
1847-11-07 to 1909-09-20
Will Lamartine Thompson was born in East Liverpool, Ohio. He wrote both words and music. A commercial publisher turned down his early songs, so he started his own company, Will L. Thompson and Co., which grew to include a store selling pianos, organs and sheet music. Softly and Tenderly appeared in Sparkling Gems in 1880. Hymnary.org lists 95 of his texts, including Jesus Is All the World to Me and There's a Great Day Coming. He became ill on a tour of Europe, came home, and died in New York a few weeks later. He is buried in East Liverpool.
Will L. Thompson
1847-11-07 to 1909-09-20
Will Lamartine Thompson was born in East Liverpool, Ohio. He wrote both words and music. A commercial publisher turned down his early songs, so he started his own company, Will L. Thompson and Co., which grew to include a store selling pianos, organs and sheet music. Softly and Tenderly appeared in Sparkling Gems in 1880. Hymnary.org lists 95 of his texts, including Jesus Is All the World to Me and There's a Great Day Coming. He became ill on a tour of Europe, came home, and died in New York a few weeks later. He is buried in East Liverpool.
- Hymnary.org, Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Will L. Thompson , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Blessed Refuge 54 , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, The Worshiping Church 441 , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Softly and Tenderly
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Revelation 3:20
- Luke 15:11-32
- John 7:37-38
- Isaiah 55:1-12
Softly and Tenderly videos
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Softly and Tenderly (2013) | The Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Choir
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Softly and Tenderly | April 2024 General Conference General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ, Choir
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Softly And Tenderly - A Cappella Hymn A Cappella Hymns, A cappella
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Softly and Tenderly - piano instrumental hymn Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Softly & Tenderly (Official Lyric Video) - Kristyn Getty, Vince Gill, Ellie Holcomb, Sierra Hull KeithandKristyn Getty, Modern arrangement
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Carrie Underwood - Softly And Tenderly (Visualizer) Carrie Underwood, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Print and project
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in A♭ or G.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Softly and Tenderly?
Will Thompson wrote both words and music. It first appeared in 1880 in Sparkling Gems.
What is the story behind Softly and Tenderly?
Thompson started his own publishing company after another publisher turned down his songs, and he printed the hymn there in 1880. The text invites sinners to come to Jesus, with the refrain repeating the call.
Which Bible verses lie behind the hymn?
Hymnary.org lists 36 passages, including Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 15:11-32 and Revelation 3:20.
What key is Softly and Tenderly in?
Hymnals print it in A flat or in G. Hymnary.org shows both.
Is Softly and Tenderly in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. Thompson published them in 1880, and the tune is from the same year.
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