Softly and Tenderly
“Softly and Tenderly” is a hymn that doesn’t shout — it calls gently, lovingly, and with patience. It’s the sound of grace reaching out without force, reminding the listener that Jesus is always inviting, always waiting, always near. There’s a deep calm in this hymn, one that speaks straight to the heart.
The Story Behind the Hymn
This hymn was written in 1880 by Will L. Thompson, an American composer who had a heart for creating songs that touched everyday people. Though he wrote both secular and sacred music, this hymn became one of his most enduring works.
It was often sung at revival services and during altar calls, but over the years, it became beloved in quiet moments too — funerals, personal devotions, and times of reflection. Thompson reportedly tried to visit evangelist Dwight L. Moody as he was dying, and when Moody was told that “Softly and Tenderly” was written by Thompson, he said, “Will, I would rather have written that song than anything I’ve ever done in my life.”
What Makes It Powerful
This hymn reminds us that Jesus doesn’t give up. The repeated lines — “Come home, come home” — carry no anger, only love. It’s not a call to religion, but to relationship. It’s a reminder that no matter how far we wander, the door is still open, and the Savior is still calling.
A verse that echoes this message is Luke 15:20 (NIV):
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him…
Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, this hymn reflects Christ’s heart: ready to receive, not to condemn.
My Violin Cover
When I arranged “Softly and Tenderly” for violin, I kept the pacing slow and intimate. It’s not a hymn that needs dramatic build — it needs space and gentleness. I let each note linger, to match the tenderness of the message.
With Violin Hymns, I try to express the tone of the lyrics, and this one was about invitation. No pressure. Just a soft, steady call to come home.
Listen and Reflect
The video is below. As you listen, picture Jesus calling you — not in anger, but with open arms. Whether you’re near or far, the message is the same: come home. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling — calling for you and for me.
Lyrics
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.
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
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?
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
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