| Softly and Tenderly | |
|---|---|
| byWill Lamartine Thompson | |
| Genre | Hymn |
| Written | 1880 |
| Based on | Matthew 11:28 |
| Meter | 11.7.11.7 with refrain |
"Softly and Tenderly" is a Christianhymn. It was composed and written byWill 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 hisevangelistic 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:
Thompson was a member of theChurches 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 AmericanRestoration Movement. It is among the most prolifically translated gospel songs and is used throughout many denominations ofChristianity.[5]
This hymn was sung at the funeral ofMartin Luther King Junior.[6]
| "Softly and Tenderly" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byReba McEntire withKelly Clarkson andTrisha Yearwood | ||||
| from the albumSing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope | ||||
| Released | December 16, 2016 (2016-12-16) | |||
| Genre | Christian country | |||
| Length | 4:02 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Will Lamartine Thompson | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Reba McEntire singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was featured in the filmUrban Cowboy at Bud's (John Travolta's character) uncle's funeral.[12][13]
The filmThe Trip to Bountiful makes recurrent use of the song, particularly a recording of it byCynthia Clawson.[14]
An a cappella version is sung byAlessandro Nivola in the filmJunebug.[15]
In the movieWalk the Line the song is played in the church thatJune Carter Cash takesJohnny Cash to for his first time out of the house after stopping his drug use.
The melody appears twice in the movieAbrupt Decision, released 2011.
The song is performed inA 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-eightRoute 91 shooting victims, at the51st annual CMA Awards.[17]
It was performed at the funeral of Adele Stackhouse (Sookie's Granny), inTrue Blood.[16]
It was also performed in the filmTender Mercies.[18]
