Christian hymn written and composed by Will Lamartine Thompson
"Softly and Tenderly" is a Christian hymn. It was composed and written by Will L. Thompson in 1880. It is based on the Bible verse Mark 10:49.
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.
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.
This hymn was sung at the funeral of Martin Luther King Junior.
Use in modern culture.
The song was featured in the film "Urban Cowboy" at Bud's (John Travolta's character) uncle's funeral.
The film "The Trip to Bountiful" makes recurrent use of the song, particularly a recording of it by Cynthia Clawson.
An a cappella version is sung by Alessandro Nivola in the film "Junebug".
In the movie "Walk the Line" the song is played in the church that June Carter Cash takes Johnny Cash to for his first time out of the house after stopping his drug use.
The melody appears twice in the movie "Abrupt Decision", released 2011.
The song is performed in A Prairie Home Companion.
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.
It was performed at the funeral of Adele Stackhouse (Sookie's Granny), in "True Blood".
It was also performed in the film Tender Mercies.
References.
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