Will L. Thompson
(1847-1909), author of the all-time classic hymn, "Softly and
Tenderly," wrote one of his most popular songs, “Gathering Shells
from the Sea Shore,” in 10 minutes at the age of 26. It sold 246,000
copies.
The last stanza
goes, But now we are growing
up in years, Maud, Our locks are silvered and gray;
Yet the vows that, we made on the shore, Maud,
Are fresh in our memories to-day.
There still is a charm in those bright shells
And the sound of the deep ocean's roar.
For they call back the days that we spent, Maud,
Gathering up the shells from the shore.
"It became such a hit that it swept the
nation from shore to shore and gathered a fortune for its youthful composer who
became known as the 'bard of Ohio,' " says an article on hymnstudiesblog. "However,
after a very successful career writing secular and patriotic music, at age 40
Thompson turned to composing sacred songs and established the Will L. Thompson
Co., a profitable music publishing firm with offices both in East Liverpool, Ohio
and in Chicago, IL.
"In Chicago, he
became a personal friend of revival evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody and his chief
song director Ira David Sankey. 'Softly and Tenderly,' sometimes given
the title of, 'For You and For Me,' was apparently produced and copyrighted in
1880 and was a favorite of Moody’s. It was soon widely used as an
invitation song in the great evangelistic campaigns conducted by Moody and
Sankey in both the United States and Great Britain."
When the famed
evangelist lay dying, Thompson visited Moody to lend spiritual comfort. "The story is told that in 1899 Thompson
made a visit to Northfield, MA, where Moody was lying on his deathbed.
Visitors were forbidden, but when Moody heard that Thompson was there, the
dying evangelist ignored doctors’ orders and demanded that his old friend be
admitted.
"Though very ill,
Moody greeted the songwriter most cordially, took him by the hand, and feebly
whispered, 'Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly’ than
anything I have been able to do in my whole life.' ”
“United Methodist Hymnal
editor, the Rev. Carlton R. Young, notes: “This is a typical lullaby in the
gospel hymn tradition that characterizes Jesus as a mother, gently rocking and
comforting a child. This attribute contributes to the continuing popularity of
this genre of religious song that presents Jesus as waiting, caring, and
forgiving in intimate—and for many, compelling—metaphors.”
Other well-known hymns
by Thompson include: “Jesus is All the World
to Me,” "Lead Me Gently
Home, Father" and "There’s A Great Day Coming."
Another blog says,
"Even though he became quite rich, Thompson continued to live a life of
service. He supported various civic and religious activities
generously. He was also aware of the fact that small-town people had very
little exposure to good music, so he loaded a piano on a horse-drawn wagon and
went through small Ohio towns giving concerts of his music."
Lyrics to "Jesus is
All the World to Me":
1.
Jesus is all the world
to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He’s my Friend.
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He’s my Friend.
2.
Jesus is all the world
to me,
My Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and
He gives them o’er and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He’s my Friend.
My Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and
He gives them o’er and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He’s my Friend.
3.
Jesus is all the world
to me,
And true to Him I’ll be;
Oh, how could I this Friend deny,
When He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right,
He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night,
He’s my Friend.
And true to Him I’ll be;
Oh, how could I this Friend deny,
When He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right,
He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night,
He’s my Friend.
4.
Jesus is all the world
to me,
I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when
Life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He’s my Friend.
I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when
Life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He’s my Friend.
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