Billboard Magazine: "The most awesome voic… Read Full Bio ↴Born 1948 in Austin, Texas.
Billboard Magazine: "The most awesome voice in gospel music".
Five Dove Awards
Nomintated for 15 Dove Awards
Grammy winner.
Softly and Tenderly
Cynthia Clawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He's waiting
And watching
Watching for you and for me
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
And watching
Watching for you and for me
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh sinner, come home
Why should we tarry when
Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me
Why should we linger and
Head not His mercies
Mercies for you and for me
Oh! for the wonderful love He
Has promised
Promised for you and for me
Tho' we have sinned He has mercy
And pardon
Pardon for you and for me
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh sinner, come home
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
"Softly and Tenderly" is a beautiful hymn of invitation, written to draw the listener to the embrace of Jesus Christ. The first two lines of each verse repeat the same phrase, emphasizing that Christ is always calling us, watching and waiting for us to come to Him. The portals mentioned in the second line of the verses refer to the gates of heaven, where Christ is waiting for us.
The chorus of "Softly and Tenderly" is a call for all who are weary to come to Jesus. The plea is urgent and earnest, with an invitation to receive Christ's mercy and pardon, even though we are sinners. The second verse emphasizes that there is no good reason to delay in coming to Christ, who is pleading and full of mercy.
This hymn has been a favorite at altar calls, funerals and memorial services for generations. It continues to be a source of encouragement, hope and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Gentle and caring, Jesus is inviting you
Calling for you and for me
Summoning us, every soul, He wants to see
See on the portals He's waiting
On the doorway to heaven, He's waiting patiently
And watching
Observing us, His eyes never wandering
Watching for you and for me
Keeping an eye on every child of His, He's there to see
Why should we tarry when
Why do we delay when
Jesus is pleading
Christ is beseeching us
Pleading for you and for me
Begging us, to come closer to Him and be set free
Why should we linger and
Why do we hesitate and
Head not His mercies
Not trust in His kindness
Mercies for you and for me
His love and forgiveness is open for you and me
Oh! for the wonderful love He
Oh! Such an astounding love He
Has promised
He's assured us
Promised for you and for me
Promised for all, His love, so divine and free
Tho' we have sinned He has mercy
Although we've made mistakes, He's still loving and kind
And pardon
And offers us pardon
Pardon for you and for me
Forgiveness for everyone, if we come back to Him, we'll see
Come home, come home
Come back, come back
Ye who are weary, come home
If you are tired and restless, come back where you belong
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
With truest sincerity, and softness, He continues imploring
Calling, oh sinner, come home
Summoning, oh sinner, to come and never roam
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Will L. Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kaliaakilo2200
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
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, "O sinner come home"
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
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, "O sinner come home"
Come home, come home (come home)
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, "O sinner come home"
@MarkBlackburnWPG
CYNTHIA CLAWSON - Softly and Tenderly [live]
My wife (of almost 50 years) “Irene” has just lost her best friend “Marj” and is inconsolable. The two grew up together as childhood neighbors in Winnipeg Canada, and they grew old together mostly at a distance: Marg died at her home in British Columbia – one of her three sons, “Mark” at her bedside. He phoned us with the news: Mark said he'd been 'guided' to play a particular song for his Mom – “the last thing she heard.” Was I familiar with it? “It's called Softly and Tenderly.”
“Oh yes,” I said, “it's a favorite gospel song – a hymn about 'going home' – to Heaven.”
Marj's son Mark just shared this video of the version (my new favorite) that his Mom was listening-to, when she breathed her last.
[Among the informed comments from kindred souls below the video:]
John Richards (3 years ago)
I first heard Cynthia's beautiful voice when l was a teenager. I'm now 66 and she's only gotten better.
James Clark (2 years ago)
You have one of the most angelic voices. I heard your rendition of the song when I saw the film, "The Trip to Bountiful". It stuck in my mind and soul. I helped lead me to the Lord.
Celebrated elsewhere this day [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "
@MarkBlackburnWPG
For those of us who still care to ask, "Who wrote that song?" Googled for the man who composed the song and his Wiki entry mentions Cynthia Clawson -- her 'definitive' performance. I boiled it down to this:
The composer of “Softly and Tenderly” WILL THOMPSON was born I see, 100 years before me (1847) and he was only 34 when he died of an illness “contracted while on a tour of Europe.” But in his short working life, according to Wikipedia, “he founded the W. L. Thompson Music Company and tried his hand with some success at secular compositions before finding his forte in hymns and gospel songs.
Both a lyricist and composer, Thompson ensured he would always remember words or melodies that came to him at odd times. He said, "No matter where I am, at home or hotel, at the store or traveling, if an idea or theme comes to me that I deem worthy of a song, I jot it down in verse. In this way I never lose it."
Rebuffed in an early attempt to sell his songs to a commercial publisher, Thompson eventually opened the W. L. Thompson Music Company [which by] the 1880s, was one of the most prominent and successful such businesses in the United States. Thousands of music teachers and musicians ordered sheet music, instruments, and other supplies from Thompson's store. Thompson later founded a music and publishing company in Chicago.
His most well known work is the classic and enduring gospel song "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" which has been translated into countless languages. It has been featured in the films The Trip to Bountiful, Junebug, and A Prairie Home Companion (sung by Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin), in the Anne Tyler novel The Accidental Tourist, and the television series True Blood.
Thompson fell ill during a tour of Europe, and his family cut short their travels to return home. He died a few weeks later in New York City on September 20, 1909.
"Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" was sung by the choir of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church at the funeral for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.[7] and is used widely today as an invitation hymn in evangelistic services. The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody greatly admired Thompson's music [and] when Moody lay dying, Thompson called on him. Moody is said to have encouraged Thompson by saying, "Will, I would rather have written 'Softly and Tenderly' than anything I have been able to do in my whole life." Moody died shortly afterwards while singing the words of that hymn.[8][9] Cynthia Clawson's interpretation of the song is used as background throughout the 1985 movie Trip to Bountiful.[9]
@hemantkharkongor5433
So much emotion in her pitch perfect voice ....🙏
@beekay7269
Cynthia Clawson has such a beautiful voice
@susannatillman2582
I love you Jesus. 🙏 ❤️ 🙏
@kaitlynac
Her voice is ethereal
@sharonblack8169
Cynthia your voice is pure gold...Thank you!!😇❤️🕊
@jcga30346
You have one of the most angelic voices. I heard your rendition of the song when I saw the film, "The Trip to Bountiful". It stuck in my mind and soul. I helped lead me to the Lord.
@sochaoticnvsochaoticnv7232
Amen to that. One of my favorite movies, and the scene you're referring to actually lead me to seek other hymns.
@anthonycrowley2778
Yes! The beginning of that movie is amazing only made more awesome by her singing
@conniestinson9450
That movie is where I heard her sing this
Have never forgotten it 💗🎵🙏
@marciasuarez3823
I agree, I first heard the song on "The Trip To Bountiful". I absolutely loved that movie. It made me cry hearing that song and I couldn't stop singing the song. ❤