Softly and Tenderly
Daniel Beck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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!

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?

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!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Softly and Tenderly" by Daniel Beck convey a powerful message of love, redemption, and forgiveness. The song addresses Jesus' call to all individuals, inviting them to come back to Him, to find solace and rest in His arms. The opening lines emphasize the gentle and compassionate nature of Jesus' call, describing it as soft and tender. Jesus is portrayed as watching and waiting at the portals, eager to welcome and embrace those who choose to respond to His call.

The chorus of the song reinforces the urgency and sincerity of Jesus' plea for all weary souls to come home. It emphasizes that Jesus is calling earnestly and tenderly, urging sinners to return and find comfort in His presence. The repetition of the phrase "come home" serves as both an invitation and a reminder that Jesus is always ready to receive those who turn to Him, regardless of their past mistakes or sins.

The second verse questions why anyone would hesitate to answer Jesus' plea, highlighting His pleading and the abundance of His mercies. It suggests that lingering and disregarding His offer of love and forgiveness is unnecessary when His grace is readily available to all who seek it. The verse compels individuals to seize the opportunity to receive the promised wonderful love that Jesus extends to every repentant heart.

The concluding verse reiterates the assurance of mercy and pardon that Jesus extends to all who have sinned, emphasizing that no one is excluded. It encourages sinners to respond to His call, emphasizing the urgency of finding solace in His forgiveness and love.

Overall, the song "Softly and Tenderly" is an invitation to all individuals, regardless of their past actions or burdens, to come back to Jesus and experience His unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Line by Line Meaning

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Gently and lovingly, Jesus is extending an invitation

Calling for you and for me;
Summoning both you and me

See, on the portals he′s waiting and watching,
Behold, he patiently awaits and attentively observes

Watching for you and for me.
Observing with anticipation for both you and me

Come home, come home;
Return to your true home

Ye who are weary come home;
You who are exhausted, find solace in coming home

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Sincerely and affectionately, Jesus extends his call

Calling, O sinner, come home!
Invoking, oh sinner, to come back home

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Why should we delay when Jesus is earnestly beseeching?

Pleading for you and for me?
Begging for the sake of both you and me?

Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Why should we remain and disregard his acts of kindness?