Softly and Tenderly
Earl Perkins Lyrics
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Calling for you and for me
Patient and loving he's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me
[Chorus: x2]
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home
Calling, "O sinner, come home!"
Why should we linger when Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we wait, then, and heed not His mercies
Mercies for you and for me?
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
The song Softly and Tenderly by Earl Perkins is a call to come home to Jesus. The lyrics describe the patient and loving nature of Jesus who is watching and waiting for those who are weary to come back to him. The chorus repeats the call to come home, urging sinners to heed Jesus' plea.
The song presents a sense of urgency in coming back to Jesus. It asks why we should linger or wait when Jesus is pleading for us. The lyrics emphasize the mercies and pardons that Jesus offers, and the wonderful love that is promised. Despite our sins, he still offers us forgiveness and mercy.
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the urgency of the message and encourages listeners to take action. It is a powerful reminder that no matter what we have done or where we are in life, Jesus is always there, waiting for us to come back to him with open arms.
Overall, Softly and Tenderly is a beautiful hymn that reminds us of the love and grace of Jesus. Its message is still relevant today and serves as a comforting reminder during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Gently and kindly, Jesus is inviting us to come to Him
Calling for you and for me
Inviting both you and me to come to Him
Patient and loving he's waiting and watching
He is waiting and watching with patience and love
Watching for you and for me
He is specifically watching out for you and me
Come home, come home
Come back to Him
Ye who are weary, come home
Those of us who are tired and burdened, come back to Him
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
He is calling us with a deep, heartfelt and gentle sincerity
Calling, "O sinner, come home!"
He is calling out to us sinners, asking us to come back to Him
Why should we linger when Jesus is pleading
Why should we delay when He is begging us?
Pleading for you and for me?
Begging for both you and me to come back to Him
Why should we wait, then, and heed not His mercies
Why should we delay and not listen to His offers of kindness?
Mercies for you and for me?
He is offering His kindness and compassion to both you and me
O for the wonderful love He has promised
Oh, how great His love is that He has promised
Promised for you and for me
He has promised His love for both you and me
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon
Despite our sins, He is willing to forgive us and show us mercy
Pardon for you and for me
He is willing to pardon and forgive both you and me
Come home, come home
Come back to Him once again
Ye who are weary, come home
Those of us who are feeling weighed down, come back to Him
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
He is calling with a deep and sincere love, asking for our return
Calling, "O sinner, come home!"
He is specifically calling out to us as sinners, asking us to come back to Him
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL MICKELSON, 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. ❤