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SDA Hymnal #289

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

Author: Will L. Thompson (1880)·Music: Will L. Thompson·Scripture: Matthew 11:28·Topic: Invitation

Listen — melody

Key of G

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Public-domain MIDI. Download .mid

Meaning & History

A gentle invitation hymn that pictures Christ waiting and watching at the door of the heart. Sung at appeals, funerals, and moments of quiet decision.

Tonic Sol-fa — Stanza 1

Movable-do sol-fa auto-derived from the public-domain melody in G. A rehearsal aid — check it against the score before printing.

mi reSoftlydoanddo ti dotenderlyre doJesuslaisla socalling,
do doCallingdoformiyoureanddoforreme;
faAtsothemiheart'sre reportaldoHe'sso dowaitingtianddo rewatching,
do faWatchinglaforfayoulaandsoforsome.

Lyrics

Verse 1

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.

Refrain

Come home, come home! Ye who are weary, come home! Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling — Calling, O sinner, come home!

Verse 2

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?

Refrain

Come home, come home! Ye who are weary, come home! Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling — Calling, O sinner, come home!

Verse 3

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.

Refrain

Come home, come home! Ye who are weary, come home! Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling — Calling, O sinner, come home!