The Untold Story: The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key We all know our National Anthem, but do you know how it originated? The author, Francis Scott Key, was at Fort McHenry when the British Royal Navy bombed the fort in 1814.…
Hymn Story: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
Strife hung in the air throughout the American Civil War. Wife and mother, Julia Ward Howe, heard the troops singing a song, John Brown’s Body. She was impressed with the catchy tune, but not the…
Song Story: God Bless America
Irving Berlin’s patriotic love song to his adopted homeland was hidden away for over twenty years before being publicly made known. Irving Berlin was a Russian immigrant living in New York City. Growing up, Berlin…
Hymn Story: Shall We Gather at the River
The hymn was written in 1864, by Robert Lowry, a poet and composer. Lowry was born in Philadelphia on March 12, 1826. From an early age he showed a great love for music. He served…
Hymn Story: Jesus Paid It All
Elvina Mable Hall was born in 1818 in Alexandria, Virginia. She was twice married, to Richard Hall and later to Rev. Thomas Myers. She died in 1899. She said the hymn was “written on the…
Hymn Story: At the Cross
This popular hymn was written by Isaac Watts. Watts was born in 1674 and died in 1748. He would become a pastor and wrote poems and hymns to go with his sermons. He wrote over…
Song Story: Peace in the Valley
This beautiful song was written by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey in 1937. Dorsey was born on July 1, 1899 in Villa Rica, Georgia. The 1930s were a difficult time for him. In 1930, his wife…
Song Story: Give Me That Old Time Religion
Have you ever felt unfulfilled in your life? That was the struggle with Charles Davis Tillman. Born shortly after the end of the Civil War, to a Methodist Minister and his wife, he struggled to…
Hymn Story: Onward Christian Soldiers
This popular hymn was written without the intention of ever being published. Written for the English holiday, Whitmonday in 1865. Whitmonday is a day for festivals in Yorkshire. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould recalled, “one Whitmonday it…
Song story: I Believe in A Hill Called Mt. Calvary
Corrie Ten Boom had an amazing testimony for Christ. However, her faith and story came from the horrors of life that took place in Nazi Germany during World War II. Ten Boom was the only…
Hymn Story: Sweet and Clear the Birds are Singing
This is a new hymn to me, but I discovered it working on another project and was intrigued. Sadly, I’ve not been able to discover much about the origin of the hymn. The hymn, Sweet…
Hymn Story: When We All Get to Heaven
This rousing hymn was written by Eliza E. Hewitt, while she was an invalid. She was born on June 28, 1851 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After becoming a public school teacher, she received an injury that…
Song Story: The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference
This is another Gaither song, that Daddy and I have performed many times over the years. I love the message of this song. In her book, Something Beautiful, Gloria Gaither tells the story behind writing…
Song Story: He is Lord
This is a tune I’ve sung for as long as I can remember. However, there is so much meaning about our faith packed into this short tune. The song was written by Rev. Marvin V.…
Behind the Song: Arise My Love
Arise, My Love is a popular contemporary Easter song depicting the resurrection. The song is a hit for the Christian group Newsong, who are also known for the Christmas hit, Christmas Shoes. Eddie Carswell, is…
Hymn Story: Low in the Grave He Lay
Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia on March 12, 1826. He graduated from Bucknell University and became a Baptist minister. In 1868, he became editor of the Sunday School hymn books, having succeeded William B.…
Hymn Story: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is Risen Today celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the conquering of death, when Jesus rose from the grave. Christ the Lord is Risen Today was written…
Hymn Story: At Calvary
I’ve sung this song for years, but until I began to write this article I had no idea the story behind the song. The interesting factor! We are singing the author’s testimony. William R. Newell…
Behind the Hymn: Man of Sorrows
We are in the Lent season and preparing for Easter Sunday. However, before we can reach the light we must pass through the darkness. Philip P. Bliss wrote both the text and tune to the…
Behind the Song: All Because of God’s Amazing Grace
Stephen Adams felt the call to write gospel music from the tender age of eight years old. By the time he finished college, he was writing and performing with Doug Oldham, the Slaughters, and Bill…