Surely Goodness And Mercy
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, All the days, all the days of my life. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, All the days, all the days of my life.
Surely Goodness And Mercy
John Peterson is one of the great hymn writers of the 20th century. Phillip Bliss was one of the greatest 19th century hymn writers. You may find it interesting how they gave us an amazing connection, even though they never met.
Peterson was working on a new tune in his studio when Alfred B. Smith came to visit. They often worked together and Alfred helped work out the tune they were working on. Peterson described it:
“For no particular reason that I can remember, we started to develop a new song. I would come up with a thought, then Alfred. I had never worked with another writer in such a manner to compose a song.”
Not long before, Alfred had received a letter from a descendant of Bliss. In the letter, the writer described how bliss, at the age of 6, had a schoolteacher by the name of Miss Murphy. She had “green eyes and bright red hair.”
Her assignment was for the class to memorize the 23rd Psalm. Bliss could not read or write, yet, so he put to memory exactly what he heard: “Surely goodness and Miss Murphy will follow me, all the days of my life…”
That story stuck with Alfred and the thought came to him: this song is about the 23rd Psalm.
He arranged the lyrics to match the music and a great and lasting hymn was born! Peterson and Smith published their new hymn in 1958 and it was an instant hit. It quickly became a staple in evangelical hymnals, gospel songbooks, revival meetings, youth gatherings, Sunday worship and Christian radio.
It is a song of deep reassurance in times of uncertainty or grief and one that remains meaningful decades later.
A pilgrim was I and a-wand’ring,
In the cold night of sin I did roam.
When Jesus, the kind Shepherd, found me,
And now I am on my way home.
Refrain:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,
All the days, all the days of my life.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,
All the days, all the days of my life.
