Thomas Andrew Dorsey Grave

Hymn History: Precious Lord, Take My Hand & Author: Thomas Andrew Dorsey

“As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit … I learned that when we are in our deepest grief when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest and when we are most open to His restoring power.”
(Thomas Andrew Dorsey)

The Origin of the Hymn “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

Among the most deeply moving hymns of the 20th century, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” stands as a timeless prayer of faith in the midst of sorrow. Written by Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899–1993), often called the Father of Gospel Music, this hymn was born out of unspeakable personal tragedy. Its message — a plea for divine comfort and strength — has brought healing to countless hearts for nearly a century.

The Life of Thomas A. Dorsey

Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, in 1899, the son of a Baptist preacher and a church organist. Growing up in the segregated South, he was surrounded by both the joyful rhythms of spirituals and the harsh realities of racial and economic struggle. From a young age, Dorsey showed remarkable musical talent. As a teenager, he moved to Chicago, where he found work playing piano in theaters and nightclubs during the height of the jazz and blues era.

Before long, Dorsey became known as “Georgia Tom,” a talented blues musician who performed with leading artists such as Ma Rainey. Yet despite his success, he struggled spiritually. His upbringing in the church never left him, and he began to feel torn between the secular music world and the gospel faith of his childhood.

A turning point came in the early 1920s when Dorsey suffered a nervous breakdown. During his recovery, he recommitted his life to Christ and resolved to use his music for the Lord. Combining the rhythms and emotion of blues with the message of Christian faith, he pioneered what became known as gospel music — a new, soul-stirring style that spoke powerfully to African American congregations.

A Tragedy That Gave Birth to a Hymn

In August 1932, Dorsey’s faith was tested as never before. He was in St. Louis, Missouri, leading music for a large revival meeting when a telegram arrived with devastating news: his wife, Nettie, had died suddenly during childbirth. Rushing home to Chicago in anguish, Dorsey discovered that his newborn son had also died shortly afterward.

The double tragedy plunged him into a deep grief. “I felt that God had done me an injustice,” he later said. “I didn’t want to serve Him anymore.” For days, he shut himself away, unable to pray or find comfort.

Then, one afternoon, seated at a piano in his friend’s home, Dorsey felt a quiet peace begin to move in his heart. He began to play, his fingers finding a slow, tender melody. As he played, words began to come — words that expressed both his sorrow and his surrender:

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light;
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

Through tears, Dorsey poured out his grief to God in song. He later said, “It was the first time I learned that music could bring healing to the soul.” The hymn that emerged from his pain became one of the most beloved gospel songs ever written.

Publication and Early Reception

Dorsey first introduced “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at a revival meeting in Chicago later that year. The audience was deeply moved, and the song quickly spread among churches and gospel groups. Its melody — adapted from an older hymn tune titled “Maitland” (sometimes attributed to George N. Allen, composer of “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone”) — gave the song a familiar yet soulful sound that touched hearts across generations.

In 1938, Dorsey published the hymn in his collection Songs of Faith, and it soon appeared in hymnals across the country. Its message resonated especially with African American congregations who faced suffering, poverty, and discrimination but held fast to faith in a God who leads His children “through the storm, through the night.”

A Hymn That Comforted a Nation

Over the decades, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” became an anthem of comfort and resilience. It was a favorite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who often requested it at civil rights rallies and church services. In fact, it was the last hymn performed at a rally the night before Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. At his funeral, gospel legend Mahalia Jackson — a close friend of both Dorsey and King — sang it in his honor, her powerful voice capturing the collective sorrow and hope of a grieving nation.

The hymn’s message transcended racial and cultural boundaries, finding a place in churches of every denomination. It has been recorded by artists such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and B.B. King, each lending their own emotional depth to its enduring plea for divine guidance.

The Enduring Legacy

Thomas A. Dorsey lived to see his music reshape Christian worship. Over his long career, he wrote more than 400 gospel songs, founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, and trained a generation of gospel musicians. Yet of all his works, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” remains his most lasting gift to the world.

Its enduring power lies in its honesty — a prayer born from brokenness, yet filled with faith. Dorsey’s life and hymn remind us that out of our deepest sorrows can come songs of trust and hope. As long as there are weary souls in need of comfort, the simple cry of this hymn will continue to rise:

“Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light;
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.”