Why the Hymn "Tell Out My Soul" is a Perfect Hymn for Advent
After the angel Gabriel visits Mary to announce she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, Mary receives the news and goes to see her cousin, Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. The child within Elizabeth, John the Baptist, jumps for joy when he feels the presence of Jesus in Mary's womb, and Elizabeth blesses Mary. Mary responds with a poetic prophecy, which some might consider a song. The religious name for her lyrical praise to God is called the Magnificat. Many believers and churches go through Mary’s song over Christmas and the season of Advent leading up to the holiday.
Mary's praise continues to inspire Christians, including songwriters who have used it to compose praise songs and hymns. One such hymn is “Tell Out My Soul.”
Who Wrote Tell Out My Soul?
British hymn writer and theologian Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote “Tell Out My Soul.” Born on December 26, 1926, in Manchester, England, Dudley-Smith loved literature, music, and faith. He attended Tonbridge School and later studied at Pembroke College, Caimbridge. While at Cambridge, he got involved in Christian student ministries. Dudley-Smith completed his education and became ordained as a priest in 1950. He served within the Anglican Church, including as the Archdeacon of Norwich before being made Bishop of Thetford in 1981.
Along with his regular ministry, Dudley-Smith wrote over 400 hymns. Inspired by Scripture and his love for God, he combined deep theology with poetry, and his songs connected with congregations, even beyond the Anglican Church.
He wrote “Tell Out My Soul” in 1961, inspired by Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Mary’s song of praise moved Dudley-Smith with her words worshipping God’s mercy, justice, and power. J.B. Phillips’ modern English translation, The New Testament in Modern English, also influenced the hymn. Phillips paraphrased the Magnificat in fresh language, and it compelled Dudley-Smith to adopt Mary’s song into a hymn to be sung by congregations around the world. Using Phillips’ paraphrase, Dudley-Smith wrote the lyrics, capturing the heart of the Magnificat. He penned the words in four verses.
As often happens, the lyrics were set to a common tune, “Woodlands,” by Walter Greatorex. This combination helped make it easy to sing and reproduce in other churches, and “Tell Out My Soul” found its place in hymnals across several denominations.
What are the Lyrics to Tell Out My Soul?
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word –
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same –
his holy name: the Lord, the Mighty One.Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure:
tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!
What are the Key Themes in Tell Out My Soul?
The hymn begins with a call to the speaker’s own soul to declare the greatness of God, taken from “My soul magnifies the Lord,” from Mary’s song. Yet the hymn addresses the singer's own heart to turn to God with purpose, to worship God for his greatness. This call to self can be found in the psalms, particularly in Psalm 103:1-2: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” These verses teach us how we must be intentional about praising God, aiming our hearts and will to the One who is worthy.
“Tell Out My Soul” contains one main reason to praise God, his mercy. The song reminds and encourages us regarding God’s continued compassion and love. As sinners and former rebels, everyone needs his mercy to approach him, and God makes this available to any who will humbly repent and worship him. As Psalm 103:17 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.”
Connected with his mercy and care, the hymn mentions God’s redemptive justice. God cares for the poor and needy, and he opposes the proud. God’s redemptive justice means he will lovingly but assuredly set all things right, correcting any oppression over people and lifiting up those who have been persecuted. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) The Bible continually supports how God particularly sees and cares for those in need. “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the week and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.” (Psalm 72:12-13)
The song celebrates God’s provision and faithfulness to his promises. God provides for his people and remembers his covenants. In particular, the hymn recalls the Lord’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. This covenant includes the promise, “In you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) This promise goes beyond Israel, however, pointing to the Gospel for all people in Jesus. The apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:8, “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’” Jesus, the seed of Abraham, brings salvation to all who will believe, Jew or Gentile.
How Do Modern Worshippers Incorporate the Hymn Tell Out My Soul?
Modern churches use “Tell Out My Soul” in a variety of ways, especially fellowships who blend traditional and contemporary worship.
In traditional churches, “Tell Out My Soul” becomes a processional or recessional hymn, especially in liturgical denominations like Anglican and Episcopalian. The lyrics align with the Magnificat and make it perfect for Advent and Christmas services, leading into teaching or a meditation on Mary’s song. Worship pastors might also use it during special services like dedications, ordinations, or others to highlight the themes of God’s great love and faithfulness. The older melody, “Woodlands,” sounds great on the organ to support more liturgical worship. For a choral version of this hymn, you can listen here.
Modern worship leaders can also adapt “Tell Out My Soul” for contemporary services. The tune is simple enough for the acoustic guitar or a full worship band. Many worship artists have reimagined old hymns in new ways to connect younger believers with Christian legacy. While the original melody is still popular, some musicians creatively use the same lyrics with new melodies to combine the classic with a fresh expression. A great, simple version of the hymn on guitar can be found here.
Around the world, “Tell Out My Soul” has been embraced among different cultures and denominations. This can be attributed to the missionary efforts of the Anglican Church and other English-speaking outreach efforts. The universal and scriptural message makes it relevant to any believer, and as often happens, some international churches have translated the lyrics into local languages so those congregations can hear the truths in their own culture.
Churches always look for classic songs to play around Christmastime and Advent, and “Tell Out My Soul” fits during the holidays. However, the broader themes of praise, redemptive justice, and God’s abundant mercy inspire believers all through the year. With the biblical focus on the humble and marginalized, some churches can use this hymn to support outreach and charity efforts, as well.
What Can Modern Christians Learn from Tell Out My Soul?
We can learn much from the Scripture where Mary praises God and by extension the hymn, “Tell Out My Soul.”
Luke 1:46-55 says,
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s song of praise expresses awe at God’s amazing plan of salvation. After Elizabeth affirms God’s work, Mary further understands the epic redemptive story she’s a part of. God’s work in her life was part of an eternal plan to bring salvation through Jesus Christ, whom she had in her womb. Mary’s song points beyond her own experience to the eternal impact. For us, we learn how God’s actions transcend the immediate or temporary. As Revelation 13:8 says, the Lamb of God was slain “before the foundation of the world,” showing us how God put his plan in motion long before Mary expressed this song. In the same way, our lives have eternal impact in Christ. Our situations may seem ordinary or insignificant, as Mary likely believed about herself, but through God’s redemption, even these daily realities can be redeemed as part of a bigger story.
In light of how we have enjoyed God’s abundant mercy, we are called to show such mercy to others. God will continue to look after the poor and humble, and Jesus even identifies himself with the poor (Matthew 25:31-46). So should we humble ourselves and also identify with those in need. At the same time, Mary’s song points out how God brings down the proud and oppressive rulers on thrones. God opposes the proud and lifts up the humble (James 4:6). Therefore, we must humble ourselves before God’s throne or he will humble us.
The Magnificat celebrates the connected beliefs in God’s sovereignty and how he keeps his promises. Mary praises God for his mighty deeds, and her song declares God’s control over history through exalting the humble and bringing down the princes of this world. The same sovereign God helps Israel, remembering to be merciful and fulfill his covenant to Abraham, which includes Israel and all in Christ.
God always keeps his promises. He has done so in the past and will again. This encourages us today, gives us hope that God will be faithful in the future as he’s been in the past. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ.” Revelation prophesies a confirmation of God’s ultimate goal and plan, where he will reign over a new heaven and earth, and we will reign with him (Revelation 21-22). Just as Mary lived in the fulfillment of God’s plan and while it still unfolded, so do we.
Through “Tell Out My Soul,” Christians understand the eternal and loving nature of God’s plan, how he cares for us in mercy, and his sovereign faithfulness. Let us praise God with joy as we live within this epic and unfolding plan, trusting his promises and finding an unshakable hope.
Peace.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/RedletterW
Originally published December 10, 2024.
