Bless His Holy Name

Representative Text

Refrain:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

He has done great things,
he has done great things,
he has done great things,
bless his holy name! [Refrain]


Source: Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #451

Paraphraser: Andraé Crouch

Born in San Francisco on July 1, 1942, and raised in Los Angeles, Andraé Edward Crouch was the son of bivocational-pastor parents Benjamin and Catherine Crouch. He has recounted that he received the gift of music as a child, when his father was called as a guest preacher and pastoral candidate to a small rural church that had no musicians. He began playing for them at the age of 11. He wrote his first gospel song at 14, and formed his first band, the COGICS, in 1960. In 1965 he formed The Disciples, which lasted until 1979, and as a protegé of Audrey Mieir, Ralph Carmichael, and other leading Contemporary Christian Music artists of the time, went on to win a total of nine Grammies, and numerous other awards. He wrote his first well-kn… Go to person page >

Notes

Scripture References:
st. = Ps. 103: 1

Gospel musician Andraé Crouch (PHH 552) composed a song for the familiar opening phrases of Psalm 103, one of the much-loved Old Testament hymns about God's love and compassion for his people. Only the refrain, which frames his longer text, is included in the Psalter Hymnal; the same words provide a frame around the entire psalm. Crouch retains the conventional Hebrew custom of addressing oneself as "my soul." Crouch's phrase "He has done great things" is a summary reference to all the mighty and compassionate deeds of the Lord described in Psalm 103–God forgives, heals, provides, and redeems; and he is gracious, patient, loving, and just (see PHH 103 for additional comments on the psalm) .

Crouch and his ensemble, The Disciples, popularized this chorus by their numerous performances in the early 1970s. The hymn was recorded and published by Lexicon Music in 1973, both as a four-part choral octavo and as a solo piece.

Liturgical Use:
As a chorus of praise to God on many occasions of worship, especially on the great feast days of the church calendar, like Christmas and Easter, when we think of the "great things" God has done.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 34 of 34)

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #22

Chalice Hymnal #752b

Church Family Worship #80

Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship #16

Sing the Faith #2015

The 21st Century Hymnal #4

Worship His Majesty #22

Santo, Santo, Santo #547

Praise y Adoración #98a

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #13

The Celebration Hymnal #55

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #13

Psalms for All Seasons #103A

Zion still Sings #9

Text

Total Praise #113

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #594

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #4

CPWI Hymnal #846

The Worshiping Church #36

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #627

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #516

Worship and Rejoice #4

Sing Joyfully #102

This Far By Faith #273

Text

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #451

Yes, Lord! #109

African American Heritage Hymnal #105

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #65

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #151

Complete Mission Praise #56

Hymns of Faith #8

With Heart and Voice #152

Audio

The Faith We Sing #2015

Audio

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #34

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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