This tune is likely the work of the composers named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list above.

William J. Reynolds, in his Companion to Baptist Hymnal (1976) writes as follows:

“Happy Day appeared in William McDonald’s Wesleyan Sacred Harp (Boston, 1854), set to “Jesus, my All, to heaven is gone” with the present refrain, “Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!” Doddridge’s hymn was given as an alternate text. It is quite possible that the tune was known prior to this date and appeared in earlier collections. McCutchan indicates that the hymn tune refrain is from a song by Edward F. Rimbault, entitled “Happy Land.” More than likely the rest of the tune was the work of some anonymous musician or musicians.” (p.161)