"Tell Me the Old, Old Story"

Arabella Katherine Hankey wrote a poem called “The Old, Old Story.” From this poem, two Christian songs have been made. One is “Tell Me the Old, Old Story” and the other is “I Love to Tell the Story.” “Kate” Hankey was a banker’s daughter and part of an evangelical group called the “Clapham Sect.” The Clapham Sect were abolitionists and pro-missionary in nature. Hankey once traveled to South Africa as a nurse to help her invalid brother in missions. It was while she was recovering from a long and severe illness that she wrote the 50 stanza poem called “The Old, Old Story” which was written in two parts—the first part asking a question of Jesus and the second part answering the question.

Layman W. Howard Doane wrote the melody to Christian song “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.” Doane was a great musician and lover of the Gospel, but his vocation was as president of the J.A. Faye Woodworking Machinery Company. He was heavily involved in his church, however, as the choir director and Sunday School superintendent. He wrote several hymns and pieces of music for church, including many melodies for the blind hymnist, Fanny Crosby, his dear friend.

“Tell Me the Old, Old Story”

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story simply, as to a little child,

For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,

That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;

The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Refrain

Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;

Remember I’m the sinner whom Jesus came to save.

Tell me the story always, if you would really be,

In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Refrain

Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear

That this world’s empty glory is costing me too dear.

Yes, and when that world’s glory is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story: “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

Refrain

Many melodies have been used for “Tell Me the Old, Old Story”—and it has been translated several times into various languages. That is how W. Howard Doane came to know of the song. He was at a YMCA meeting in Montreal when Major-General Russell read the words of the song for the group. It was such an emotional moment, that Doane wrote music for it on the stage-coach shortly afterward. The hymn then became a very popular one to sing in parlors as well as in camp meetings.

“Tell Me the Old, Old Story”

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