Tell Out my Soul

This hymn of praise was written by English hymn-writer and at-the-time Church of England priest (later bishop) Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024). 

It was written in 1961, and is a paraphrase of the Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) from the New English Bible,

With meter 10.10.10.10, tunes it has been set set to include:

• TIDINGS by William Llewellyn - the tune which the hymn was originally published with
• WOODLANDS composed by English composer Walter Greatorex (1877-1949) in 1916 - by far the most-commonly used tune
• GO FORTH by Michael Baughen (b 1930 - in it's 2nd publication
• BIRMINGHAM by Francis Cunningham from Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music II 1813;
• MORESTEAD by Sidney Watson (1964)
• WINTON by George Dyson, (1883-1964)
• An unnamed setting by Irish composer Ephram Feeley (ref)

It has been widely published, and is included in many in-print hymnbooks. 

Today, it is often regarded as an old traditional hymn, despite being written in the early 1960's..   This wasn't always the case:  it was included in the 1981 publication Songs of the Spirit II - More Songs and Hymns of the Renewal and this suggests that the hymn was used in a wide variety of settings and regarded as new / different a that time.

Downloads

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Many settings and arrangements are available.

Examples

All are to the tune WOODFORD, unless noted otherwise.

Large choir with organ, cathedral setting:

Large choir with band - for a TV performance:

Singer with keyboard / backing - contemporary style:

Choir with organ, tune BIRMINGHAM

Singer self-accompanied on guitar, rock beat:

Organ, orchestra, choir and congregation - professional recording:

Instrumental - guitar:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1  Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord ...

2  Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name ...

3  Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might ...

4  Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word ...

See more ...

• Settings of the Magnificat
• Hymns of praise

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
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.