My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)

Album: House of Gospel Anthology: The '70s (1972)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When Andraé Crouch was 18 years old, he started working in the Los Angeles Center of Teen Challenge, a faith-based corporation that helps people with problems such as substance abuse. On his first day at the center, he met ex-prisoner Larry Reed, whom he befriended.

    Years later, Andraé was thanking God for his experiences at the teen center when he received a phone call from his pal. The gospel star recalled to Lindsay Terry: "He said, 'Hey Andy! This is Larry.' I kinda chuckled. He said, 'I had a dream about you the other night. I dreamed that you were going to write a song that is going to go around the world. It will be the biggest song you ever wrote, to this day.'"

    "I asked, 'Well, what do I have to read?' He said, 'Read John, chapter 17.' In that passage Jesus said, 'Father, I have glorified Thee, now glorify me.' I read the passage and didn't feel any inspiration to write."

    "The following morning I got up singing 'to God be the glory.' I asked myself, 'Where did that come from?' I then went to the piano and wrote 'My Tribute,' in about 10 minutes."
  • The evening after he wrote the song, Andraé taught "My Tribute" to some guests at a dinner party he was attending. He recalled: "I told them about Larry's prediction that I would write a song that would go all over the world. My host, Carrie Gonzalo, asked, 'This morning, you wrote the song we've just been singing?!!' I said, 'Yes, but it can't be that song!'"

    "As we sat there we read the scripture passage in John chapter 17, which Larry suggested. ('I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.') I excitedly said, 'It's all about GLORY!'" (Source The St. Augustine Record)
  • This is one of Andraé Crouch's best known songs and has been covered by many other artists including Sandi Patty, Crystal Lewis, Nicole C. Mullen and Israel Houghton.

Comments: 1

  • Holy Dance from Antelope Valley My Tribute ( To God Be The Glory) has been recorded over 3000 times in over 20 languages
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.