Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven

Album: Be Still My Soul: The Ultimate Hymns Collection (1834)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • For over 100 years the Reverend Henry Lyte was best known for writing the classic hymn "Abide With Me." He is now probably better known as the author of this hymn of praise, whose popularity was enhanced by Queen Elizabeth choosing it for her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh, on November 20, 1947. It remains a popular choice at weddings and funerals.
  • The hymn, written by Lyte for his congregation, is a rendering of Psalm 103, which begins, "Praise the Lord, O my soul!" The tune was published it in his 1834 collection of hymns, The Spirit of the Psalms, whose purpose, as the title indicates, was not to provide a literal paraphrase of the psalms but rather to capture their underlying spirit and make them genuine acts of Christian worship.
  • The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten where this hymn was sung took place on November 20, 1947, 150 years to the day after the death of Henry Francis Lyte.
  • "Praise, My Soul" was also played during the 2018 funeral of former US. President George H. W. Bush.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.