The hymn Pass Me Not was written by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915). I’ve read two different stories detailing how Crosby was inspired to write the song. The first: Crosby was visiting a prison as part of a missionary group when she heard one of the prisoners cry out “Lord please don’t pass me by.” The second: Crosby dreamt that the Lord was walking through her church touching people as he went, she began to pray the Lord would touch her and not pass her by.
I knew Crosby was a prolific hymn writer-all you have to do is thumb through a hymn book to see old favorites she wrote like: Blessed Assurance, I Am Thine O Lord, and Pass me Not.
I found an interesting page that listed Crosby’s songs as well as the many pseudonyms she wrote under.
As you might have guessed-I’m partial to Pap and Paul’s version of Pass Me Not. I especially like this video of them doing the song. I like how Paul reminds them he’s going to do a turn around instead of a break; I like how Pap calls out the first line of the verse to Paul so he remembers; and I love that lovely harmony that sounds like a baby’s lullaby.
Hope you enjoyed the video too!
Tipper
22 Comments
Jane ODell
February 26, 2022 at 11:24 pmI love this song! What a great rendition of it. I wish we had videos of our family singing together, what great memories! Thank you for sharing this wonderful old song and the stories of Fanny J Crosby! I am so grateful for your work here, Tipper. Love from SC.
Glenda Beall
June 12, 2013 at 11:07 pmI love this video and the harmony is so pretty. Thanks for sharing it.
It reminds me of my brothers singing when we were all young.
José Luis
June 9, 2013 at 9:44 pmHello dear friends!
What a beautiful song, and it is this combination good voices of Paul and Pap, clap, clap, clap, (those are applause). A big hug to you and I remember loving the entire family, Jose Luis, from Argentina.
Phyllis
June 9, 2013 at 8:42 pmVery special video today and
thank you so much!
dolores
June 9, 2013 at 3:32 pmThis was just perfect for a rainy Sunday late afternoon. Such a beautiful family!
Ethelene Dyer Jones
June 9, 2013 at 3:22 pmWhat a prolific writer was Fanny Crosby, who, despite blindness was able to be such a witness through the words of her hymns! “Pass Me Not” is one of my favorites, too! As others who have commented, I enjoyed Pap, Paul and Ben playing and singing it! Thanks so much for sharing it on a beautiful Lord’s Day! And may God bless you every one!
Eva Nell Mull Wike, Ph.D.
June 9, 2013 at 3:07 pmYEAH! Tipper, Jim has finally got our computer in a ‘working’ mode or is it mood? “Pass Me Not” was one of Mama’s favorite hymns. Thanks for making our Sunday extra special!
Love, Eva Nell
p.s. “Fiddler of the Mountains” is at the Publisher and hopefully receiving the finishing touch. September is the PUBLISHING DATE! That date seems so far away! But it is a good feeling to know SEPTEMBER IS A PERFECT TIME when we can celebrate down at CLAY’S CORNER with a great FIDDLE program and sell a few books! We will have to invite ETHELENE!
Howland
June 9, 2013 at 2:42 pmO my, see what my fumble-fingers have done to my nom de plume…..
ing towasrdHowland
June 9, 2013 at 2:37 pmWith a nod of understanding toward Tim Mc’s post;I grew up with the more stately hymns, the kinds that are full of “thees” and “thou arts” sung with a pipe organ as accompaniment. A few years later and with a change of venue, as it were, from upstate New York to West Virginia and East Kentucky, and the music praising God changed dramatically, at least they did in my eyes and ears, it took a little time to get used to it. Over the years I’ve grown to love the country and bluegrass gospel hymns more and more and the archaic European-based hymns are just a memory now, save for a few weeks ago when we visited the Mountain Woman’s daughter and grandbabies, who belong to a Mennonite church. They still sing the old songs, I prefer good ol’ gospel music such as I just listened to, above, and yes, the youngers want more contemporary music. This is to be expected as times change, I suppose. but hey, in a way it’s all the same no matter what the time, tempo or key, we’re praising/supplicating/communicating with our God so it’s all good, just that some of it is gooder than the rest of it according to our ears.
Tom
June 9, 2013 at 2:26 pmAnother great BP version of one of my favorite hymns. Very well done as usual!!
Sherry
June 9, 2013 at 12:19 pmLove this! Raised on these hymns. I particularly remember this being sung in church (1963) by Billy Oseola, Seminole Indian Chief, who was also a Baptist preacher. He was dressed in his full chief regalia with the eagle feathers railing down to his feet. Hallelujah!
Glynda P. Chambers
June 9, 2013 at 11:44 amOne of my favorites, love the old hymns. The singing was beautiful. Also thanks for sharing the stories of how the song came to be. Enjoy the day with your family and know how much I really enjoy your writings and the music.
Ed Ammons
June 9, 2013 at 11:37 amUsual great job by the guys this morning, but I do detect a bit of tinniness in the selection. It’s like something is missing. Hold it! Where’s the bass? Where’s the heartbeat? Where’s the thread that holds it all together? Where is the tie that binds? Ahhh! I see it now! Down in the lower right corner. But it’s not moving! It has an elbow resting on it. And off to the right, out of sight of the viewer, is an arm and a palm with a chin resting in it.
Seriously, as good as Paul, Pap and Ben are, without the bass it always seems to be missing something.
Sue Crane
June 9, 2013 at 10:56 amI like sharing good Sunday music with Pap, Paul and all the Blind Pig Gang — starts the day off on a good note (pardon the pun!).
Have a Blessed Sunday.
kat
June 9, 2013 at 10:23 amI grew up singing that song in our little country church. As a child,I knew when we sung it, we’d soon be going home to eat Mama’s good dinner ( it’s called lunch now). My tummy was usually rumbling long before the preacher said amen!
Ken
June 9, 2013 at 10:00 amTipper,
What a way to start Sunday! I love
the old Worship Songs of Faith and
it’s many blessings. Paul, Pap, and
Ben really do Justice on that song!
I especially like the history of
most all the songs you all sing too.
The video just makes it more complete. Thank you!…Ken
Tamela
June 9, 2013 at 9:37 amLovely!
Nancy Wigmore
June 9, 2013 at 9:13 amGod bless you Tipper and family with a beautiful day! What a wonderful way to begin this Sunday. Fanny Crosby was and her hymns are yet still an inspiration to many! Oh What a Savior…oh what Blessed Assurance we have in the finished work Christ did on Calvary. Prayerfully, Nancy
Ron Banks
June 9, 2013 at 8:16 amWonderful song and wonderfully done. I would love to hear Pap and Paul sing Blessed Assurance, one of my favorites!
Thanks for the blessing this morning and may you be blessed as well.
Sheryl Paul
June 9, 2013 at 8:07 amLovely
Jane Bolden
June 9, 2013 at 7:31 amVery pretty!! Tapping my toe to that one. Is that the nephew that goes to Yale? Nice way to start a Sunday morning.
Tim Mc
June 9, 2013 at 6:27 amThe old songs are very near and dear to me, a lot of Churches in our area are going away from the old songs.. It has caused a few to break up because the younger crowd wants the new modern to be the songs of worship( I think there is less conviction in a lot of the newer songs is why). This is one of my many favorites and as always very nicely done.. you all are a blessing… just keep what your doing and you’ll be blessed as well…