History of Hymns

“Pass It On” words & music by Kurt F. Kaiser (United Methodist Hymnal, No. 572) 

Kurt Frederic Kaiser was born in 1934 in Chicago. He received his musical education from the American Conservatory of Music and Northwestern University (B.M., 1958; M.M., 1959). Since then, he has com-posed more than sixty hymn texts and tunes, the most famous of which are “O how he loves you and me” (1975), and “Pass It On.” 

In 1969, Kaiser and Ralph Carmichael collaborated on a musical that was written to get young people involved in the church. After reviewing the songs, they de-cided there needed to be a closer, a modern 'Just As I Am' like hymn — a favour-ite of evangelicals for altar calls. 

Kaiser recalled, "On a Sunday night I was sitting in our den by the fireplace where there were remnants of a fire, and it occurred to me that it only takes a spark to get a fire going . . . and the rest came very quickly. My wife suggested that I should say something about shouting it from mountain tops, and that end-ed up in the third verse. It only took about 20 minutes to write the lyrics. After-wards my wife and I went for a walk, letting the song ruminate in our minds." 

This song reflects the power of a simple idea set to a singable tune. Such songs take on a life that the composer never considered. Kaiser notes, "I am always amazed how the Lord can take a little song and use it to reach so many people. It has been sung at countless weddings and funerals, at ordination services, by the Sea of Galilee, in Rhodesia, on the aircraft carrier Enterprise, and lots of camps." 

Many lifelong faith commitments to Christ were made by post-World War II ba-by boomers around campfires singing this song. Few songs from this era have reached the iconic status of “Pass It On,” which, though informal in its jargon, might be seen as an extension of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. 

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Adapted from an article by C. Michael Hawn in https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-pass-it-on. Accessed 29 Mar 2019.