Katherine Hankey: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Tell Me the Old, Old Story

Katherine Hankey

“Tell Me the Old, Old Story” as printed in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920).

Katherine Hankey: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1920 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Army and Navy Hymnal, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Tell me the old, old story,

Of unseen things above

Of Jesus and his glory,

Of Jesus and his love.

Tell me the story simply,

As to a little child,

For I am weak and weary,

And helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story

Tell me the old, old story,

Of Jesus and his love.

Tell me the story slowly,

That I may take it in—

That wonderful redemption,

God's remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often,

For I forget too soon,

The 'early dew' of morning

Has passed away at noon.

Tell me the story softly,

With earnest tones, and grave;

Remember! I'm the sinner

Whom Jesus came to save;

Tell me the story always,

If you would really be,

In any time of trouble,

A Comforter to me.

Tell me the same old story,

When you have cause to fear

That this world's empty glory

Is costing me too dear.

Yes, and when that world's glory

Is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story:

'Christ Jesus makes thee whole.'

Amen.

Credits

Written by Katherine Hankey

Words by Katherine Hankey. Historical text published in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), “Tell Me the Old, Old Story”

The 1920 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional and anonymous entries are public domain. Pages whose scan quality is below the proofread threshold are held for review.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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