Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, a small, rural town near
Atlanta, Georgia. He was the son of Thomas Madison Dorsey, a minister and
farmer, and Etta Plant Spencer. The Dorsey’s sharecropped on a small farm, while
the elder Dorsey, a graduate of Atlanta Bible College (now Morehouse College),
traveled to nearby churches to preach. He also taught black children at a one-room
schoolhouse where his son accompanied him and listened to lessons.
Religion and music were at the center of the Dorsey’s lives,
and young Thomas was exposed to a variety of musical styles in his early childhood.
While often living hand-to-mouth, they were able to own an organ, which was
rare for black families, and Dorsey’s mother played during his faither’s church
services.
His uncle was also a musician, a traveling guitarist
concentrating on country blues while it was in its infancy. Villa Rica’s rural
location allowed Dorsey to hear slave spirituals, and “moaning” – a style of
singing marked by elongated notes and embellishments widespread among Southern
black people, alongside the Protestant hymns his father favored.
When Dorsey's father traveled to preach at other churches,
Thomas and his mother attended a church that practiced shape note singing;
their harmonizing in particular making a deep impression on him.
The Dorsey's moved to Atlanta to find better opportunities
when Thomas was eight years old. The adjustment for the entire family was
difficult, culminating in Thomas being isolated, held back at school, and
eventually dropping out after the fourth grade when he was twelve years old.
Although Dorsey grew up in a religious family, he gained
most of his musical experience playing blues at barrelhouses and parties in
Atlanta. He moved to Chicago and became a proficient composer and arranger of
jazz and vaudeville just as blues was becoming popular.
Dorsey seemed ambivalent about writing church music until 1921 when he was inspired by W. M. Nix's rendition of "I Do, Don't You?" after hearing him perform at the National Baptist Convention. Upon hearing Nix's sing, Dorsey was overcome, later recalling that his "heart was inspired to become a great singer and worker in the Kingdom of the Lord.”
In 1925, he married Nettie Harper, who joined Dorsey on
tour. In 1932 he was invited to go to St. Louis and lead the music for a large
revival meeting. He hesitated to agree because his wife was pregnant. He didn’t
want to leave her with the time for delivery so close, but he made the trip.
The second day of the revival meetings, he got a telegram. The baby had been born, but his wife had died in childbirth. He rushed back to Chicago and held the baby in his arms. Only a few hours later, his infant son died too. Both mother and baby were buried in the same casket.
His grief prompted him to write this famous and enduring compositions, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."
He remarried in 1941 to Katheryn Mosley. They had two
children, a son named Thomas M. "Mickey" and a daughter, Doris. Even
with a family he remained active in music, attending multiple engagements each
year. Katheryn Dorsey stated, "I'd have to catch him between trains
because he was hardly ever at home . . . The only thing he cared about was
saving souls through his music."
To accomplish this, Dorsey traveled beyond the U.S., through
Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. He recalled visiting Damascus, Syria, where he was approached in a bathroom by a man who recognized his
name. A tour group of 150 demanded he sing "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
right there. Obliging, Dorsey began, but the multinational group took over. Dorsey said "And
they knew it in Damascus, too. Folk was wipin' their eyes, and some cryin' and
bawlin' on, and I told ‘em, 'What is this happening here? I'll never get out of
this place alive.’”
Dorsey began to slow down in the 1970s, eventually showing
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. He retired from Pilgrim
Baptist Church though he continued to participate and perform when he was able.
Dorsey died of Alzheimer's at his home in Chicago on January 23, 1993,
listening to music on a Walkman. He is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.
Biblehub.com, Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: God’s light and truth, like His lovingkindness, are almost personified. As of old He gave His lovingkindness charge concerning His servant, so now may He manifest the light of His countenance, and evermore show him favor; and thus prove Himself true to His own character and His promises.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The psalmist knew that his light and his truth were not enough – he needed the light and truth of God. It wasn’t within him, so if God didn’t send it, he would not have it . . . The psalmist didn’t want God to send out His light and truth just so he could admire them. He wanted to submit himself to God’s light and God’s truth and have them lead him. He needed a leader . . . and that’s what he asked for . . . "We seek not light to sin by, nor truth to be exalted by it, but that they may become our practical guides to the nearest communion with God.” Charles Spurgeon
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Commentary: The reason God answered David’s prayers was that David walked in God’s ways and kept himself pure and humble . . . God gave David His saving power. As a result, David was always confident of God’s help.
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: The members of Christ, when in distress . . . betake themselves to the Lord, and call upon their God; a time of distress is to bring them to the throne of His grace; and a great privilege it is they have such a throne to come to for grace and mercy to help them in time of need . . . and such a God to sympathize with them, and help them; and their encouragement to call upon Him, and cry unto Him, is, that He is Jehovah, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent; who knows their wants, is able to help them, and is a God at hand to do it.
Biblestudytools.com: This river is meant the everlasting love of God, which may be compared to a river for its largeness and abundance, its height and depth, its length and breadth; and for the large displays of it in this state, when its waters will increase, and be a broad river to swim in, and be unpassable; and for the streams of it in election, redemption, calling, justification, pardon, adoption, and eternal life, which make glad the city of God; and for the pleasure it yields, and the fruitfulness it gives to those who drink of it: it may be called a river “of water of life.” Because on the present state of things it quickens such who are dead in trespassed and sins; revives the saints when dead and lifeless, supports their spirits, and is a cordial that preserves from fainting; it keeps and secures from dying the second death and is the spring and source of eternal life; and that itself will last and flow forever, it is ever running water, it is everlasting love; and it may be said to be pure.
Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: The Lord holds the right hand of His people, teaching them to walk by faith, leading them into His presence, and to communion with Himself, and keeps them from falling . . . He "will strengthen their right hand" to do His work and service and oppose their enemies; or He will relieve their wants, and fill their hands with His good things, which is sometimes the sense of the phrase.
Studylight.org, Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: He now
speaks about “taking hold of the right hand,” and about His voice; for it is of
great importance to us to believe the signs which God has given us of His love,
and to connect with them the doctrine which assures us of His eternal favor.
The word “saying” is therefore highly emphatic; for we must remain in
suspense till the Lord speaks, whose voice alone can remove fear and bring
peace . . . we must pay close attention to His voice, so as never to withdraw
our mind from it.
Thomas Dorsey's "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" has
been described as "the greatest gospel song of all time." People
around the world love it because of its heartfelt theme of faith and hope.
Written in 1932, it continues to attract new generations of audiences.
