This gospel hymn chorus was written by Kurt Kaiser who was born December 17, 1934, in Chicago. He attended American Conservatory of Music and Northwestern University. He moved to Waco, Texas in 1959 in order to join Word Music, where he later worked as vice president and director of music. He arranged and produced several albums. He composed more than 300 songs, and with Ralph Carmichael developed Christian youth musicals. He was a longtime member of the Seventh & James Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He later helped start Dayspring Baptist Church in Waco. He was an acclaimed pianist who accompanied George Beverly Shea at Billy Graham crusades. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and was elected to the Gospel Music.
In 1969, the Christian youth movement was taken place. Kaiser set out to write a hymn that would be the modern day equivalent of Just As I Am. This would be the closer to the musical, Tell It Like It Is, he was working on with Ralph Carmichael. “It was the beginning of youth finding a place in church again”, said Carmichael.
Kaiser describes his experience writing the hymn by saying, “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 mountaintops, and that ended up in the third verse. It only took about 20 minutes to write the lyrics. Afterwards my wife and I went for a walk, letting the song ruminate in our minds.”
The song has a simple but powerful message that reminds of us the words of Jesus in the Great Commission. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” {Matthew 28}
The song soon took on a life all it’s own. Kaiser continues, “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 Zimbabwe and in Zambia, on the aircraft carrier Enterprise, and lots of camps.”
Pass It On gained a larger audience when it was published in the hymnals Hymns for the Living Church {1974} and Hymns for the Family of God {1976}. Since then it has been published in numerous other hymnals.
The easyalphanote version can be downloaded here. The lyrics are below. Enjoy!
It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You spread your love to everyone
You want to pass it on
What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring
You want to pass it on
I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I’ve found
You can come join in, it matters not where you’re bound
I’ll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The joy of friends has come to me
I want to pass it on
