You’ve probably heard it in a drafty wooden chapel or maybe a televised funeral for a world leader. It starts with that unmistakable, rolling rhythm. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" It’s a powerhouse. It’s a staple. But the heart of the whole thing usually lands right at the chorus: this is my story, this is my song.
Those words aren't just filler. Honestly, they represent one of the most successful collaborations in the history of music, even if the "artists" involved lived in the 1800s.
We’re talking about Fanny Crosby. If you grew up in any kind of church environment, her name is basically legendary. She was blind from shortly after birth, yet she penned thousands of hymns. Some say 8,000. Others say more. Regardless of the exact number, the woman was a lyrical machine. But she didn’t write the melody for this one. That credit goes to her friend, Phoebe Knapp.
The story goes that Phoebe came to Fanny with a tune she’d just composed. She played it on the piano and asked, "What does the tune say to you?"
Fanny didn’t hesitate. She replied, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine." The rest of the lyrics followed almost instantly. It’s kind of wild to think that a song played at millions of weddings, funerals, and Sunday services started as a casual "what do you think of this" moment between two friends in a New York living room.
The Raw Power Behind the Lyrics
The this is my story this is my song lyrics resonate because they are deeply personal. They aren't "this is the story" or "this is a song." It’s possessive. It’s "mine."
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic or impersonal, there's something genuinely grounding about claiming a narrative. Crosby wasn't writing from a place of easy comfort. She’d dealt with significant loss, including the death of her only child in infancy—a fact she kept very private during her life. When she writes about "perfect submission" and "perfect delight," she isn't being naive. She’s being intentional.
The structure of the song is actually pretty clever.
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The first verse sets the stage with "foretaste of glory divine." It’s about the future. The second verse moves into "perfect submission, all is at rest," which focuses on the internal state of the singer. By the third verse, we get to "watching and waiting, looking above." It’s a full cycle of human experience.
But the chorus? That’s the hook.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
It’s repetitive. It’s simple. That’s why it sticks.
Why the Song Transcends the Hymnal
You might wonder why a song from 1873 is still appearing in digital playlists in 2026. Part of it is the sheer adaptability of the melody.
I’ve heard jazz versions that make you want to snap your fingers. I’ve heard country versions with a steel guitar that would make you weep.
- The CeCe Winans Version: She brings a soulful, gospel weight to it that reminds you why she’s the most awarded female gospel artist of all time. Her phrasing on "this is my story" turns the hymn into a personal anthem.
- The Alan Jackson Version: It’s stripped back. It’s honest. It feels like a porch song.
- The Choral Tradition: Go to any cathedral, and the pipe organ will make the walls shake during the refrain.
It works because the "story" and "song" mentioned in the lyrics are placeholders. The listener fills in their own life. Their own struggles. Their own "story."
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The Technical Brilliance of Phoebe Knapp
Phoebe Knapp wasn't just some hobbyist. She was the daughter of the founders of the Methodist Church's Holiness movement and married to the founder of Metropolitan Life Insurance. She had the resources to do whatever she wanted, and what she wanted was to write music.
The melody of "Blessed Assurance" is technically interesting because of its 9/8 time signature.
Most hymns are 4/4 or 3/4. They’re predictable. They march.
But 9/8 has a lilt. It feels like a ship on the ocean. It sways. This "compound triple meter" gives the this is my story this is my song lyrics a sense of movement that keeps them from feeling stiff or dated. It’s a lullaby for adults.
Misconceptions and Modern Use
One thing people often get wrong is thinking this song was an immediate global smash. While it was popular in the U.S. during the Moody-Sankey revivals of the late 19th century, it took time to become the global titan it is now.
It actually gained massive traction in the UK through the Salvation Army and later via the Billy Graham crusades in the mid-20th century. Cliff Barrows, Graham’s longtime music director, loved this hymn. He’d have tens of thousands of people singing it in stadiums.
That’s where the "Discover" factor comes in.
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People see a clip of a massive crowd singing those specific lyrics and they Google it. They want to know where it came from. They find out it was written by a blind woman and a wealthy socialite who just happened to be friends. That's a great "story" in itself.
How to Truly "Own" the Lyrics
If you’re looking to incorporate this song into a service, a performance, or even just your personal playlist, don't just treat it as a relic.
- Change the Tempo: Try slowing it down significantly. It changes the meaning from a shout of joy to a quiet meditation.
- Focus on the Narrative: If you’re a musician, emphasize the word "my." That’s where the emotional weight sits.
- Explore the Backstory: Read more about Fanny Crosby’s life. Knowing she wrote these words while living in a cramped New York apartment, often giving away what little money she had to the poor, gives the lyrics a grit they lack if you just think of them as "old music."
The legacy of these lyrics isn't found in a dusty book. It's found in the way they allow people to express a sense of certainty in an uncertain world.
Practical Steps for Enthusiasts
If you want to dive deeper into this specific piece of musical history, start by listening to the "Hymns of 17th Street" or various gospel arrangements on streaming platforms.
Compare how the 9/8 time signature is handled by a Southern Gospel quartet versus a contemporary worship band. You’ll notice the quartet usually emphasizes the "swing," while the band might try to flatten it out into a 3/4 feel.
Check out the Fanny Crosby papers if you're ever in a library with a strong hymnology section. Seeing the original handwritten drafts—often dictated to others—is a reminder of the sheer grit it took to produce this level of work.
The next time you hear those words—this is my story, this is my song—take a second to realize you’re participating in a 150-year-old conversation. It’s a pretty good story to be a part of.
To get the most out of this song today, try listening to three distinct versions: a traditional pipe organ arrangement, a gospel version by an artist like CeCe Winans or The Walls Group, and a simple acoustic cover. Pay attention to how the shift in "vibe" changes your own connection to the lyrics. This helps in understanding why certain songs survive centuries while others vanish in weeks. Look for the "swing" in the melody—that 9/8 rhythm—and notice how it mirrors the natural cadence of a storyteller's voice. That is the secret sauce that keeps this song on the charts of the human heart.
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