This gospel anthem was written by Alma Bazel Androzzo . She was a missionary working in Pittsburgh during the final years of the depression in America Her life would have been surrounded by people needing help.
‘If I can help somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody they are travelling wrong, then my living has not been in vai’n.’
The song was a favourite of Rev Martin King Junior, who admired it so much that, at his request, it was played at his funeral. It was a sentiment that he adhered to all his life. It was also sung extensively by Harry Secombe.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought
If I can speak love’s message that the Master taught. Then my living has not been in vain.
” If I can help somebody as I travel along, If I can help somebody with a word or song
If I can help somebody from doing wrong, Then my living shall not be in vain.
I think our world is very ‘up-wrought’ at the moment!