Rescue the Perishing
Text by Fanny Crosby (1869; 1820–1915). Music by William Howard Doane (1870; 1832–1915). Public domain in all jurisdictions.
Verse 1
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing Ccare for the Gdy-ing
D7Snatch them in pi-ty from Gsin and the grave
GWeep o'er the err-ing one Clift up the Gfall-en
D7Tell them of Je-sus the Gmight-y to save
Chorus
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing
CCare for the Gdy-ing
D7Je-sus is mer-ci-ful
GJe-sus will save
Verse 2
GThough they are slight-ing Him Cstill He is Gwait-ing
D7Wait-ing the pen-i-tent Gchild to re-ceive
GPlead with them earn-est-ly Cplead with them Ggent-ly
D7He will for-give if they Gon-ly be-lieve
Chorus
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing
CCare for the Gdy-ing
D7Je-sus is mer-ci-ful
GJe-sus will save
Verse 3
GDown in the hu-man heart Ccrushed by the Gtemp-ter
D7Feel-ings lie bu-ried that Ggrace can re-store
GTouched by a lov-ing heart Cwak-ened by Gkind-ness
D7Chords that were bro-ken will Gvi-brate once more
Chorus
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing
CCare for the Gdy-ing
D7Je-sus is mer-ci-ful
GJe-sus will save
Verse 4
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing Cdu-ty de-Gmands it
D7Strength for thy la-bor the GLord will pro-vide
GBack to the nar-row way Cpa-tient-ly Gwin them
D7Tell the poor wan-d'rer a GSav-ior has died
Chorus
GRes-cue the per-ish-ing
CCare for the Gdy-ing
D7Je-sus is mer-ci-ful
GJe-sus will save
Structure
Playing Tips
🎸 Strum Pattern
G-C-G-D7 at 88 BPM in 4/4 has an urgent forward-moving feel that suits the text perfectly. A down-down-up-down strum pattern gives the verse its sense of mission without rushing the chords. The chorus pulls back slightly in length — let it feel like a moment of clarity after the busy verse. D7 is the harmonic tension that makes the G resolution feel like an answer — give it weight, especially on "Jesus will save" where the D7 resolves to G as a final declaration.
🔊 Dynamics
This is an outreach hymn and its dynamics should match its urgency. Start verse 1 at a medium-full dynamic — the words are a command, not a lament, and they need to be heard. The chorus "Rescue the perishing / Care for the dying" should be clear and confident. Verse 3 ("Down in the human heart crushed by the tempter") is the compassion verse — pull back there briefly to let the tenderness of that image land before returning to the chorus with renewed conviction. Final verse and chorus should be the strongest.
🎵 Band Direction
All instruments together from bar one. The urgency of the text calls for a present, engaged band. Bass plays strong root notes — G, C, D7 — with quarter-note authority. Piano comps with clear chord strikes rather than flowing patterns; this hymn does not need to be delicate. Acoustic guitar leads the rhythm, electric guitar can add fills between the long verse phrases. A driving, clear mix allows the congregation to sing the call-to-action text with full voice.
🎤 Vocal
Fanny Crosby wrote this in 1869 after a conversation with a young man at a city rescue mission. That specific compassion — one person seeing another person who is perishing and choosing to act — is what gives the text its directness. Teach your congregation to sing it as a declaration of their own calling, not a description of what other people should do. Verse 3 contains one of the most beautiful lines Crosby ever wrote: "Chords that were broken will vibrate once more." Honor that line — it deserves to be sung slowly and clearly.
→ Transitions
Best used at an altar call or after a sermon on missions, evangelism, or reaching the lost. Pairs powerfully with "Softly and Tenderly" or "Just As I Am" in a response set where you want to move from invitation to action. Can also be used at a commissioning service before sending out a ministry team or a missions group. The urgency of the text makes it a natural call to action at the close of any service focused on the Great Commission.