Borning Cry
John Ylvisaker's baptism hymn: God present at every stage of life, from birth to old age.
The words of this hymn are under copyright, so we describe it here and don’t print them. You’ll find them in Evangelical Lutheran Worship at number 732, and listed at Hymnary.
“Borning Cry” at HymnaryAbout this hymn
"Borning Cry" (first line "I was there to hear your borning cry") is written in God's voice, speaking to one person through baptism, growing up, adult life and old age.
It draws on Psalm 139 and Isaiah 46:3-4, where God carries his people from birth to gray hair. In baptism a person is joined to Jesus, and the hymn describes the lifelong care that follows. It is sung at baptisms, on the Baptism of Our Lord, and at funerals.
John C. Ylvisaker, a Lutheran songwriter, wrote the words and music in 1985.
For musicians and planners
| Words | John C. Ylvisaker, 1985 | In copyright |
|---|---|---|
| Tune | WATERLIFE · John C. Ylvisaker, 1985 | In copyright |
Checked 2026-09-27 against hymnary.org text, tune and person pages, and the copyright line printed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (attribution and rights only).
Hymn numbers checked against Hymnary.org’s index of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Full record: Hymnary.