How to use ChatGPT to compose backstory for favorite hymns

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I love the old hymns because I grew up with them and heard the backstory of who wrote them under what circumstances. But the modern listener, who doesn’t know those details, cannot have the same appreciation. Therefore, I am presenting a method and technique to use ChatGPT-4 to help add the backstory of treasured hymns.

Let’s start with “It is Well with My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford

Let’s create some intro verses to this well-known hymn in about 10 minutes.

First, we find the lyrics of the song and details about the author and the backstory of how and when the hymn was written.

Second, we ask ChatGPT to analyze the poetic structure of the hymn with the following prompt.

Determine the following characteristics for the supplied context: Meter, Rhyme Scheme, Form/Structure, Stanza Structure, Sound Devices, Diction, Tone and Mood, Imagery, Symbolism, Themes, Syntax and Punctuation, Voice and Point of View, Line Length and Line Breaks, Enjambment, Refrains and Repetition, Metaphor and Simile
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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

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ChatGPT says:

Given the provided context, here’s an analysis of the poem’s characteristics:

  1. Meter: The poem mostly follows a pattern of iambic tetrameter, which means there are four stressed syllables in most of the lines.
  2. Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is AABC for most of the stanzas.
  3. Form/Structure: The poem is a lyrical hymn.
  4. Stanza Structure: Each stanza consists of four lines, known as quatrains.
  5. Sound Devices:
    1. Alliteration: “sorrows like sea”, “blessed assurance”, “bliss of this”, “clouds be rolled”
    2. Assonance: “peace” and “speak”, “is” and “with”
  6. Diction: The diction is both solemn and hopeful, utilizing both everyday and spiritual language.
  7. Tone and Mood: The tone is reverent, and the mood alternates between introspection and triumphant joy.
  8. Imagery:
    1. The flowing peace of a river.
    2. Sorrows represented as tumultuous sea waves.
    3. The depiction of the end times with clouds rolling back and the descent of the Lord.
  9. Symbolism:
    1. The river symbolizes peace.
    2. Sea billows represent challenges or troubles.
    3. The cross symbolizes sacrifice and redemption.
    4. Jordan, a river in biblical texts, often symbolizes the transition from life to death.
    5. The sky represents heaven, and the grave represents death.
  10. Themes: Faith in adversity, redemption through Christ’s sacrifice, hope in the afterlife, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
  11. Syntax and Punctuation: The syntax is fairly straightforward. The use of em dashes in the third stanza adds emphasis to the interjection about the significance of sin and its resolution.
  12. Voice and Point of View: The voice is personal, likely first person. It speaks directly to God and reflects on personal experiences and beliefs.
  13. Line Length and Line Breaks: Lines are of moderate length, and line breaks often occur at natural pauses in the content, reinforcing the poem’s rhythm.
  14. Enjambment: There’s minimal enjambment in the poem; most lines are self-contained thoughts.
  15. Refrains and Repetition: “It is well, it is well with my soul” serves as a refrain, emphasizing acceptance and contentment in God’s plan. The repeated references to “soul” throughout also emphasize the spiritual nature of the poem’s message.
  16. Metaphor and Simile:
    1. “Peace, like a river” is a simile, comparing peace to the steady flow of a river.
    2. “Sorrows like sea billows” is another simile, comparing sorrows to tumultuous sea waves.

The poem is “It Is Well with My Soul” by Horatio Spafford. It’s a hymn that speaks of unwavering faith in the face of tragedy and hardship.

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Third, we ask ChatGPT to summarize the backstory

Please write a very short summary of the following context as an intro to the song using this same style
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[Copy and paste the backstory from the internet]

ChatGPT says:

Horatio Gates Spafford, a prominent lawyer and devout Christian from Chicago, experienced profound personal tragedies, including the loss of his children. Amidst the heartbreak, while journeying over the exact location where his daughters perished in a shipwreck, he penned the touching hymn, “It is well with my soul.” Throughout their lives, both he and his wife, Anna, showcased unwavering faith and dedication to serving others, reflecting the essence of the hymn’s message even in the face of unimaginable grief.

Fourth, we ask ChatGPT to write the new verses

Please rewrite this summary as a poetic introduction based on the following linguistic metrics:
[copy and pasted from above]

ChatGPT says:

In Chicago’s stride, Horatio stood tall,
Through blessings and grief, his faith did not fall.
When sorrows like sea billows took their toll,
He penned, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Daughters four, to the ocean’s deep they sank,
Upon tearful waves, with God, Spafford gave thanks.
Amidst roaring seas and life’s tumultuous role,
Whispered, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

To Jerusalem’s lands, they went forth to give,
Their lives, a testament to Christ as they’d live.
Though sorrows and storms in their lives would enroll,
Still, “It is well, it is well with their soul.”

Blessed by faith, through trials, their spirits did soar,
Their legacy, a hymn, forever to implore.
That even in pain, faith makes the heart whole,
For in God, it is well, forever with the soul.

Okay, it’s not perfect, and it starts out rough, but there are touches of genius. Note how it weaves part of the hymn itself into the backstory. Note how it ends each stanza with a variation of “It is well with my soul.” I am sure this could be refined into a great refresh to bring this beloved hymn into our time.

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