history behind songs?

Do you do research on our most cherished songs? I've started to look more in depth at some of my personal favorites, and I've felt it really helps a great deal to know more than just who and when it was written. Of course, many people know already about songs like "Amazing Grace", written by a former slave trader. Or, "It Is Well With My Soul", written by a man who had recently lost his children during a boating accident. That song always makes me tear up. Recently, I've come to understand a little bit more about my favorite warm up song, "Brahm's Lullaby". Not neccesarily a Christian hymn, I know, but I've wondered why a world famous classical composer would write such a beautiful, simple song, especially someone known for having such a stern and gruff exterior. It turns out he loved children, and wrote the song for a neighbor and their new baby.
"The Sweet By and By" was co written between two friends. One of the men had severe depression, and his friend knew the best way to cheer him up was to give him a song to put music to. One day he saw his friend looking unwell. When he asked him what was the matter, the man said "Oh it'll be alright in the by and by". It dawned on them both this would be a great premise for a song. "How Great Thou Art" was written by a Swedish Reverend inspired by the natural beauty of his homeland.
What are some of your findings? I'd love to read them.

 

Two young men were trying to write a song one day. As lunch time approach, they decided to go to a nearby resaurant. Their waitress was cheery enough, but they couldn't help noticing there was something sad and hollow about her. In fact, when they looked around the room, they mentioned to eachother that the same feeling was coming from nearly everyone there. One said to the other, "They need the Lord." When they got back to writing, they came up with "People Need the Lord".
I heard it sung for the first time about three years ago, and was deeply moved by it. You could have heard a pin drop while that young man was singing.

 

Thanks, Tim! I certainly will look for it. I'm fascinated by the subject now.

As a young woman, Charlotte spent her time socializing and writing humorous verses, like many her age. Quite suddenly, her health began to deteriorate, and she soon found herself bed ridden and in pain. She became very depressed about this, until a physician and preacher led her to Christ by saying she should come to Him now just as she was. From that moment, her attitude changed, and she wrote "Just As I Am
", probably the most well known song by a female writer. I should note the song was written fourteen years after she had this conversion! After her death, people found hundreds of letters from people who had written directly to her about how her song changed their lives. It has been called the greatest soul winning song ever written.