How can I identify public domain hymns?

Which hymns and other songs qualify as public domain is based on current copyright law in each country. Copyright laws are sometimes extended or changed, so it’s important to know the current law governing public domain in your country.

In the U.S., no hymns entered the public domain for twenty years after 1998 because of an extension to the existing copyright law. As of Jan. 1, 2024, all songs published in 1928 and before (not later arrangements) are public domain. On January 1, 2025, songs and other copyrighted works published in 1929 will enter the public domain.  

Each hymn has three parts that can be copyrighted – the tune, text (lyrics), and arrangement.  Each one of these parts may have different copyright dates.

Every hymn in official United Methodist hymnals and other song books includes composer, arranger, and copyright information at the bottom of the hymn.  A complete list of copyright acknowledgments also begins on p. 906 of the United Methodist Hymnal.

Songs with all three parts - tune, text, and arrangement - dated prior to 1929 (1928 or earlier) are in the public domain.  Any part of any song (text, tune, arrangement) dated 1929 or after, or subsequently renewed, is under copyright and requires the appropriate licenses or permissions for use.

Here are a few examples of attributions on well-known hymns in the UM Hymnal:

Public Domain

• It Is Well with My Soul (UMH 377)
  WORDS: Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
  MUSIC:Philip P. Bliss, 1876
  
  
• The Old Rugged Cross (UMH 504)
  WORDS: George Bernard, 1913
  MUSIC: George Bernard, 1913

Copyrighted

• He Lives (UMH 310)
  WORDS: Alfred H. Ackley, 1933
  MUSIC:Alfred H. Ackley, 1933
  © 1933 The Rodeheaver Co.
  
  
• Morning Has Broken (UMH 145)
  WORDS: Eleanor Farjeon, 1931 (Lam. 3:22-23)
  MUSIC:Trad. Gaelic melody; harm. by Carlton R. Young, 1988
  Words by permission of David Higham Associates, Ltd.; harm. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House

Please note: If you are reproducing copyrighted hymns, you must also include documentation of your copyright license in the form your copyright license requires. Different copyright license providers require different wording. Follow the wording required by your license provider. 

Additional Resources

Local Church Learning Session: Copyrights + Licenses

The Piano Accompaniment Recordings offered by Discipleship Ministries is a good resource for public domain tunes from the UM Hymnal and The Faith We Sing. More accompaniments may be added to include new tunes that have come into the public domain in 2019 and 2020. 

Hymns by Year of Composition or Copyright (from 1779 to 2000)

Hymnary.org is an ecumenical resource with songs from many hymnals across denominations. This list includes the most popular hymns.