"A Song to David" was printed on 6 April 1763 along with a proposal for a new translation of the "Psalms". It is said that Smart composed the poem during his second period of confinement to an asylum during an episode of religious mania The poem was received harshly, which was possibly just thinly veiled personal attacks over Smart being freed from the asylum just weeks before. However, Kenrick, Smart's former rival, praised the poem in one of his own printed on 25 May 1763. Also, John Lockman followed on 21 June 1763, with his own poem in praise of Smart's and Samuel Boyce followed this on 15 July 1763 with another. Along with this support, Smart responded to his critics at the "Critical Review"; in regards to Smart's response, the "Critical Review" claimed that they would "say no more of Mr. Smart".