Bosom of Abraham (song)

{{Short description|Traditional African-American spiritual}}

File:1867 Rock o' my soul.png

File:William Francis Allen.png

File:Portrait of Alvin Ailey LCCN2004662478.tif

"Rock O' My Soul", also known as "Rock My Soul", "Bosom of Abraham" or "Rocka My Soul", is a traditional African American spiritual. It was first documented by William Francis Allen, in the 1867 collection Slave Songs of the United States.William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware, Lucy McKim Garrison, [https://books.google.com/books?id=LHktAAAAMAAJ&q=bosom+of+abraham Slave Songs of the United States], #94, p. 73, A. Simpson & Co, 1867. Allen attributed the origin of the song to the state of Virginia and documented the following lyrics:

{{Poem quote|Rock o' my soul in de bosom of Abraham,

Rock o' my soul in de bosom of Abraham,

Rock o' my soul in de bosom of Abraham,

Lord, Rock o' my soul. (King Jesus)}}

One of the earliest recorded version was made in 1937 by the Heavenly Gospel Singers.[https://secondhandsongs.com/work/125952/versions Rock My Soul] at secondhandsongs.com{{cite web |title=Artist Profile: Heavenly Gospel Singers |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Heavenly_Gospel_Singers/14238/ |publisher=crossrhythms.co.uk |access-date=4 April 2020}} Notable artists who have recorded the song include the Jordanaires, Louis Armstrong, Lonnie Donegan, Peter Paul & Mary and Elvis Presley.

Alvin Ailey made "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham"{{cite web |title=Rocka My Soul In the Bosom of Abraham · Alvin Ailey | date=8 November 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzsy-RVnI0U |via=YouTube |publisher=Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US |access-date=4 April 2020}} the music for the triumphant finale of his internationally known choreography Revelations, which was born out of the choreographer's "blood memories" of his childhood in rural Texas and attending the Baptist Church with his mother.{{cite web |title=Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations |date=15 March 2010 |url=https://www.alvinailey.org/performances/repertory/revelations |accessdate=4 April 2020}} It was also performed as a tribute at his 1989 funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.{{cite web |title=4,500 People Attend Ailey Memorial Service at St. John the Divine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/09/obituaries/4500-people-attend-ailey-memorial-service-at-st-john-the-divine.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=9 December 1989}} Israeli dancer and choreographer Nadav Zelner used "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham" as music for a clip for his student dance troupe.{{cite web |title=Alte Zachen by Nadav Zelner |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qPAznfjueM |publisher=YouTube |access-date=29 August 2022}}