Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
{{Short description|Hymn}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| name = Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
| type =
| image = AJ_Showalter.jpg
| alt =
| caption = A. J. Showalter
| translation =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| composer = Anthony J. Showalter and Elisha Hoffman
| genre = Hymn
| occasion =
| text =
| language =
| written = 1887
| based_on = {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Deuteronomy|chapter=33|verse=27}}
| meter = 10.9.10.9 with refrain
| melody = Anthony J. Showalter
| composed =
| published =
| misc =
}}
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn published in 1887 with music by Anthony J. Showalter and lyrics by Showalter and Elisha Hoffman. It is most commonly played on the scale of A-flat major.
Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in the Book of Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms".p.122 Morgan, Robert J. Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns Revell, 2010
Lyrics
Showalter wrote the lyrics to the refrain in Hartselle, Alabama and asked Hoffman to write the remaining lyrics.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/l/e/a/leanarms.htm
|title = Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
|work = The Cyber Hymnal
|accessdate = 2018-04-10
}}
:What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms;
:What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms.
:Refrain:
:Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
:Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
:O how sweet to walk, In this pilgrim way,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms;
:O how bright the path grows from day to day,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms.
:Refrain
:What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms;
:I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
:Leaning on the everlasting arms.
:Refrain
;Alternate version
There is an alternate version of the refrain, typically sung by basses:
:Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, safe and secure from all alarms;
:Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Versions
It has been performed and recorded by such artists as Roy Clark, Iris DeMent, Mahalia Jackson, George Jones, Twila Paris, Selah and Norbert Susemihl.
Alan Jackson included it in his 2006 live gospel album Precious Memories.
mewithoutyou uses the lyrics from the 3rd stanza and part of the 2nd in their song Watermelon Ascot from their Pale Horses album.
The Carter Family performed the hymn during their time on Mexican Radio Stations in the late 1930s and early 1940s. One version can be found on YouTube.
Brian Fallon included it in his 2021 studio album Night Divine.
Chanel Beads released a video of their recording of the hymn on YouTube in December 2024.
In popular culture
The song has been used in several movies, including The Human Comedy (1943), Native Son (1950), The Night of the Hunter (1955), Phase IV (1974), Wild Bill (1995), Next of Kin (1989), True Grit (2010) (of which it forms about a quarter of the score{{cite web|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|title=Burwell in tune with Coen brothers|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118028850/|publisher=Variety|accessdate=3 February 2011|date=15 December 2010}})， First Reformed (2017)， and Her Story (2024).
In television, it was used in the Dollhouse season one episode "True Believer".{{cite web |title=Dollhouse (TV Series) - True Believer (2009) - Soundtracks |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216526/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=16 January 2015}} It was also used in the House of Cards episode "Chapter 42" (season 4, episode 3), in the Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Pattern Seventeen" (season 16, episode 9), in Justified (season 4, episode 5, "Kin") and in The Simpsons episode "The Yellow Badge of Cowardge" (season 25, episode 22).{{Cite encyclopedia |title="The Simpsons" The Yellow Badge of Cowardge (TV Episode 2014) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3683030/soundtrack}} It was also sung in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, "Mountain Wedding", during the wedding scene.
It was also used in a Guinness beer commercial titled "Empty Chair" which was produced by Human Worldwide Inc. and in a 2014 Sainsbury's ad regarding the World War I "Christmas Truce" of 1914.{{Cite web|url=http://twentytwowords.com/the-best-christmas-ad-youll-see-today-recreates-christmas-eve-on-a-wwi-battlefield/|title = 22 Words}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.steamboat-electric.de/Steamboat_Electric/Sheet_Music.html Sheet music (PriMus and .png) in english and german language and midi score] at steamboat-electric
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