Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Anthony J. Showalter and Elisha A. Hoffman

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in The Glad Evangel for Revival, Camp, and Evangelistic Meetings, (Dalton, Georgia: A. J. Showalter & Company, 1887). Music: Anthony J. Showalter. Showalter wrote this tune and words to the refrain and first verses after hearing from two friends whose wives had died, and asked Hoffman to write the remaining lyrics. Showalter, from an old Deitch family of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia (Rockingham County), headed shape-note sing schools in Georgia and Alabama. This song was sung in the 1943 movie "The Human Comedy," which was nominated for Academy Awards in five categories and in "True Grit."

70303Leaning on the Everlasting ArmsAnthony J. Showalter and Elisha A. Hoffman

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