Hymn lyrics to Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (1887), lyrics by Anthony J. Showalter & Elisha Hoffman, music by Andrew J. Showalter
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms has an interesting backstory. Gospel music author, teacher, and publisher Anthony Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. While writing letters of consolation, he was inspired by
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”.
Deuteronomy 33:27
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.
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms in pop culture
Movies
- 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)
Television
- Dollhouse episode “True Believer”.
- House of Cards episode “Chapter 42”
- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode “Pattern Seventeen”
- Justified episode “Kin”
- The Simpsons episode The Yellow Badge of Cowardge
- The Andy Griffith Show episode, “Mountain Wedding” during the wedding scene.