He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Representative Text

1 He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.

2 He's got the wind and the rain in his hands.

(Sing three times)

He's got the whole world in his hands.

3 He's got the little tiny baby in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.

4 He's got you and me, brother, in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.

5 He's got you and me, sister, in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.

6 He's got everybody here in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.

Notes

Scripture References:
all st. = Ps. 47; 93-99

This anonymous spiritual rose out of the oral tradition of African Americans and has become one of the most widely known and loved spirituals, sung by young and old everywhere. Like other songs arising out of an oral tradition, it has many variations in both text and tune. Creating new stanzas would also be consistent with the tradition.

The text confesses the same them of the Lord’s cosmic rule that is proclaimed in the kingship psalms such as Psalm 47 and 93-99: “The Lord reigns!” The stanzas give examples of aspects of the “whole world”–nature, human creatures, and in fact, everything and everybody.

Liturgical Use:
Various occasions of worship: services that focus on creation, God’s rule and providence, family life (st. 3-5), and communion of the saints (st. 6); as a hymn of assurance.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

WHOLE WORLD (Spiritual)

WHOLE WORLD is characterized by one recurring melodic and rhythmic motif. The tune is intended for unison singing and possibly some solo singing (for example, on st. 4-5), with light accompaniment on guitar or piano. Try singing some stanzas unaccompanied, clapping on beats two and four. --Psalter H…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 37 of 37)
Text

African American Heritage Hymnal #150

Text

Ancient and Modern #656

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #306

TextAudio

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #346

Christian Science Hymnal #492

Church Family Worship #189

Text

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #819

Complete Mission Praise #225

Hymns and Psalms #25

Text

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #51

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Promise #26

Hymns of Truth & Light #97

Text

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #411

Text

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #217

TextAudio

Lift Up Your Hearts #26

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #328

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #457

Sing 'N' Praise Hymnal Vol. 2 #87

Sing and Rejoice! #34

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #43

TextPage Scan

Sing With Me #26

Singing the Faith #536

Audio

Small Church Music #889

TextPage Scan

Songs for Life #198

Text

Songs of Zion #85

The Book of Hymns (A fresh anthology of favourite hymns) #9

Text

The Celebration Hymnal #586

The Christian Life Hymnal #409

The Covenant Hymnal #682

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2336

Text

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #344

Text

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #118

TextPage Scan

The Worshiping Church #518

Text

Total Praise #143

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

With Heart and Voice #123

Text

Worship and Rejoice #80

찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #70

Include 23 pre-1979 instances
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