Once upon a time in the fringes of the Great Smokey Mountains, a small country church
was being pastored by a retired preacher—my grandfather. They were a non-instrumentalist
congregation, meaning that all the music was vocal. Someone would call out a hymn and
the song leader would nod his head, then start everyone out, lining the words as
necessary. In my memory, and through the childhood, I've never heard anything quite
like the full out song of that place. They were truly trying to sing the hell out
of any situation.
I don't remember any of the particular hymns sung, except Leaning on the Everlasting
Arms. Years later, I revisited the hymn and did my own choral setting, adding
a verse along the way. Another hymn of the time, Bringing in the Sheaves snuck its way in, as well as a bit of a jazz riff.
The MP3 recording is from a taping during a rehearsal—and sounds like it. It's
the only recording I have of this one, though, so I am putting it here. The piece
is being reworked some and one of the choruses (in the canon section) is disappearing,
so I cut that part of the recording.
Original Music: Anthony Showalter
Original Words: Elisha Hoffman
Setting and Verse 3: Jon Jones
Spring 1988
Lyrics:
What a fellowship, what joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
O, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
O, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
From the morning to the evening,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
With Lord Jesus my life has meaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
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.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.