He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

 He's Got The Whole World In His Hands is like other folk spirituals, the exact origin of “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands” is unknown. Whether created extemporaneously by one slave or by a community of slaves, this spiritual's earliest known written reference is in “Spirituals Triumphant Old and New,” compiled by Edward Boatner in 1927. 

The song was first published in the paperbound hymnal Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New in 1927. In 1933, it was collected by Frank Warner from the singing of Sue Thomas in North Carolina. It was also recorded by other collectors such as Robert Sonkin of the Library of Congress, who recorded it in Gee's Bend, Alabama in 1941. That version is still available at the Library's American Folklife Center.

Frank Warner performed the song during the 1940s and 1950s, and introduced it to the American folk scene. Warner recorded it on the Elektra album American Folk Songs and Ballads in 1952. It was quickly picked up by both American gospel singers and British skiffle and pop musicians.

To download the alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

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

He’s got the whole wide 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.

He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

3. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands.

He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands.

He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. 

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

4. He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

5. He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.