I've Got Peace Like a River

 I’ve Got Peace Like a River is an African-American spiritual. Spirituals began on the fields and the slaves would sing to pass the time of day. It was also a great way to pass messages along and share the gospel.

This song uses water “as a simile” to describe peace, joy and love. 

Hymnary.org says “This spiritual compares the peace of God to a placidly flowing river, the joy of Christ to a merrily bubbling fountain, and the love of God to a deep, wide ocean.”

The earliest appearance in a hymnal appears to be in 1975. This was really a surprise, as I thought it would be much earlier.

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

1 I've got peace like a river, 
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul.
I've got peace like a river, 
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul.

2 I've got love like a river,
I've got love like a river,
I've got love like a river in my soul.
I've got love like a river,
I've got love like a river,
I've got love like a river in my soul

3 I've got joy like a river,
I've got joy like a river,
I've got joy like a river in my soul.
I've got joy like a river,
I've got joy like a river,
I've got joy like a river in my soul.