I Know the Lord's Laid His Hands on Me

Representative Text

Refrain:
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me.
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me.

1 Did ever you see the like before?
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me,
King Jesus preaching to the poor.
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me.[Refrain]

2 Oh, wasn't that a happy day
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me,
When Jesus washed my sins away?
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me.[Refrain]

3 Some seek the Lord and don't seek Him right,
I know the Lord's laid His hands on me,
They fool all day and pray at night.
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me. [Refrain]

4 My Lord has done just what He said,
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me,
He's healed the sick and raised the dead.
I know the Lord has laid His hands on me.[Refrain]


Source: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: an African American ecumenical hymnal #86

Text Information

First Line: Did ever you see the like before?
Title: I Know the Lord's Laid His Hands on Me
Meter: Irregular
Source: African-American spiritual
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O I know the Lord, I know the Lord
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22, Matt 11:5
st. 2 = Luke 7:48
st. 3 = Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22, Matt. 11:5

A traditional African American spiritual, this hymn was pub¬lished in The Second Book of Negro Spirituals compiled by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamund Johnson (1926).

The stanzas selected (of the various ones in oral and written tradition) focus on Christ's ministry: his preaching (st. 1), his saving (st. 2), and his healing (st. 3). The refrain finds comfort in the biblical image of "the hands of the Lord," which guide, protect, and uphold. The text makes Christ's ministries very personal to the believer: it is the same Lord who preaches, saves, and heals, who has his hands on me!

Liturgical Use:
Epiphany; in worship services during other seasons that focus on Christ's ministry; profession of faith; adult baptism.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Tune

[Did ever you see the like before]

Like many spirituals, "Oh, I Know the Lord" was written for responsorial singing. The refrains are sung by the entire group, and a soloist sings the stanzas with melodic and rhythmic freedom. (The soloist's melody descends, like the Lord reaching down his hands!) Sing either unaccompanied (perhaps w…

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Include 11 pre-1979 instances
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