Leaning on the Everlasting Arms in Tonic Solfa
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms in Tonic Solfa to SHOWALTER: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the three verses and the refrain, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| mWhat-ma-mfel--,rlow-dship,- | rwhat-ra-rjoy-,ddi-l,vine,- |
| s,Lean--s,ing-don-,t,thedev-rer- | mlast--ming-rarms;--- |
| mWhat-ma-mbless--,red-dness,- | rwhat-ra-rpeace-,disl,mine,- |
| s,Lean--s,ing-don-,t,thedev-rer- | mlast--ring-darms.--- |
| mLean----ding,--- | dlean----l,ing,--- |
| s,Safe-dand-,t,se-dcure-rfrom- | mall-ma--rlarms;--- |
| mLean----ding,--- | dlean----l,ing,--- |
| s,Lean--s,ing-don-,t,thedev-rer- | mlast--ring-darms.--- |
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- Key
- Ab major
- Doh
- Ab
- Time
- 4/4
- Starts on
- m (C)
- Range
- s, to m (E♭ to C, a sixth)
- Tune
- SHOWALTER
- Music
- Anthony J. Showalter
Tune SHOWALTER by Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924); words by Elisha A. Hoffman (1839–1929) and Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924). Sources and licences.
The solfa line by line
The same solfa as plain text, a line of the hymn at a time, with the words of the first verse under it — easy to copy into your own notes or a message to the choir. To print it, download the solfa as a PDF.
Doh is Ab · 4/4
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in Ab major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
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.
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum Ab and sing d r m f s up from it, so the whole choir has the key in their ears before you start.
- Pitch the first note. The tune starts on m (C).
- Count the time. 4/4 means four crotchet beats in each bar. In the grid every cell is half a crotchet: a dash (–) holds the note before it, and _ is a rest. A cell split by a comma holds two quarter beats: d -,r is a dotted quaver and a semiquaver, d,r two semiquavers. That comma sits between two syllables; an octave mark sits small and low against its own letter (s,).
- Know the notes. The tune uses d r m s l t. A comma after a note (s,) is the octave below; an apostrophe (d') is the octave above.
New to solfa? Read how to read Tonic Solfa and how to find the doh of a song.
About the hymn
Elisha A. Hoffman wrote the verses and Anthony J. Showalter the refrain and the tune; the song was published in 1887.
- Words (1887): Elisha A. Hoffman (1839–1929)
- Refrain (1887): Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924)
- Music (1887): Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924)
Tune SHOWALTER by Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924); words by Elisha A. Hoffman (1839–1929) and Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924).
Questions about Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
What is the doh of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms?
In this version, in Ab major, doh is Ab. If your choir sings it in another key, doh moves to the new key note and every solfa syllable stays the same — that is what movable doh means.
What note does Leaning on the Everlasting Arms start on?
It starts on m (C in Ab major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to m.
Is Leaning on the Everlasting Arms in the public domain?
Yes. Elisha A. Hoffman died in 1929, Anthony J. Showalter died in 1924, Anthony J. Showalter died in 1924; the words were first published in 1887 and the music in 1887. Everyone named died before 1955 and both were published before 1929, so the hymn is out of copyright in the UK, the EU, the United States and Nigeria. Modern arrangements and translations can still be under copyright.