He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
USA Lyrics
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
History and Meaning
A traditional African-American spiritual first published in the hymnal "Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New" in 1927. It became a pop hit in the 1950s when 13-year-old British singer Laurie London recorded an uptempo version with the Geoff Love Orchestra in 1957. London's recording topped the charts in 1958, becoming the first song by a British artist to reach number 1 on the newly established Billboard Hot 100, and it remains the only gospel song to ever achieve this feat. The song sold over a million copies and earned a gold disc, with many notable artists including Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson, and Nina Simone also recording memorable versions of this beloved spiritual.