Whole world In WHOSE 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 itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got a-you and me sister in His hands
He's got a-you and me sister in His hands
He's got a-you and me sister 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

This song, about God having the “whole world in his hands” made it to number one on the music charts in 1959. Sung by fourteen year old Laurie London, and produced by Capital Records, it remained # 1 for four weeks! The originator of the song is unknown but folk song composer Hamilton Forrest (1901-1963) is most famous perhaps for his putting these words to music.

The song is considered to be both a Negro spiritual, (originating with the Negro Slaves of early America,) and a hymn sung as an expression of Christian faith as well as an American folk song.
A folk song is "a song of the people." They are about the things on people’s hearts, and minds, whereas spirituals, are always Christian songs, directly singing about what the Bible says and how to live with the Spirit of God. This song is both.

Many recording artists have sung this song, and while the human author who first penned the lyrics goes unknown, the words speak forever. It’s a song about God, who does indeed hold the whole world in His loving hands.