Origins: He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield

Subject: RE: Origins: He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 04 Sep 19 - 11:34 PM

He's My Rock, Sword and Shield · The Selah Singers (1949 Capitol Records release)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgxC7pjGDWI

Subject: RE: Origins: He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 19 - 10:11 PM

Also the Soul Stirrers, the Wright Brothers Gospel Singers, the Golden Eagles, Fannie Bell Chapman...plenty of versions, but no info about origins. Love to know where the song originated if you find out

Subject: RE: Origins: He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 17 - 12:47 AM

So, that's all I can find on this song. Can anybody come up with source information?

Subject: Origins: He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Apr 17 - 12:40 AM

I'm not really on some sort of religious frenzy, what with my bringing up all these threads on Spirituals. I'm building a database of links to accompany the Rise Up Singing Songbook, and I'm on the "Spirituals" chapter.

I came across a song in Rise Up Singing that I know nothing about. Here 'tis:

HE'S MY ROCK MY SWORD MY SHIELD

He's my rock, my sword, my shield — He's my wheel in the middle of the wheel
He's my lily of the valley, He's my bright & shining star
Makes no difference what you say, I'm gonna serve my Lord today
I'm gonna keep on serving Jesus [the Spirit] til I die

G-C G/--A P/lst/GGPG(C G)

That's all that's in the songbook - no verses, no background or source information.

Here's a recording by Ethel Waters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL3Za4_jKCs

One by Randy Travis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP5Ugin666g

Here's a rather interesting arrangement by Rev. Gerald Thompson and the Tennessee Full Gospel Baptist Church Choir - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MN2zSudxY

And the Golden Gate Quartet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgtUXV2Gjoo

And here's one that I really like - complete with hand motions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRI6Zg7e9XQ