Lyr Add: The Hiding Place

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HIDING PLACE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 10:19 PM

Two threads contain versions of the African-American and White traditional spiritual-gospel songs, No Hiding Place or I've Got a Hiding Place:
2035: No Hiding Place
2350: No Hiding Place

Mrs. Nancy Prince, 1850 (1853), "Narrative of the Life and Travels of Mrs. Nancy Prince," finishes with a hymn, "The Hiding Place." She was a free northern, educated African-American who had little contact with southern blacks and their spirituals.

Although a formally composed piece, it is reminiscent of the spirituals and southern folk gospel songs, and its early date causes me to wonder about its influence on the folk songs.

Does anyone know its author? (Not in Olney, Millennial Praises, Cyberhymnal)

Lyr. Add: The Hiding Place

Amid this world's tumultuous noise,
For peace my soul to Jesus flies;
If I've an interest in his grace,
I want no other hiding place.

The world with all its charms is vain,
Its wealth and honors I disdain
All its extensive aims embrace,
Can ne'er afford a hiding place.

A guilty, sinful heart is mine,
Jesus, unbounded love is thine!
When I behold thy smiling face,
Tis then I see my hiding place.

To save, if once my Lord engage,
The world may laugh and Satan rage:
The powers of Hell can ne'er erase
My name from God's own hiding place.

I'm in a wilderness below,
Lord, guide me all my journey through,
Plainly let me thy footsteps trace,
Which lead to heaven, my hiding place.

Should dangers thick impede my course,
O let my soul sustain no loss;
Help me to run the Christian race,
And enter safe my hiding place.

Then with enlarged powers,
I'll triumph in redeeming love,
Eternal ages will I praise
My Lord for such a hiding place.

Other than it is 1850 or older, I have no other data.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE HIDING PLACE
From: GUEST,GuestAgain
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 04:16 PM

I've found a lot of info about different hymns and spirituals related in one way or another to the "Hiding Place" quoted by Mrs. Prince in her book.

None of these hymns and song lyrics are the same as the ones that appear at the end of Mrs. Prince's book, but they all seem related to Psalm 32 (v. 7) and/or Psalm 119 (v. 114).

"Thou Art My Hiding-Place"
Words: Psalm 32:7-11 Charles Wesley, c. 1743
Music: "Ernan" Lowell Mason, 1850
Thou Art (Wesley)

Jehoida Brewer: Hail, Sovereign Love (Gospel Magazine, 1776) / Cyberhymnal:
Brewer (Sovereign Love)

In the Harmonia Sacra Handbook, it is refered to as a 'folk hymn' dating from 1810, and it is attributed to Major John Andre: Harmonia / Major Andre (Sovereign Love)

IBC Berlin had a version in their list of songs from Sept. 11 2005: You Are My Hiding Place: Celebration Hymnal # 700: IBC Berlin (Hymn #700)

There's also "The Hiding-Place" in the Early Shakers' Millennial Praises Gospel Hymns from 1813 (see Hymn 3) / : Early Shakers (1813)


Cyberhymnal has an hymn called "Thou Art My Hiding Place, O Lord"
Words: Thomas Raffles, 1838.
Music: "St. Leonard (Hiles)," Henry Hiles, 1867 (MIDI, score) : Thou Art My Hiding Place, O Lord

Isaac Watts (55. THE HIDING-PLACE IS NIGH)
Coprighted by R.E. Hudson in Gospel Jewels for Sabbath Schools (pub : 1885): Hiding Place (Watts)

On their CD "Redemption Songs", Jars of Clay have a version called "Hiding Place" which is attributed to Daniel Herbert (author, 1814). Apparenty, this version is from the Gadsby's Hymns:
Hinding Place (Herbert) Info
Hiding Place (Herbert) Lyrics

The line "The rock cried out « no hiding place»" appears in a spiritual titled « Where Shall I Go ?» (from Negro Spirituals Online): Where Shall I Go?

Both "Where Shall I Go?" and "No Hiding Place" seem related to the song "Heaven Bell a Ring" which appears at #20 in Allen & Ware's book "Slave Songs of the United State" (1867): Allen & Ware (Slave Songs)

Finally, there's the bluegrass song by Bill Monroe : I've Found a Hiding Place

I thought it was ok to post all these infos in this thread (in chronological order). I've checked all links and they're supposed to work. Sometimes you have to go down the page to find the lyrics/infos to "Hiding Place" (aka "Sovereign Love").

The Prince version is still a mystery.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE HIDING PLACE
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 04:23 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE HIDING PLACE
From: GUEST,GuestAgain
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 04:25 PM

Oops...In the Allen & Ware book (Slave Songs fron the United States"), "Heaven Bell a Ring" is song #27 (page 20). Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE HIDING PLACE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:24 PM

I had seen most of these references, but it is nice to have them together in one spot. Many other books of spirituals list the African-American versions.