I was listening to the 99% Invisible podcast this morning. The episode was entitled “The Great Dismal Swamp” was about a huge swamp on the boarder between Virginia and North Carolina where for over a 100 years escaped slaves lived in hiding. It was a fascinating story. But at the end, the host played an old recording of former slaves singing a song that the host said he couldn’t get out of his head. (It is a great song to have stuck in your head!) The song is entitled “My God Is A Rock In The Weary Land”. I have found so many of the slavery era spirituals to be such a blessing. God gave such great hope and strength to an oppressed people!
The recording in the 99% Invisible episode is so bad you could barely make out the words. Below is a better recording of the same song and it is a blessing!
Lyrics
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
Well, you go ‘way, you long-tongued liar, oh, yeah
We don’t want you headin’ this band, oh, yeah
Well, we don’t want none but the true-born souls
That was washed in the Blood of the Lamb
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter One
The Lord God’s work has just begun
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Two
The God’s gon’ keep his eye on you
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Three
The Lord God died on Calvary
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Four
The Lord God visit among the poor
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Five
The Lord God brought those dead alive
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Six
When he went into Jerusalem and healed the sick
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Seven
When He died and He risen and He went to Heaven
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Eight
When John seen Him standin’ at the Golden Gate
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Nine
When the Lord God turned the water to wine
Well, stop, and let me tell you ’bout the Chapter Ten
When John seen Him comin’ in the world again
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
Well, He is the lily of the valley
He’s brighter than the morning star
When the put ol’ Daniel in the lion’s den
He done locked the lion’s jaw
My God is a rock in the weary land, weary land, in the weary land
My God is a rock in the weary land
Shelter in the time of storm
