"Guide My Feet" at Faith Mennonite Church

124,035 views • Jun 22, 2019

Description

Oasis Chorale sings "Guide My Feet" in Ontario, Canada, in July 2015. This song is available on our Healing River album www.oasischorale.org/recordings/healing-river/

The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion

"Guide My Feet" at Faith Mennonite Church

Words by African American spiritual; anonymousMusic by African American spiritual; traditionalTune GUIDE MY FEET

Guide my feet while I run this race,
Guide my feet while I run this race,
Guide my feet while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.

Hold my hand while I run this race,
Hold my hand while I run this race,
Hold my hand while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.

Stand by me while I run this race,
Stand by me while I run this race,
Stand by me while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.

I'm your child while I run this race,
I'm your child while I run this race,
I'm your child while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.

Search my heart while I run this race,
Search my heart while I run this race,
Search my heart while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.

Story Behind the Song

“Guide My Feet” is a traditional African American spiritual, transmitted orally before being included in modern hymnals and choral collections. Its repeated petition, “while I run this race,” draws on the New Testament image of the Christian life as a race requiring perseverance. Like many spirituals, it exists in several textual and musical variants, with stanzas such as “hold my hand,” “stand by me,” and “search my heart.”

Scripture

Found In

African American Heritage Hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, The New Century Hymnal, Worship & Song