Ballad Poem Example #1. The first ballad poem on this page is an original that I wrote sometime in the early 70s, after being influenced by a book, Poems that Live Forever. It's a hardcover book, filled with ballad poems and ballad poetry, that still sits on my bookshelf.
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms Composed by Eric Nelson. For SATB. Published by Morning Star Music Publishers. Based on a beloved gospel hymn, this gentle and reverant arrangement captures the essence and soul of this old hymn. The piece incorporates the tunes SHOWALTER and NEW BRITAIN.
Ed Rush traced the song back to an African-American camp-meeting song with lyrics I don't care if it rains or freezes, leaning on the arms of my Jesus, which was the theme song of a religious radio program broadcast from Baton Rouge in the 1940s. first heard this song from a friend at school who was instrumental in introducing me to the folk scene and also happened to be an atheist). At the time I also found it offensive until I understood that the target is the sellers of religious kitsch, not religion itself. This song was requested by beardedone85.