Toronto, Canada’s quintet Ocean featured singer Janice Morgan, singer-keyboardist Greg Brown, bassist Jeff Jones, guitarist Dave Tamblyn and drummer Charles Slater. Their first single, “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” a #2 pop hit in America in 1971, was written by Gene MacLellan, who’d played with Robbie Robertson in both the Consuls and the Suedes. Several singles followed during the early ’70s, but none were as popular as the debut. Ocean disbanded in 1975.
The song also references when Jesus calmed the sea in Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25. In the midst of a storm that threatened to overturn their boat, the panicked apostles woke Jesus and begged him to help. Jesus didn’t see what all the fuss was about and simply commanded the waves to be still. He asked his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
There are versions in other languages, including a German and a French adaptation.
It has appeared in TV shows like Family Matters and in movies such as Prisoners (2013).
Gene MacLellan, the songwriter, was honored posthumously when the song was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
“Put Your Hand in the Hand” – Single by Ocean from the album Put Your Hand in the Hand
Released February 1971
Songwriter Gene MacLellan
Charted No.2 US, No.1 Belgium, No.1 New Zealand, No.1 Norway, No.6 Canada, No.5 Italy, No.3 Netherlands , No.13 West Germany.
