This is Part 3 of a 4 part series on the song Jehovah You Are The Most High God.
Part 1 provides a general overview of "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God" and also features several significant videos of that song. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/africa-gospel-song-you-are-most-high.html for Part 1 of this series.
Part 2 focuses on tempos and rhythms that have been used for various renditions of that Gospel song. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/african-gospel-song-jehovah-you-are.html for Part 2 of this series.
Part 3 provides information about the musical structure that is most often used for this song. This post also provides two text (lyric) examples of this song and a link to a third text example.
Part 4 features 4 additional video examples of that African Gospel song. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/african-gospel-song-you-are-most-high.html for Part 4 of this series.
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PART 4
OVERVIEW
The core concept of "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God" is to praise God by using His praise names.
"You Are The Most High (God)" is a popular contemporary African Gospel song which has a distinctive tune and certain shared lyrics, particularly the phrase "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God". The lyrics for "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God" are based on Biblical verses that refer to Jehovah as the most high God. Among those verses are Psalm 83 v 18 King James Bible:
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
and Psalm 47:1-2
Jehovah, You are the Most High
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the Lord Most High is Awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
-snip-
Nigerian Ggbena Wise is reported to be the first person to record a version of this song (late 1990s, or 1998). However, one commentater to a YouTube video thread indicates that the song was well known in Nigeria prior to that. (See comment in Part 1 of this series). Based on African and African Diaspora music traditions, it's likely that early versions of this song were more open ended than versions are now. By "open ended", I mean that there was probably no fixed length of that song, and people could improvise and add or substitute lyrics or spoken words (floating verses, familiar religious phrases) while singing the song. I believe that that is still the case today. However, the prominence given to certain recorded versions of songs-as is the case with this one- tends to make people think that there is a fixed length and "right" or "wrong" lyrics for those particular songs.
Most versions of "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God" on YouTube use a form of call & response soloist/group pattern. Call & response is a musical structure which is so pervasive in African and African Diaspora cultures.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call-and-response gives this brief definition of that musical pattern:
call-and-response:
a statement quickly followed by an answering statement; also: a musical phrase in which the first and often solo part is answered by a second and often ensemble part
This post provides the text (lyrics) for two versions of "Jehovah, You Are The Most High God". Videos for both of the text examples given have been embedded in previous pancocojams posts. The example of the video in that post is provided in parenthesis.
VERSION #1
Video Example #8: Official lyrics (Jehovah you are the most high God new version)
Kofi Thompson's hit version.....join the millions who are singing this song across the world. this is the complete lyrics. order your copy of this REVIVAL CD from www.crownofglorymusic.com
Uploaded by ultimateworshipper on Sep 16, 2011
LYRICS #1
(Kofi Thompson; video example #3 in Part 1 of this pancocojams series).
JEHOVAH, YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH GOD (African Gospel)
Spoken-You know gods of the world are idols
Jehovah is the most high God
Group- All the other gods
They are the works of men.
But you are the Most High GOD
There is none like You. 2x
Soloist = Jehovah
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist = Jehovah
Group-You are the Most High GOD
Soloist Jehovah Adonai
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist- Jehovah Elohim
Group-You are the Most High GOD
Soloist-Jehovah Nissi eeii
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist-You are the Most High
Group-You are the Most High God
Soloist- Oo my Jesus
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist- Jehovah
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist-Jehovah Nissi eeii
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist-You are the Most High
Group-You are the Most High God
Soloist- Oo my Jesus
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist- Jehovah
Group- You are the Most High GOD
[instrumental interlude]
Soloist- Most High GOD
African-Caribbean medley
This is what the church sings
Congregation:
You are good and your mercy is forever
sopranos HALLELUYAH
You are good and your mercy is forever
sopranos: HALLELUYAH
(REPEAT a number of times)
Soloist –Oo Jehovah
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist- Jehovah
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist – You are the lifter of my head
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist- You are the lover of my soul
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist Oo my Jesus
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist –Christ Jesus
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist Oo my Jesus
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist- Oo I lift your Name
Group- You are the Most High GOD
[Soloist-Lift Him up!
Now we do one more time]
Group-You are good and your mercy is forever
sopranos-HALLELUYAH
Soloist -(Aye de, Aye de)
Group-You are good and your mercy is forever
Soloist –(me’gye onyame)
Group/soloist-You are good and your mercy is forever
sopranos-HALLELUYAH
Group/soloist-You are good and your mercy is forever
sopranos-HALLELUYAH
soloist- Oo Jesus Christ
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist-Oo My Jesus
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist – Jehovah is Your name
Group- You are the Most High
Soloist-Oh You are Elohim.
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist-You are Jehovah jireh
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist-Ooh You are Jehovah Nissi
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist- You are the maker of the life that I live
Group-You are the Most High
Soloist-Oo Jesus
Group- You are the Most High GOD
Soloist: zobo zaba zebe zaba zobo zaba zobo zaba
Gor gor gor gor goorrr gor gor goorrr
(repeat)
AYE DE…
[soloist speaking]- now who said “drums cannot praise the Lord?”
Sings interjections and repeat” zobo lyrics” while band plays]
Soloist speaking: You know God asked the prophet jeremiah
“Look around You, what do you see?
If God asked me today “look around you Kofi, what do you see?
I will tell GOD
Soloist sings- I see a new season
all around
Group- all around me
Soloist sings- New season
all around
Group- all around me
Soloist-Fresh anointing
all around
Group - all around me
Soloist –Fresh revival
all around
Group- all around me
Soloist-Aaaa!!! around me
Group - all around
Soloist-Aaaa!!! around me
Group - all around me
Soloist-Uncommon breakthroughs
Group - all around
Soloist-Aaaa!!! around
Group - all around me
Soloist-Uncommon favors
Group - all around
Soloist-Uncommon miracles
Group - all around me
Soloist- Aaaa!!! around me
Group - all around
Soloist- Aaaa!!! around me
Group - all around me
Soloist-aarroouundd mmmeeeeeeeee
Group - all around me, all around me
Soloist-A aaarrrooouuunnnndd dd mmmmeeeeeeeeee
[soloist interjections]
-snip-
VERSION #2
(praise2life; video example #7 in Part 2 of this pancocojams series; transcription Azizi Powell).
JEHOVA
I give you praise
I give you praise
Lord I bow my knees to worship you
And give you praise
I give you praise
Jehovah
You are the Most High
Jehovah
You are the Most High God
Jehovah
You are the Most High
Jehovah, You are the Most High GOD
Early in the mornin
I will rise and say
You are the most High God
Early in the mornin
I will rise and say
You are the most High God
Jehovah
You are the Most High
You are the Most High God
Jehovah
You are the Most High
You are the Most High God
Rock of Ages,
You are the Most High
Balm in Gilead,
You are the Most High God
Jehovah,
You are the Most High
You are the Most High God.
Early in the mornin
I will rise and say
You are the most High God
Early in the mornin
I will rise and say
You are the most High God
Jehovah
You are the Most High
You are the Most High God
Rock of Ages
You are the most High
You are the most High God
You are
(You are)
You are
(You are)
You are
You are the most High God
I give you praises
Lord I bow my knees
You are the most High God
Je-ho-vah
You are the most
High God
-snip-
Note: This version appears to be that of a solo singer. However, another person can sometimes be heard faintly singing a response line, as indicated in parenthesis toward the end of that rendition.
Click http://www.museke.com/node/1767 for lyrics to Pastor Lenny Akpadie's version of this song.
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