Examples of "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby" (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases various arrangements & lyrics for the African American Christmas Gospel song "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby".

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL COMPOSER OF "OH WHAT A PRETTY LITTLE BABY"?
The earliest recording date & the first recording artist that I've found for "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby" is "Rev. James Cleveland & Choir (1968). Maybe Rev. Cleveland is the original composer of that song. Or perhaps Rev. Cleveland, Rev. Timothy Wright, and other lyricists & arrangers "gospelized" a Spiritual that was composed by someone who will forever be unknown. If so, "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby" is a "gospelized Spiritual". By "gospelized", I mean a song whose tempo, arrangement, and possibly also the words are modified to conform with an African American Gospel music style.

If any readers have information about the origins of "Oh What A Pretty Little Baby", please share them with me and visitors of this blog by writing a comment or contacting me at cocojams17@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance!

SOUND FILE & LYRICS: OH WHAT A PRETTY LITTLE BABY
Example #1: "Pretty Little Baby" (1968)- James Cleveland, Cleveland Singers, Angelic Choir



JayEm86, Uploaded on Nov 30, 2008

Rev. Cleveland with both the Cleveland Singers and the Angelic Choir.
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Lyrics: What A Pretty Little Baby
(as sung by Rev. James Cleveland & Choir)

What a pretty little baby
Pretty little baby
Born in a manger
Oh what, a pretty little baby
Jesus is His name

And the government shall be upon His shoulder
Be upon his shoulder
And his name shall be Wonderful
Oh what, a pretty little baby
Jesus is His name

Oh, oh, oh, come let us adore Him
Come let us adore Him
Born the King of angels
Oh what, a pretty little baby
Jesus is his name

Jesus, (Hallelujah)Jesus, (Hallelujah) Jesus
Jesus, (Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah, Ha-lle-lu-jah)

Oh what a pretty little baby
Jesus is His name
Name (Hallelujah), Name (Hallelujah) Hallelujah, Ha-lle-lu-jah)

Oh what a pretty little baby
Jesus is His name

http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/james-cleveland-lyrics/pretty-little-baby-lyrics.html ; these lyrics are submitted by kaan

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Example #2: Luther Barnes & RBGC-Oh What A Pretty Little Baby



StyleNManm, Uploaded on Apr 5, 2010

Soloist Luther Barnes.
-snip-
Recording date 1989

Lyrics: Oh What A Pretty Little Baby
(as sung by Luther Barnes & Red Budd Gospel Choir)*

Chorus
Oh what a pretty little baby,
a pretty little baby born in a manger.
Oh what a pretty little baby,
(Jesus is, Jesus is His name).

[repeat]

Verse #1: Soloist
Jesus is the sweetest name I know
That's why I love Him so
And I'll praise Him for what He's done for me.
And I'm gonna take Him everywhere I go.

Chorus

Verse #2: Soloist
He's the one who came to set me free.
He's the one that I adore.
No greater love than the love He gives to me
And I'm gonna praise Him more and more.

Chorus

Vamp

Soloist: Listen! Tell me who was that little boy
who was born in Bethleham -
What was His name?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: A Savior that was born to help the humble man [?]
What was His name?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: Here's what He did. Well He healed the sick and He raised the dead.
All of the souls He fed
Who did it, y'all?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: Then He did on the cross so that
sin could rein no more. [?]
What was His name, y'all?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: Gimme a J!
Choir: J!
Soloist: Gimme a E!
Choir: E!
Soloist: Gimme a S!
Choir: S!
Soloist: Gimme a U!
Choir: U!
Soloist: Gimme another S!
Choir: S!
Soloist: What was His name?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: What was His name?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: [?]
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist: Who can set me free?
Choir: Jesus!
[ends with additional call & response in the same pattern]
-snip-
*These lyrics are transcribed by Azizi Powell from the sound file with just the basic words and not the soloist's/choir's call & response. The question mark in brackets indicates that I'm not sure about the accuracy of that transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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Example #3 - Timothy Wright-Oh What A Pretty Little Baby



StyleNMan,Uploaded on Oct 18, 2010

Great classic throwdown by The Late Reverend Timothy Wright
-snip-
Recording date - 1993
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Lyrics: Oh What A Pretty Little Baby
(as arranged by Timothy Wright)

Verse 1
Oh what a pretty little baby,
a pretty little baby born in a manger.
Oh what a pretty little baby,
(Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is His name).

Verse 2
Come let, come let us adore Him,
come let us adore Him, born the King of angels,
come let, come let us adore Him,
(Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is His name).

Vamp
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah

http://www.lyrics007.com/Timothy%20Wright%20Lyrics/Oh%20What%20A%20Pretty%20Little%20Baby%20Lyrics.html

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Example #4: Mississippi Mass Choir - Oh What A Pretty Little Baby



TjmMinistries,
-snip-
*The title of this video credits this rendition to the Geogia Mass Choir. However, two commenters indicated that the choir singing is actually the Mississippi Mass Choir.

The choir's rendition of this song is based on Rev. Timothy Wright's arrangement. I don't know the recording date for this performance.

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Lorraine & Laurel-Oh What A Pretty Little Baby



abolts2020, Uploaded on Dec 23, 2010

Lyrics: Oh What A Pretty Little Baby
(as sung by Lorraine & Laurel and church choir)*
Verse #1
Soloist #1: Oh what a pretty little baby,
a pretty little baby born in a manger.
Oh what a pretty little baby,
Choir - Jesus
Soloist: Talkin 'bout
Choir - Jesus
Soloists & Choir - Jesus is His name.

[repeat]

Verse #2
Soloist #2: Come let's, come let us adore Him.
Come let us adore Him.
Born in a manger.
Come let's, come let us adore Him.
Choir: Jesus!
Soloist #2: What's His name?
Choir: Jesus!
Soloists & Choir: Jesus is His name.

[repeat]

Vamp
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah

*The choir's rendition of this song is based on Rev. Timothy Wright's arrangement. These lyrics are transcribed by Azizi Powell from the sound file. The last names of the soloist, this church's name, and the date of this performance weren't given. If anyone has that information, please share it by posting a comment or emailing me at cocojams17@yahoo.com. Thanks!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composer, arrangers, and performers of this song. Also, thanks to those who transcribed this song, and those who uploaded the sound files & videos that are featured in this post.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.