Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases examples of the African American Spiritual* "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John". Examples of lyrics to that song are also included in this post.
Click for a post of the Roberta Martins Singers performing this song: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/roberta-martin-singers-walk-in-jerusalem.html.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/mahalia-jackson-walk-in-jerusalem-when.html for a post about that song.
"Walk In Jerusalem When I Die" might be considered a separate Spiritual from "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John". Or maybe it's just a different arrangement of the "Walk In Jerusalem" song.
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June 2, 2017- When I revisited this post on this date I realized that I had incorrectly embedded Example #2, resulting in it being a repeat of Example #5. My apologies. I've corrected that mistake.
Also, I'm not sure if "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John" is an African American Spiritual. I wonder if it is an (early?) Gospel song. If anyone has any information about this song's provenance I'd appreciate it.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF "WALK IN JERUSALEM JUST LIKE JOHN"
"Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John" begins with a chorus of three lines which are repeated & one end line. The verses for this Spiritual song are composed of a couplet that is separated by a fixed refrain. (A "couplet" is two lines whose end word rhymes or nearly rhymes).
As is the case with other Spirituals, there are no totally fixed verses, order of verses, or length for the song "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John". Here are examples of verses that are often used for this Spiritual. Many of these verses are "floaters" meaning that they are found in other songs.
In my experience of this song, the chorus is sung after two verses. That arrangement may not be fixed, but there must be some consistent arrangement throughout the entire rendition where the chorus is sung after a certain number of verses.
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AN EXAMPLE OF LYRICS TO WALK IN JERUSALEM JUST LIKE JOHN
(traditional African American Spiritual/unknown composer/s)
Chorus:
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
To walk in Jerusalem just like John
(sing chorus 2x)
Possible Verse:
I went to the valley but I didn't go to stay.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
My soul got happy, and I stayed all day.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
Possible Verse:
If you don't believe I've been redeemed.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
Just follow me down to Jordan stream.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
Chorus [1x]
I looked at my hands and they looked new.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
I looked at my feet and they did too.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
I'm so glad I'm heaven bound.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
I'm on my way to heaven and I can't turn around.
(Walk in Jerusalem just like John)
Chorus [1x]
Other possible verses: [same pattern as above]
When I get to Heaven gonna sing and shout.
Won't be nobody there to put me out. **
If you get there before I do **
Just tell my friends I'm coming, too
John said the city was just four square
And he declared he'd meet me there
Oh John oh John oh didn't you say
You'd be there on that great day
Some came crippled and some came lame
Some came walking in Jesus' name
Now brother, better mind how you step on the cross
Your feet might slip and your soul get lost
** In my experience, these two verses are usually given in this order.
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Golden Gate Quartet - Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John
CanadianFolkBlues, Published on Jul 24, 2012
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Example #2: Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John - Birmingham Jubilee Singers
Good Time Music, Published on Jun 6, 2012
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Example #3: Elder Grier "Walking in Jerusalem just like John"
1twinsma, Published on Jul 2, 2012
Mount Nebo 2012
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Example #4: Deacon Jessie Phelps "Walking In Jerusalem Just Like John"
k phelps, Uploaded on Sep 15, 2010
Pilgrim Rest Primitive Baptist Church Union Meeting Butler, GA September 2010
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Example #5: WALKING IN JERUSALEM JUST LIKE JOHN
k phelps, Uploaded on Nov 7, 2011
Mt. Ramah Primitive Baptist Association 2011 Thomaston, GA-
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Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song. Thanks also to these featured singers & thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojam.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Why in some versions is Judas referred to?
ReplyDeleteI don't know the answer to your question, Unknown, except that Judas was a disciple who had a major role.
DeleteWho is this John?
ReplyDeleteHello, Anonymous.
DeleteMy apologies for taking so long to respond to your question which I've just read.
I believe that the man named John who is mentioned in this African American song "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John" is the apostle John and not John the Baptist.
Here's information about the apostle John from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-the-Apostle#targetText=John%20was%20the%20son%20of,no%20doubt%20the%20younger%20brother:
"John was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus. In The Gospel According to Mark he is always mentioned after James and was no doubt the younger brother. His mother was among those women who ministered to the circle of disciples. James and John were called Boanerges, or “sons of thunder,” by Jesus, perhaps because of some character trait such as the zeal exemplified in Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:54, when John and James wanted to call down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritan towns that did not accept Jesus. John and his brother, together with St. Peter, formed an inner nucleus of intimate disciples. In the Fourth Gospel, ascribed by early tradition to John and known formally as The Gospel According to John, the sons of Zebedee are mentioned only once, as being at the shores of the Sea of Tiberias when the risen Lord appeared. Whether the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (who is never named) mentioned in this Gospel is to be identified with John (also not named) is not clear from the text."...
Thanks again for your question.
The verse that says "John said the city was just foursquare" suggests that it is the Apostle John. He is the one who received a divine vision of heaven and wrote the book of Revelation.
DeleteJoan Hall, thanks for confirming my guess and sharing why you reached that conclusion.
DeleteI apprecite you sharing that information on pancocojams.