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Sunday, October 4, 2015

Rev. James Cleveland & Rev. Calvin Bernard Rhones "New Jerusalem" (When The Battle Is Over) preface & lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two Reverend James Cleveland recordings of the gospelized hymn "New Jerusalem" (also known as "When The Battle Is Over".

These recordings are renditions of the Issac Watts Christian hymn "Am I A Soldier Of The Cross" (also known as "When The Battle's Over". These versions omits the verses of "Am I A Soldier Of The Cross", focusing on the chorus of that song, and adding a verse about the heaven which is referred to as "New Jerusalem".

"Gospelized hymns" is my term for Christian hymns which are sung in a Black Gospel style usually with added words.

Click http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/w/h/e/whenbatt.htm. The editor of that site indicates that the words given on that page were written by "Isaac Watts, appended to his Sermons, published 1721-24. This version adds a refrain to Watt’s original hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross. Music: English, arranged by William B. Blake, Sr. (1852-1938)"

This post includes my transcription of the preface to the version that is given as Example #1 of this post, followed by the lyrics for that version. The lyrics to the rendition given as Example #2 in this post are given in the second portion of that first transcription.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the Isaac Watts and William B. Blake, the composers of this song and thanks to Reverend James Cleveland and Reverend Calvin Bernard Rhone for their rendition of these songs. Thanks also to all others who are featured in these examples and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube, and all others who are quoted in this post.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: *Audio* New Jerusalem: Rev. James Cleveland & The Gospel Music Workshop of America

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damonemontez Uploaded on Mar 9, 2009

Rev. James Cleveland presents The Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir: Live at Madison Square Garden. Featuring Rev. Cleveland & Rev. Calvin Bernard Rhone, released in 1986.

-snip-
Lyrics: NEW JERUSALEM
(as sung by Rev. Cleveland, Rev. Rhones and choir in the recording given above)

Preface to the song given without audience interjections:

Listen to me if you will.
There are some of you all making preparations like you came here to stay forever.
And I just want to talk to you for a minute.
We didn’t come here to stay.
As a matter of fact, all the scriptures bear witness to what I’m saying
because we were told that a man that’s born of a woman- Did you read it?-
don’t have but a few days
And the Bible said those few days are full of trouble.
Hallelujah.
Shish (quieting the choir and/or audience).
I want you to go get your Bibles.
Shish, shish.
And I want you to turn it to the 21st chapter of the book of Revelations.
And I wanted somebody else to read it so you wouldn’t say I made it up.
Reverend Charles Craig* agreed to read it for me. Read it slowly.
Reverend Craig: “And I saw a new heaven.”
Reverend Cleveland: “And I saw a NEW heaven”.
Reverend Craig: “And a new earth”.
Reverend Cleveland: “And I saw a NEW earth.”
Reverend Craig: “For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away’.
Reverend Cleveland: “’Cause the first heaven and the first earth were passed away’.
Reverend Craig: “And there was no more sea”.
Reverend Cleveland: “And there was no more sea”. Read the book.
Reverend Craig: “And I, John, saw the holy city.”
Reverend Cleveland: “Amen. And I, John identified himself. And I, John saw the HOLY city.”
And what did John say the name of the holy city was?
Reverend Craig: “NEW JERUSALEM”

[Choir begins singing the chorus with soloist ad libbing in response to the choir’s words]

When the battle is over
We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
And when the battle is over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.

[Repeat the chorus several times.]

Soloist [Reverend Calvin Bernard Rhone]:
John said “I saw a city.
It was a city four square, Lord.
And in this city, Lord,
Only the righteous, the righteous will be there.

And in this holy city, Lord, Lord
They tell me the streets, they tell me the streets are paved with gold.
And in this holy city
You will never, never never never shall grow old."
Yeah, yeah, when it’s over....

[Choir begins to sing the chorus several times with the soloist ad libbing. This renditions ends with Reverend Cleveland and Rev. Bernard Rhone ad libbing while the choir sings the chorus.

**I'm not sure if this is the right name for the pastor who read the Bible verses.

Additions and corrections are welcome for this transcription.

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Example #2: [video] Rev.James Cleveland/Rev.Calvin Benard Rhone-"Jerusalem"


Garrison Bullier Uploaded on Mar 17, 2008

Rev. James Cleveland with Rev.Calvin Benard Rhone and the LA Gospel Messengers. 1990
"Jerusalem"
-snip-
The song begins at 1:44 of this video.

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