Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information about the African American religious song "Amen". That song is sometimes called "See The Little Baby" or "Amen, Amen, Amen".
Four lyric versions of "Amen" are featured in this post along with seven videos or sound files of "Amen" that have been posted on YouTube.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
*Lyrics for the Wings Over Jordan Choir's (1953) recording were added to this post on 12/22/2015.
Thanks to the composers and arrangers of this song. Particular thanks to Jester Hairston, the composer/arranger of the version of "Amen" that Sidney Poitier 'sung' in the movie "Lilies Of The Field" (Hairston's voice was the one we actually heard singing that song). Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
Notice that Andrae Crouch's contemporary song "Let The Church Say Amen" isn't the same song as the Spiritual/Gospel song that is showcased in this post. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/andrae-crouch-let-church-say-amen.html for a pancocojams post about that song.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS SONG "AMEN" [updated 12/22/2015]
"Amen" is sometimes categorized as an African American Spiritual, but it's possible that it could be an early Gospel song instead of a Spiritual. I categorize early Gospel songs as those which were composed in the late 19th century and, particularly, in the beginning of the 20th century.
The earliest documentation of a recording of "Amen" that I could find is by the Wings Of Jordan (Gospel group). That song was recorded in 1948, but released in 1949 (source: Mudcat folk music forum comment, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9612
Many versions of this Spiritual/Gospel song tell the story of Jesus' life from his birth to his rising on Easter. Here's information about that song from two other online sources:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_(gospel_song)
"Amen" is a traditional folk gospel song that was popularized by The Impressions.
It was recorded in June 1948 and released in January 1949 by the Wings Over Jordan Choir.[1][2]
The song was arranged by Jester Hairston, for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field (1963), which popularized the song. Curtis Mayfield said "I'd gone to see 'Lilies of The Field,' and the song in it, 'Amen,' was very inspiring for me as was the movie . . . Of course, I'd decided to do a version of it. We put it together in the studio starting off with a musical 'swing low sweet chariot', and then we fell into that particular song with somewhat of a marching rhythm."[3] The song was the first Impressions' hit that Mayfield did not write. Mayfield inserted the title of the song "Keep on Pushing", which was recorded by the Impressions, in-between the lyrics of the song.
The song went to number one on Cashbox Magazine's R&B chart for three weeks and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1964.[4] The B-side, "Long, Long Winter", peaked at #35 on the Cashbox R&B chart. A new version was released by The Impressions in 1969 under the title "Amen (1970)", reaching #44 on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January 1970."
-snip-
Italics added to highlight this sentence. This is the earliest recording date for "Amen" that I've found. Does anyone know of an earlier recording date for the song "Amen"?
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From http://www.allmusic.com/song/amen-mt0033368314
Amen: Song Review by William Ruhlmann
"The roots of "Amen" lie in a Negro spiritual, but the song first gained notice when Sidney Poitier sang it in the motion picture drama Lilies of the Field, which opened in the fall of 1963. A low-budget film about a handyman who builds a chapel for a group of nuns, Lilies of the Field was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, winning Poitier the best actor award. With that, the movie became a substantial hit, and a soundtrack album charted in the spring of 1964. "Amen," its title repeated throughout the course of a stirring melody, with brief verses relating to incidents in the Bible, was credited to Jerry Goldsmith, the composer of the film score.* But when the Impressions recorded it for their Keep on Pushing LP, released in July, with an arrangement that began with a suggestion of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Amen" was credited to John W. Pate Sr. and Curtis Mayfield of the group.*
The Impressions' recording was released as a single in October 1964, probably to take advantage of its references to the Nativity for Christmas. It topped the R&B charts and reached the Top Ten of the pop charts. Thereafter, the song was recorded frequently by religious and pop artists. A posthumously released version by Otis Redding (which credited Redding as songwriter)* placed in the pop Top 40 and the R&B Top 20 in 1968.
-snip-
*Notice the custom of assigning composer credits to people who arrange versions of African American Spirituals. The real composers of Spirituals are unknown.
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LYRICS [updated 12/22/2015
Note: I assigned numbers to these lyric versions. These numbers are given in approximation of the earliest versions, although I'm not sure when the rendition style given as #4 was first sung.
Version #1 - AMEN
(Wings Over Jordan Choir's version, 1948/1949)
Amen
[interjection] Hallelujah!
Amen
[interjection] In the Kingdom!
Amen, Amen
[interjection] Amen!
[repeat chorus above]
See the baby
Amen
Lying in a manger
Amen
On Christmas morning
Amen, Amen
See him at the temple
Preaching to the elders
I marvel at his wisdom
See him in the garden
Praying to His Father
In deepest sorrow
Amen Amen
Yes He is our Savior
Jesus died to save us
And he rose on Easter
Hallelujah!
Amen, amen
In the kingdom!
Amen, amen
With my Savior!
Amen, Amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
Amen, amen
-snip-
This is my transcription from the recording given below as Example #5. Additions and corrections are welcome.
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Version #2 - AMEN
Jester Hairston Version [1963]
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9612
Subject: Lyr Add: AMEN (Jester Hairston)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Jan 02 - 11:04 PM
Would you believe I found these lyrics in the Cardozo Law Review in an article called "Lilies of the Field: A Critique of Adjudication"?
This article from the UMass Campus Chronicle, credits the song "Amen" to black actor Jester Hairston, who also dubbed Sidney Poitier's voice in "Lilies of the Field."
AMEN
(Jester Hairston)
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Sing it over!
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
See the baby,*
Wrapped in the manger,
On Christmas morning.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
See him in the temple,
Talking with the elders,
Who marveled at his wisdom.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Down at the Jordan,
Where John was baptizing
And saving all sinners.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
See him at the seaside,
Talking with the fishermen
And making them disciples.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Marching in Jerusalem,
Over palm branches,
In pomp and splendor.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
See him in the garden,
Praying to his Father,
In deepest sorrow.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Led before Pilate,
Then they crucified him,
But he rose on Easter.
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Hallelujah!
He died to save us!
And he lived forever!**
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
A-a-a-men a-a-a-men a-a-a-men, amen, amen
Hallelujah!
He died to save us!
And he lived forever!**
-snip-
*"See the baby is also sung as "See the little baby"
** "And he lived forever" maybe a typo. The words that are sung (that fit the concept of the song) are "And he lives forever".
The words "Amen Amen" are usually sung after these verses before singing the chorus.
I reformatted these lyrics into chorus/verse form for better reading clarity.
Notice the similarities of the 1948/1949 Wings Over Jordan Choir's version of "Amen" and the 1963 Jester Hairston's version of that song. Hairston's Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester_Hairston indicates that "He also wrote the song "Amen", which he dubbed for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field (1963), and arranged traditional Negro spirituals." end of quote.
My reading of the way that sentence is worded assumes that "Amen" isn't a "Negro Spiritual" and also assumes that there were no earlier versions of the song "Amen." That is demonstrable not true.
Notice that the Wikipedia editors of that page credits Jester Hairston with composing "Amen" and also differentiates that song from songs that they refer to as "Negro Spirituals". However, it's quite possible that the 20th century arrangements of "Amen" are based on memories of a 19th century Spiritual of Spirituals. Spirituals can be arranged and sung in an African American Gospel style. That's why some articles about "Amen" refer to it as a Gospel song.
My conclusion is that Jester Hairston wrote his version of "Amen", and would be more accurately referred to as one of the arrangers of that song. It's possible that the arranger of the Wings Over Jordan Choir's version of "Amen" used an earlier version as his (or her) source. That version may have been one or more Spirituals. Jester Hairston could have been familiar with the Wings Over Jordan record. He also could have been familiar with the source or sources of that record.
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Version #3 LYRICS: AMEN
(Impressions arrangement, 1970)
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Sing it over
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
See the little baby
Wrapped in a manger on Christmas morning
Singing in a temple
Talking with the elders
Tomorrow there's wisdom
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Hallelujah
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Down at the Jordan
John was baptizing and saving all sinners
See him at the seaside
Talking with the fisherman
And made them disciples
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Keep on pushin' now
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Hallelujah now
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Source: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Taa2u4opdfcwoyufyxwlq2tt4vm?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-songlyrics&u=0#
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Version #4: AMEN
(a Gospel version -earliest date 1960s?)
Chorus:
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
[repeat one time]
Let the church say Amen
Let the church say Amen
Let the church say Amen
Amen, Amen.
(Note: Continue in this pattern) substituting other nouns such as "preacher", "deacon", "sisters", "brothers"...
For example:
Let the preachers say Amen
Let the preacher say Amen
Let the preacher say Amen
Amen Amen
Let the deacons say Amen
Let the deacons say Amen
Let the deacons say Amen
Amen Amen
-snip-
This version of "Amen" isn't a Christmas song. The song is open ended with no set order of verse. The verses can be sung more than one time. The song can begin with the chorus or can begin with a "Let the __ say" verse". The chorus can be sung in between these verse or the verses can be sung one after another. Also, this song can end with the chorus or with a verse.
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.
Example #1: Medley Mary had a baby & Amen
Canal de Granotaperezi, Uploaded on Oct 20, 2006
Christmas song Christmas in United Kingdom [play] Godspell
-snip-
"Amen" begins at .55 of this video.
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Example #2: Lilies of the Field - Amen
Beware ze Milky Pirate, Uploaded on Jul 17, 2007
This is the final scene in the film directed by Ralph Nelson. It's the scene where Homer Smith, played by Sidney Poitier leaves Mother Maria, played by Lilia Skala after building them a chapel. After taking one last look at the chapel he built, Smith, knowing that his work is done, slips into his car and drives quietly off into the night.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
Eric Ogren, 2013
"Few people know that Sidney Poitier did not sing this song. It was dubbed by Jester Hairston, who my mother met when she was in her high school choir and I saw at South Eugene High School when I was a kid.
**
Melanie Young, 2014
"Wonderful song written by an amazing composer, Jester Hairston. Those of us old enough to remember the TV show AMEN with Sherman Hemsley may remember Jester Hairston as the Rolly. He also wrote "Mary's Boy Child"."
**
Erik Lindquist, 2014
"he didn't write it...he arranged it. I knew Jester in 1972 and had a wonderful summer learning his world. Great great man who saw things in hollywood that would make us shudder today."
**
Erik Lindquist, 2014
"the voice you hear is that of Jester Hairston...the arranger of this spiritual and very cool dude! Sidney Poitier was cool with it, too."
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Example #3: "Amen" - Gospel Christmas
Adam L. McKnight, Uploaded on Dec 22, 2007
Adam McKnight is featured soloist for the finale of one of Atlanta's favorite holiday classic events with The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra called "Gospel Christmas". This particular performance was the 25th anniversary of the ASO and featured special guest "The Pointer Sisters"
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Example #4: Jester Hairston i Odense - Amen
Jytte Drud, Uploaded on Sep 12, 2008
Fra en koncert i Odense d. 28. april 1981
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Example #5: Wings Over Jordan Choir - Amen, Amen, Amen (1953)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE6mVmtwaTQ&index=1&list=RDBE6mVmtwaTQ
[embedding disabled by request]
direfranchement, Uploaded on May 28, 2010
The old spirituals are always the best. Amen.
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Example #6: Wintley Phipps - Amen (Live)
TheSevenBright, Uploaded on Oct 7, 2011
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Example #7: The Impressions "Amen"
Willie Ellebie, Published on Nov 20, 2013
-snip-
Selected comment:
willieluncheonette, 2014
"As we've seen in our survey, the Impressions were the Wailers' biggest influence. Coxsone Dodd used to play their singles for Bob, Peter and Bunny and wanted them to pattern their harmony singing after Curtis and the boys. This 7" single rose to # 7 on the U.S. charts in 1964. It's probably the version the Wailers heard, although a comment below states the original comes from the film Lilies of the Field. The Impressions singles around this time exist in both mono and stereo. This one's stereo."
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