Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on the Gospel song "Lead Me To The Rock That Is Higher Than I".
Part II showcases two examples of this song entitled "Hear My Cry O Lord" by Jamaican-Canadian vocalist Marvia Providence. Biographical information about Marvia Providence, song lyrics, and selected comments from one of these example's discussion threads are also included in that post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/king-jesus-is-rock-1925-version-of.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents a version of this song entitled "King Jesus Is The Rock" from the 1925 book The Negro And His Songs edited by Howard W. Odum and Guy B. Johnson (University Of North Carolina Press).
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this early Black Gospel song and thanks to Marvia Providence and G. E. Peters, the composers of this version of that song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT MARVIA PROVIDENCE
From http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Marvia-Providence-offers-words-of-encouragement_12664540
"In 2005, gospel singer Marvia Providence took Jamaica by storm with her praise and worship hit song, Hear My Cry Oh God.
She is back with a new album titled Be Encouraged which will be released this month. According to Providence, her latest project was inspired by the times....
Born in Lionel Town, Clarendon, Providence migrated to Toronto, Canada, in her youth. In her late 30s, she says she has been a gospel performer since 1987.
Seven years ago, she released the album, Shabach, which included Hear My Cry Oh God. The song took off, influencing a dancehall spin (Yuh Too Bad Mind) by deejay Elephant Man."
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From http://www.last.fm/music/Marvia+Providence/+wiki
"Gospel vocalist Marvia Providence has done something very few Gospel artists have been able to do; she has pierced the mainstream by bringing her island rhythms and fresh sounds to the music scene...
Marvia earned her ministerial licensed as a gospel minister and found her office in the five-fold ministry as an Evangelist after pursuing a Bachelor's degree course at the Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario. She graduated in the year 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies which better equipped and assisted her in delivering the oracles of God that she whole heartedly believes God has given her for our generation.
... Marvia is a member of the Dominion Deliverance Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Colin Esseboom whom she ascribe as one her mentors.
Marvia’s musical style is heavily influenced by the warm sounds of the Caribbean to the traditional sounds of Southern Gospel. Her soulful and sometimes raspy voice has woven its way through the tapestry of gospel music, weaving a picture of hope and passion for her listeners."
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SONG LYRICS: HEAR MY CRY, OH LORD
(Songwriters: Marvia Lee Providence, G. E. Peters)
Hey!
Come on people of God.
Here we go!
Hear my cry, Oh Lord,
Attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth,
Will I cry out to Thee.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
For Thou hast been,
A shelter for me.
And a strong tower,
From the enemy.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
For Thou hast been,
A shelter for me.
And a strong tower,
From the enemy.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
Do you need to talk to the Lord!
Hear my cry, O Lord,
Attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth,
Will I cry out to Thee.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
For Thou hast been,
A shelter for me.
And a strong tower,
From the enemy.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
For Thou hast been,
A shelter for me.
And a strong tower,
From the enemy.
When my heart is overwhelmed,
Lead me to the Rock,
That is higher than I...
That is higher than I...
Source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/marvia+providence/hear+my+cry+oh+lord_21045104.html
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Marvia Providence - Hear My Cry Oh Lord
Convertedheart, Uploaded on Sep 20, 2010
Song Info:
Song: Hear My Cry Oh Lord
Artist(s): Marvia Providence
Album: Shabach International Praise & Worship Live
Year of Album Release: 2004
Record Label: Explorer Records
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalms 61:2 (KJV)
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread. These comments are given in chronological order based on their posting date by year with the old comments given first. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order. I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only.
2010
1. kennetteburgess
"Amen. Love this song."
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2. daintyvj
This song is a blessing to all, all Jamaicans in the USA and UK long this song. AMEN
-snip-
"Long" may be a typo for "love".
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2011
3. latsiomichael
"da chune ya mawd, di drummer sick! my fav P&W song
-snip-
[My standard English translation of this Jamaican Patois: That tune (song) yeah man (?), the drummer is sick [really very good], my favorite Praise & Worship song
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4. Godreignseternal
"This is real praise warfare!!! Halleluyah!!!!!!!"
-snip-
"praise warfare" = battling Satan.
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5. 0o0MyOtherHalf0o0
"I thank God for this song. I'm not jamaican or from the carribeans, but I grew up in a church that had come from Jamaica and the church was always a family towards me. I grew up singing songs like this but when i was older we moved so we went to a different church. It's funny because they sang songs country style so when I sang songs for them it was always with a calypso or reggae beat and the band would always get lost. But PRAISE GOD for Marvia Providence and this song."
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6. Bernie Jeffers
"ITS A OLD CD I HAVE IT SINCE 2003 FROM THE CARIBBEAN.IT WAS A TOP SONG.I LOVE IT VERY POWERFUL.YOU TRY TO DOWNLOAD IT BECAUSE ITS VERY ,VERY OLD SONG."
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7. Chadwick Duncan
"little youht a grow up in a kingston when mi go church dis a di song me did always get up and sing!! cuz i never knew anything else lol"
-snip-
[My Standard English "translation" of this Jamaican Patois: "As a young child I grew up in Kingston (Jamaica). When I went to church and this song was sung I always got up to sing!! Because I never knew anything else lol"
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2012
8. HenriSoNatural93
"this song is hotttt!!!!!"
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9. Inderia Arthur
"grew up listening to this song every sunday in church back home in th bahamas, LOVE THIS SONG!!!"
**
10. poohtaylor
"When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I!!! Heyyyyyyy! Sang!!"
-snip-
"Sang" = African American Vernacular English word [present tense] meaning "sing very good, especially sing soulfully very good]
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11. Fabin Daa
"Beautiful song of encouragement. God bless you Sister Marvia."
**
12. Marilyn Turnipseed
"I love this song! It is highly anointed, powerful, exciting and very uplifting if you want to get your "High Praise" on. This song is definitely a plus for the radical praisers who love to praise the Lord ."
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2013
13. Kiehista Ravn
"The First Time I Heard This Song I Fell In LOVE With It. I Went to Trinidad in 2008 and i stayed in a GUESTHOUSE/VILLA. I Had a TV in my Room and When I Turned on D tv not long after that Song Started Playing. I raised up D Volume And all Hell Broke Loose. I started Chantin & Dancin Like D People in D VIDEO/CHURCH. I Got D Holy Gost Spirit Pon Meh Dat Day, I love dat Song Ever Since. GOD IS LEADING ME TO A ROCK WHERE DER IS A HEALTHY WORLD WITH HEALTHY HUMANS/PEOPLE. God Bless Marvia Providence"
**
2014
14. RIDETHESUNSHINE
"Psalm 61:1-5
1 “Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.”
Thank You "Converted Heart" for posting this uplifting song of praise!!!
Please Be Well, and Stay Strong in The Lord..."
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15. joy robinson
"this song can never grow old because it is so true!!!"
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2015
16. Elaine Mcintosh
"Love the Jamaican gospel songs."
-snip-
"Praise & Worship songs are a form of Gospel music in which the lyrics center around praising God (Jesus).
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Example #2: Marvia Providence Hear My Cry Oh Lord Grenada 2014
Devon Wells, Published on Apr 7, 2014
SEE MORE @ www.GrenadaGospel.com
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This concludes Part II of this series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
The video given as Example #2 in this post shows a lot of people in this outdoor concert in Grenada (Caribbean) waving white handkerchiefs. The same custom occurs in parts of West Africa, and probably came to the Caribbean from West Africans at some point in time.
ReplyDeleteClick http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/11/information-about-dancing-and-waving.html for Part I of a pancocojams series about this custom. In that first post I shared my opinion that the custom of waving white handkerchiefs (which is also a New Orleans, Louisiana custom) has its roots in traditional Igbo dance/dances which feature women holding and twirling two white handkerchiefs. The custom of waving a white handkerchief was adopted for Christians worship because white is considered to be a color of purity (in traditional Igbo cultures and in Western cultures).