Three YouTube Videos Of African Americans Singing Dr. Watt's 1719 Hymn "I Love The Lord. He Heard My Cry" In Lining Out Style

Leo Davis, Dec 27, 2020

Performer: Pastor Darryl Pettis

Blvd. Vocal Ensemble

Site: Original Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

 978 Mississippi Boulevard [Memphis, Tennessee]

Dr. Watts [type of hymn]
-snip-
The people singing are seated far apart from each other because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Dr. Watts hymns and showcases African American churches singing the hymn "I Love The Lord".

This post also presents lyrics for a rendition of this hymn.

The Addendum of this post showcases a contemporary (non-lining out) rendition of this song that was sung by Whitney Houston in the movie "The Preacher's Wife". 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners. 
Thanks to Dr. Isaac Watts for his musical legacy and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT ISAAC WATTS
From https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts
"Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English pastor, preacher, poet, and hymn writer. He is often called the "Father of English Hymnody": he was the first popular English hymn writer. Because of his short height and large head, in all his portraits Isaac Watts wore a large gown.[1] He wrote about 600 hymns including When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, and Joy to the World.[2] He is buried today in Bun­hill Fields Cem­etary, Lon­don, Eng­land.[2]"...

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INFORMATION ABOUT DR. WATTS' HYMN "I LOVE THE LORD HE HEARD MY CRY"
From https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/i-love-the-lord-he-heard-my-cries "Psalm 116 I love the Lord, he heard my cries" with HARINGTON SMALLWOOD
"I. Text: Origins

English pastor and writer Isaac Watts (1674–1748) had an important vision for how to improve the condition of psalmody in English churches. He believed the Hebrew Psalms were best suited for corporate worship when they could be updated to include intertestamental theology, expressed through the lens of the Christian gospel, thus his collection was called Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719 | Fig. 1). Many of these creative re-interpretations remain in circulation 300 years later, including My shepherd will supply my need (Psalm 23), Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (Psalm 72), Our God, our help in ages past (Psalm 90), and Joy to the world; the Lord is come (Psalm 98). Whereas these other texts have long traditions with historic church tunes, his rendition of Psalm 116, “I love the Lord, he heard my cries” has had its own special journey, preserved and then reinvigorated within the African American community.

[...]
The hymns of Watts and the practice of lining out a Psalm carried over into the American colonies, and they were likewise taught to American slaves. An example of this conveyance of Watts to slaves was described in a letter from Samuel Davies (1723–1761) to John Wesley, July 1755:

They have generally very little help to read, and yet to my agreeable surprize, sundry of them, by dint of application, in their very few leisure hours, have made such a progress that they are able to read their Bible, or a plain author, very intelligibly. But few of their masters will be at the expense of furnishing them with books. I have supplied them to the utmost of my ability. They are exceedingly delighted with Watts’s songs. And I cannot but observe that the Negroes, above all of the human species I ever knew, have the nicest ear for music. They have a kind of ecstatic delight in psalmody. Nor are there any books they so soon learn, or take so much pleasure in, as those used in that heavenly part of Divine Worship.[1]

Shortly after the Civil War, one writer described what he felt was a typical evening service for a group of black worshipers in his area:

For some time, one can hear, though at a good distance, the vociferous exhortation or prayer of the presiding elder, or of the brother who has a gift that way, . . . and at regular intervals one hears the elder “deaconing” a hymn-book hymn, which is sung two lines at a time, and whose wailing cadences, borne on the night air, are indescribably melancholy.[2]

White churches gradually shifted away from lining out psalms and hymns. Among the last practitioners in the U.S. are the Old Regular and Primitive Baptists. In England, Charles Spurgeon was one of the last major advocates for lining out hymns.[3] Among blacks in the U.S., the practice has had greater retention as one of a few characteristic styles in the oral tradition, together with spirituals, and starting in the early 20th century, a wide array of blues-based gospel songs. In the black tradition, the lined-out hymns were not just an imitation of what they had learned from their oppressors, they took on new qualities as their singers took ownership of the style. The hymns do not follow a strict repeat-after-me, call-and-response formula, rather, the leader will offer a phrase as a prompt, then the group will respond in a loosely constructed, individually embellished melodic and cadential formula, where no two people are singing exactly the same thing, but the music ebbs and flows in a communal direction (a form of heterophony).

In churches where this is practiced, the congregation will have a very limited subset of lined-out hymns. Not all of these hymns use texts by Isaac Watts, and yet, somewhat ironically, in spite of Watts’s own distaste for the practice, black church communities have referred to the genre as “Dr. Watts” singing. Musicologist William T. Dargan described how this happened:

Though the Reverend Isaac Watts was not the first to compose or publish hymns, as opposed to the psalm paraphrases of the Calvinist tradition that followed the English Reformation, his published collections achieved unprecedented popularity in England and the American colonies, and this currency continued throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Therefore, slaves who learned hymns by various authors through the lining-out form apparently came to associate the entire tradition with the name and honorific title “Dr. Watts.”[4]

B. I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry

One particular lined-out hymn from the common repertoire, widely known and performed in this style, is “I love the Lord, he heard my cry.” Dargan explained its early significance in the life of the slave community and its influence on future generations:

In reaching out toward God, slaves received a voice of their own, a sound of crying and laughing, a musical language that codified the developing blend of Standard English and the black vernacular termed “Spoken Soul” by Rickford and Rickford (2000). Therefore, in the Watts paraphrase of Psalm 116, “I love the Lord, he heard my cries,” we can hear the believer’s gratitude not only that the Lord heard the cries but that there was an effective means of crying out. Through Dr. Watts, the ambient cries, calls, and hollers, which reflect the most direct of African musical transfers to American soil, were fashioned into a new form as the slaves and later freedpersons learned the verses of Watts and Wesley. During the nineteenth century, this new voice of weeping and wailing, the “moaning” sound, became a fixed pattern and a reference for still other African American musical styles.[5] "... -snip- Click https://hymnary.org/text/i_love_the_lord_he_heard_my_cries_and_pi for the original lyrics for Dr. Watt's hymn "I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry". These aren't the same lyrics that were sung in the 20th century and are sung now in the 21st century by African Americans.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS

VIDEO #1
This video is found at the top of this post.

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VIDEO #2 - I Love The Lord. He Heard My Cry

Stamps Media, Mar 2, 2011

Rev. Alphonso Bowens performs the classic call & response song, " I Love The Lord He Heard My Cry" filmed and recorded live in Greensboro, Alabama

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VIDEO #3 - Pastor T.L. James sings "Dr. Watts" [I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry]

Uploaded by chj333 on May 3, 2009

Pastor T.L. James sings "Dr. Watts" in 1989 in Memphis, TN.

-snip-

Here's a viewer comment that contains the words to this version of this hymn:
chj333, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Oh1eAJi8z4
"Call: I love the Lord He heard my cry.

Response: I-I love the Lord He heard my cry.

Call: And pitied every groan.

Response: A-n-d pitied e-v-e-r-y groan.

Call: Long as I live while trouble rise.

Response: L-o-n-g as I-I live while trouble rise.

Call: I'll hasten to His throne.

Response: I'll ha-asten to-o-o His throne.

Call: I-I love the Lord He bowed His head.

Response: I-I love the Lord He bowed His head.

Call: And chased my grief away.

Response: A-n-d chased my grief away."
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3up6Sr65U for a contemporary version of this hymn as sung by Whitney Houston & The Georgia Mass Choir.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoxm1Fpa9ck for a contemporary version of this hymn as sung by Whitney Houston in the movie "The Preacher's Wife".

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ADDENDUM - A NON- LINING OUT RENDITION OF " I LOVE THE LORD HE HEARD MY CRY" 

Whitney Houston - I Love The Lord (The Preacher's Wife)

Revolution POP, January 6, 2021
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Preacher%27s_Wife
" "The Preacher's Wife" is a 1996 American Christmas fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Penny Marshall and starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston (in her last film released during her lifetime), and Courtney B. Vance. It is a remake of the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife,[2] which in turn was based on the 1928 novel of the same name by Robert Nathan."...

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Visitor comments are welcome.  

"I Got Shoes" sung in the Dr. Watts (long meter) style by Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church (South Carolina)

Hymn Choir Channel, Jul 24, 2014

Recorded by KB in March 2001 at Hymn Choir Anniversary of Mt Do-Well Missionary Baptist Church, McConnells, SC. Performing Choir is Hymn Choir from Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC **** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post provides information about long meter ("Dr. Watts hymns") and showcases Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church, Rock Hill, South Carolina singing "I Got Shoes".

The lyrics for this version of "I Got Shoes" is included in this song along with some other comments from the discussion thread of this embedded video.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who keep the tradition of Dr. Watts hymn singing alive. Thanks also to pancocojams visitor Joanne Karn whose e-mail inspired me to publish this post. A reprint of that email is given in the comment section of this post (with the prior permission of that email's writer.)  -snip- Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-got-shoes-walk-all-over-gods-heaven.html for the Oct. 2013 pancocojams post "I Got Shoes (Walk All Over God's Heaven) lyrics, examples, comments". 

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ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT DR. WATTS SINGING From https://arts.ms.gov/folklife/artist.php?dirname=watts_doctor Dr. Watts Singers
Worship Music, Meridian, Red Clay Hills
Mississippi Arts Commission, 2013 "Every Wednesday evening, the members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Meridian begin their prayer meeting with a long-standing musical tradition. The group sings a series of long meter or “Dr. Watts” hymns. The hymns are sung in a slow, ornamental style, with each line being “lined out” (chanted in a quick, rhythmic manner) by one of the singers before it is sung together by the congregation. The singing goes on for approximately thirty minutes until the preacher begins with the evening lesson.

The tradition gets its name from Isaac Watts, an early 19th century English composer, although the texts the singers use come from a variety of hymnbooks and other sources, not just from those written by Watts. These books provide only the texts for the hymns, they do not include musical notation. The tunes used by the singers have been passed down from generation to generation within the African-American community. Because of this, each church that sings the hymns develops their own distinct way of singing them. Mary Perry, a member of St. John, related that when visiting another church, Dr. Watts singers have to listen carefully to how the hymns are “lined out,” since each church does it in a slightly different manner.

While singing Dr. Watts hymns was a crucial part of services in many African-American churches throughout the south in the past, newer forms of church music, like gospel, gradually replaced it during the 20th century. The congregation of St. John has been attentive to these changes and utilizes the newer styles of music in its worship. However, they also remain committed to continuing to sing the Dr. Watts hymns in their services and to pass on the tradition to younger members of the congregation."...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF THIS EMBEDDED VIDEO
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. shedrick brown, 2014
"This is what i was raised up on and iam only 39yrs old and I love it........    I pray we can bring this kind of singing back to the lowcountry it really makes a service for me!!!    Keep on singing for Jesus saints of God.."

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2. Jerrell Glover, 2014
"Oh yes sir now that what you call singing hymns I love it"

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lisa wright, 2014
"where are these churches located and when is the next hymn choir anniversary I want to be there"

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Reply
Mrs. Oluyede, 2014
"Almost any Baptist church in the Carolina's still pretty much sing hymn. I'm in Charlotte NC and there are plenty...."

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TheBmont, 2014
"Wonderful!  I always enjoyed to go to church in NC & SC to hear this! Oh yes indeed!"

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Jassey Jeff, 2015
"Sounds like  Buncombe Baptist Church  in Tyro nc  Amazing"

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Mz. Punkin, 2015
"yes Lord, sang that old hymn!!!"
-snip-
The word "sang" in this comment  is a present tense African American Vernacular English word that means "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well."

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robert scott, 2015
"The last lady leading was rocking!!! She tore it up!"

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Reply
Yvonne Russ Bell, 2015
"Yes, she did.    I found myself going just that part, even though it's all perfectly wonderful!"

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Reply
Natisha Carn, 2019
"My grandmother...Mrs. Willie Francis Boger...a singing soul!"

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K J, 2016
"Good god from Zion!! I'm in Miami and have never seen this!. I've got to make my way to the carolinas, now I can feel the togetherness in the people through the holy spirit"

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Reply
The Wilder Experience, 2016
"I remember growing up in Miami and hearing songs like this when greater new bethal baptist church use to be in the bottom back in the 70's"

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Reply
Patricia Alston, 2019
"We do the same type of singing in Baltimore Maryland and its call vocal and you might hear a drum beat every now and then."

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Reply
Cinderyella Thomas, 2019
"Morning Star Baptist is my home church in Miami but now I'm in SC and I'm definetly looking to visit this church!"

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NativeLeo3, 2016
"What are the words they are singing to this song?"

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Reply
Stephen Dixon, 2016
"The choir leader, which is my cousin is saying "I got shoes and you got shoes all of God's children got shoes when I get to heaven I'm going to try on my shoes and shout all over God's heaven. Then they go on to say the same about a robe and a crown."

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Reply
resah9, 2016
"I got shoes, you got shoes, all God's children got shoes. When I get to heaven, gonna put on my shoes, gonna shout all over God's heaven.

I got a robe... I got a mother... I got a savior... I got a song...." ** Lorenzo Moore, 2017 "Do they meet up just to sing songs?" ** Reply Smoota Toota, 2019 "On This Day It Was A Hymn Choir Anniversary" ** Chad Hudson, 2021 "It definitely is a Piedmont African American type song.

South Carolina African Americans in particular always tend to start songs with the upbeat, when most other places use the downbeat. Funny how the downbeat is “African American” but use of the upbeat is “African” " -snip- "Piedmont" here may refer to Piedmont, South Carolina which is located in the Northwest South Carolina near North Carolina border, 75 miles southwest of Charlotte, NC" https://www.bestplaces.net/city/south-carolina/piedmont
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Visitor commetns are welcome.

Three Old School Gospel Videos (with selected comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases three African American Gospel videos and one African American/Canadian Gospel video and provides a sample of viewer comments from those videos about "old school" ("classic") Black Gospel.

I didn't attempt to summarize how these commenters described old school Gospel music and worship services. I'll leave it to readers to make their summaries from these selected comments, from other video comments, and other sources, including their personal experiences. Your contributions to such a summary are welcome in the comment section of this post.

This post is part of a continuing pancocojams series on the term "old school" (also writen as "old skool"). Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/02/what-old-school-really-means-how-it-got.html for a post on "What Old School REALLY Means & How It Got Those Meanings."

Other posts in this series will showcases songs that predate the contemporary (1990s to date) colloquial meaning of "old school" such as the 19th century religious song "Give Me That Old Time Religion" and the 1960s Rhythm and Blues song "Those Oldies But Goodies". Other posts in this series will showcase the 1994 Hip Hop song "Old School" by Aaliyah, the use of "old school" and comparable terms in African American Gospel music, in R&B music, and the use of "old school" in Caribbean Dancehall music. Those posts will be published ASAP and will be found by clicking the "old school music" tab that is found below.

In addition, a post on the related slang word "throwback" will also be published ASAP. That post will be found by clicking the throwback tab that is found below.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers, arrangers, and people singing these songs. 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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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in no particular order. With the exception of responses, the comments from those videos' viewer comment thread are presented in chronological order based on the year that they were posted in that discussion thread. These comments are numbered for referencing purposes only, and may not be in consecutive order.

Example #1: "Old Time Church" - The Mississippi Mass Choir [Song: I Love The Lord He Heard My Cry"]



malacomg Uploaded on Oct 29, 2010
The Mississippi Mass Choir - "Old Time Church" available at www.malaco.com or by calling 1-800-272-7936.
-snip-
Selected comments from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRTggpaBR6o

2011
1. John Palmer
"this viv brings bak alot of memory. i come up in one of those country church. and this take me back to my roots.bless u all"
-snip-
"viv" is probably a typo for "video"

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2. rmbb10
"Love it; nuthin; like dat ole' skool. This git ya right on thru; down home kuntry stuff."

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3. serpentinecreature3 years ago
I grew up in this type of church. So good for the soul.Thank you.

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4. Zazzii Fly
"this is so wonderfully moving to the soul, I love this."

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2012
5. ReverendBrotherKing
"This is an old meter hymn called "I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry". The reason the title of this video says "Old Time Church" is because this hymn used to be sung in African American churches "back in the old days". There are quite a few old time meter hymns on YouTube. And by the way, the Mississippi Mass Choir sung the hymn in it's entirety. It can be sung longer or shorter depending on how many times the verses are repeated."

**
6. OrijenoSin, 2013 [reply/related comment]
"Title of song: "I Love The Lord" by: Phillip Carter There are 3 chorus to this song. The chorus sang above is chorus 1. Chorus 1 : "I love the Lord (I love the Lord), He heard my cry (He heard my cry) And pitied every groan Long as I live (Long as I live) And troubles rise (And troubles rise) I'll hasten to His Throne." You can search for the entire lyrics online. Best wishes."

**
2012
7. greatner1
"I am in the Primitive Baptist Church, and we still have church like this. This deacon in the church sings "Travelin Shoes", and it is really something to hear and rejoice by. I am used to this kind of church. Those old hymns are so soul touching. I'm so glad I have this privilege."

**
2013
8. j lo
"Real church music I miss this"

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9. Tiara Banks
"I'm from Louisiana and they still do this at my church especially when someone is praying! I live in Beaumont, Texas so its hard to find a church here that reminds me of my home church.:

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10. kkpsi04
"That's Devotion.....and while the choir is singing, the deacon would be on one knee praying...."

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2014
11. Keywanis Johnson
"You should be able to feel this in your spirit and feel your spirit react to this song."

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12. G. Marie Tatum
"How many remember singing these meters at church? We did in New Orleans. Little Zion BC, 1st Zion BC, James Chapel BC..."

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13. Charity Dell
"I Love this old-style-going-back-to-slavery-times CHANTING--a beautiful, soul-filled way
of praying out of the depths of one's spirit...praise God for giving us these melodies and a way to reach him when we go through trials and tribulations..."

2015
14. DOLORES J MITCHELL
"HOW MANY REMEMBER OLD TIME CHURCH, WHEN YOU LEFT YOU KNEW HAD BEEN TO CHURCH---BE BLESSED WITH THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE IN SONG. LOVE YALL"

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Example #2: "Sunday Morning Medley" - Georgia Mass Choir



malacomg, Uploaded on Nov 2, 2010

Georgia Mass Choir Old Time Religion

Georgia Mass Choir - "Sunday Morning Medley" available at www.malaco.com or by calling 1-800-272-7936.
-snip-
Lead singer's preface to the medley:
..."When you go to church today, hardly can you find people singing Gospel songs. Anybody like them old time songs like we used to sing on Sunday mornin'?. I wanna here you say "Sunday mornin'" (choir and audience says - "Sunday Morning"). Sunday mornin' (Sunday mornin') Sunday mornin' (Sunday mornin'). We gonna take you to Sunday mornin'. Listen"...
-snip-
Selected comments from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtKecd_JFx0

[Read my notes above about how these comments are presented.]

2011
1. SuperRpotter
"Loved it. Can't beat those old songs!!!"

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2. Melvina Robinson
"Thats that southern gospel sound from :01-:22 i love it! My favorite part is the end with LaShun Pace. i got this on DVD, but i got to find it!"

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2012
3. Charity Dell
"Love the polyrhythmic clapping..."Clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph!" Psalm 47"

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4. James B
"i just love the double and tripple claps...."

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2013

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2014
5. Chris I.
"Old school gospel at its best. Wish choirs still sang like that."

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6. Glyn Wood
"I am watching this Sunday Morning church crowd and I see old, young, in-betweens really taking this music to heart. Why can't we all watch this and know that ol' skool is wonderful for all ages. Churches can learn a lot by watching this wonderful video"

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7. EILEEN MILLER
"What memories of growing up in church with these songs!"

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8. Ruth Sudler
"I love these songs and this is what you call good old fashion gospel music."

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9. Emily Bolton
"Love tbe old time gospel. Its good for tbe soul."

**
2015
10. Ezra Carter
"That is what we call having church. Old school devotional service."

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11. Taylar Nelson
"Lol love how the old school music all flowed together. The melody barely changed that shows you PRAISE to whatever melody is given."

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Example #3: Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus



pannellctp, Uploaded on Nov 18, 2010

Rev. James Cleveland Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus on the Gospel album
-snip-
Rev. Cleveland's introduction to the song
"I went to a little sanctified church one night. And they sang a little song. And I wanna sing it for you tonight. That little song stayed on my mind. And the words of the little song that I heard the saints singin they said "Can't nobody. Can't nooo... Cani't nobody do me like Jesus.

I wonder if I could get ya to do me a favor for a minute. I wonder if I could getcha to put your pocketbooks down. Make sure you got your money now. Don't never shout without your money. "Cause everybody around you is not saved you know.

I love the sanctified church cause the saints don't mind clapping their hands. They don't mind pattin their feet. They don't mind DANCIN'. Hallelujah.

I want you to come on in the balcony and out here on the main floor, put your hands together. Let's praise God for a minute. Come on!"
-snip-
Selected comments from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBK9np69W3A

[Read my notes above about how these comments are presented.]

2010
1. lovrofgoodmusic
"I LOVE DIS VIDEO!! THANK U 4 REPOSTING THIS BACK ON DA UTUBE!!! THAT WAS SUM GOOD OL' FASHION SANCTIFIED CHURCH!!! MUSICIANS ANNOINTED AS WELL!! I WISH CHURCH WAS STILL LIKE THAT!! WE MISS U REV. CLEVELAND REST-IN-PEACE!! (richmond,va)"

**
2. ss6384140
"I would hate to hear these new artist remake this song. I would hate to hear Tye Tribbett, Kirk franklin and others do this song b/c the musicianship would totally butcher this song. With the singers tryin to be cute and the musicans trying to out play one another. Musicians and singers like this wasnt tryin to be cute but anointed!! I miss the old skool music like this. Thank Rev. Cleveland & others I truly miss yall!!"

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3. Vonsha Brown
"This is the late Rev Cleveland at his best.Say what you will or may and I'm a 41 year old COGIC kid in Georgia when I think of "Gospel Music" in its "Classic" form I'm old enough to recall Mattie Moss Clark,Rev James Cleveland,Isaac Douglass and I could go on.No electric sliding on stage no over the top theatrics just giving praise to God in the "Beauty of Holiness" I love my singers of today but this is Church and then some."

**
4. pannellctp
"...The modern day gospel has no feeling just a lot of jumping around and making noise."

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5. Akeem Adams
in reply to pannellctp
"@pannellctp Amen and Amen. I wish it would go back to the way it used to be. Back to Mahalia, Rosetta, Shirley, Albertina, Inez, James, Thomas A. Dorsey. You'll know the greats."

**
2011
6. nett1eb
"...I grew up in a Pentacostal BAPTIST church! We had service like this almost eeerrrrrrr Sunday!!! We tore it up for the LORD! My Pastor was truly a word preaching Pastor filled with the Holy Spirit. God rest his soul. Like James Cleveland, we welcomed all at our church, no denominations segregation. Just those who believed in and Praised the true and living God!! and that was back in the day. I don't know WHAT has become of today's church. Pray!"

**
7. Tammy112359
"Oh my GOD I simply love it this is the kinda Holy ghost music that use to get me through some tough times in my younger years and now that Iam older and finally got a computer and youtube upload and can find alot of the back in the day gospel I use to listen, get my praise on like crazy and stomp on that devil on a constant in Jesus name amen!!!"

**
8. Strick Strickland
"This is the soul-wrenching gospe you don't hear anymore. The kind to bring you closer to God."

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9. Ladykeys07
"I used to watch this vhs tape with my granny when I was younger, and I loved the drummer. The Spirit hit him and he didn't want to stop playing. I loved it. A good drummer always have a extra pair of sticks!!!!!"

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10. nett1eb
"OMGooodness!!!! I sooooo MISS Havin church like this!!!!! Yes, this is the way you HAVE CHURCH!!!!!!! Til the musicians and eeeerrrrrrbody was full of the Holy Ghost/Spirit!!!!! Yes Lord, Yes Lord!!!! Anointed singing, music, and clapping!! You gotta KNOW how to CLAP Saints!!!!! It's all holyghost-filled! You can feel it ALLL OVER YOU!! We miss the great Gospel Legends that allowed the holyspirit and the anointing to have His Way. God bless the posting of this powerful song and the Man of God"

**
2012
11. Klyons60
"im 15 years old and this is that ole time churcha yes i had to get up and shout wooohooo"

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2013
12. MegaBlackisBeautiful
"what happend to gospel like this"

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13. Gabriel Edwards
"I'm 16 years old and I have never been to a church that can get down like this. I guess because too many of em' play church nowadays. I can't stop dancing in my chair the music is so good. We need more people who can get down like this! New school music just ain't getting like this is! And the CHURCH!"

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14. brenda williams
in reply to Gabriel Edwards
"I admire you for being 16 yrs old and saying the new school music just not it! You are so right. See i am old school and my pastor was my uncle so i practically LIVED at church, and boy we sang all these kind of songs. But believe me we have some churches out their still praising God like the old school ones! I am in one still like this , i pray that God leads you to one in your city thats praising God just like this too! They are out there you just have to find it sweetie, be blessed!"

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15. TheFabiluvshion
"They was gettin it In Amen!!! I miss a tambourine in my hand and ole school church and music like this where the Holy Spirit takeover smh!!!"

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16. MegaBlackisBeautiful
"thats right gospel is definitely not what it should be its like they gone Hollywood now its time to stop entertaining and start ministering to the souls"

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17. MrDjDaredevil
in reply to MegaBlackisBeautiful
"IT DISAPPEARED NOW CATS JUST RAP AND SING R&B, AND BRAKE DANCE IN THE CHURCH THAT MESS DOES NOT BELONG IN A CHURCH ENVIRONMENT. THIS VIDEO IS REAL GOSPEL MUSIC.IT IS A SHAME THAT REAL GOSPEL MUSIC HAVE FADED AWAY.THIS IS WHY I TELL PEOPLE TO HOLD ON TO THEIR CLASSIC GOSPEL RECORDINGS BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT HEAR THE CLASSICS EVEN ON GOSPEL RADIO NO MORE.UN LESS THEIR GOSPEL RADIO STATION STILL HAVE IT AVAILABLE."

**
18. Don Sparks
"There is no question that the HOLY GHOST IS REAL! this video was made in the 70's but my spirit rejoices and praise God like I was at that concert or should I say I felt like I was in Church listening to this song. The Spirit of God is real...!!!"

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19. psalm124
in reply to Don Sparks
"Well said .... no matter how old the song it, it can still touch you! Jesus the same yesterday, today and forevermore!"

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20. Diamond Thomas
"got this on tape :) its a movie called the gospel"
-snip-
This concert was filmed in 1982.

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21. Kenneth Smith
"If any of you get a chance purchase or watch this entire concert DVD. One of the greatest Gospel music concert videos ever. Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Clark Sisters, & The Hawkins Family (while still singing together). Man I can't help but praise God when I watch it. Gospel music has become too commercialized now. Like the days when in these concerts we see yokes being broken rejoicing in the Lord, not worried about how our hair or clothing looks"

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22. Kaprice Parker
"Why can't my generation gospel artist make a song like this every now and then. I love old school gospel.."

**
23. Phyllis Whitfield
in reply to ShayROsie
"I know thats right - nowadays its so contemporary that there's no testimonial praise in the house b/c its all about entertainment. Don't get me wrong I like some of the songs today and they're good in their place - but these types of songs get you to a place of praise that makes you forget about everything and everybody b/c you thinking about Him and what's He's done. "CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE JESUS!""

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2014
24. Artemis Raven
"I miss those sanctified churches. I came from one and we used to really get down. My old church was like this. The spirit used to show up when ever this song was sung. Memories of my grandmother."

**
25. the1realesther
"Never seen anything like this! Gone are the days when musicians play in the Holy Ghost. Much talent but not anointing."

**
26. caleene100
"STUMPING MY FEET, CLAPPING MY HANDS, SHAKING MY HEAD, DANCING AROUND.............LOVE ITTTTTTTTT. I REALLY FEEL OLD, REMEMBER THIS SONG FR BACK IN THE DAYS, WHEN CHURCH WAS JUST A TENT IN THE FIELD....HOW FAR WE'VE COME. THANK YOU FATHER"

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27. Shanelle Gillis
"My church is still a spirit filled Holy Ghost tongue talking shouting and foot stomping church, and we sing these old songs all the time! it's the only ones we sing! Thank you Jesus for Apostolic Pentecostal churches still like ours!!! God Bless!!!"

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28. Chris I.
"Love me some songs sang by the great "James Cleveland. That's what old school gospel was about back in the day. Wish church was like that nowadays."

**
29. James Rae
"I still feel the power of this worship concert all these years later, The power of The Holy Ghost, Thank you Our Lord Jesus Christ for our people then and now Amen"

**
30. vic stoc
"Thank you so much for posting this vid is a great blessing
The Holy Ghost Took Over the song and the anointing came down."

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31. christina valadez
"OH MY GOD.!!! THIS IS AWESOME,, THE DRUMMER IS AWESOME..!!!!!"

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32. Shamar Chang
"this is what you call playing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost

33. Andrew Davis1
"Certainly that new style contemporary gospel music will NEVER be able to compete with this old time style of music. They just don't have it.. So please step back!."

**
2015
33. Robert Hill
"Classic one,Brings back so much memories,remember when I use to whip my mothers bed like I was playing the drums"

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34. Cynthia Abrams
...old SCHOOL is the best from the 1960's...we have morals and values...and we r covered by GODS shield!!!!"

**
35. Blanche Barajas
"I grew up in an Apostolic Church like this, I moved to the state of Washington and even though I have found an Apostolic church, it is not like what I grew up with at all. I want my children to experience what I did. Please can anyone tell me where a church in the Tri-Cities, WA area like this is at. I love me my ol' time songs and praises." 

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Visitor comments are welcome.

"Weeping May Endure For a Night, But Joy Comes in the Morning" (Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post features five examples of the Gospel song "Weeping May Endure For a Night, But Joy Comes in the Morning"(also known as "Joy".)

The basic lyrics to this song are also included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.


FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: James Cleveland and the Southern CA Choir - Weeping May Endure (Vinyl 1968)



williamkinggospel, Uploaded on Oct 7, 2011

James Cleveland and the Southern CA Choir
Weeping May Endure
©1968 Savoy Records
-snip-
LYRICS: WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING (also known as "JOY")
(as sung by Rev. James Cleveland & Southern California Choir)

Lead singer:
Behind every dark cloud
there’s ah silver lining
and after each rain storm
there’s a brand new dawn

Second Lead:
When trouble greet you
and your friends deceive you
don’t you worry
it will all pass over,
it will pass over with the morning.

Remember

Chorus:
Weeping may endure for the night
but joy will come in the morning
Weeping may endure for the night
But joy will come in the morning

Lead singer & Choir
Joy
Joy Joy
um hum
Joy
Joy
um hum

Remember

Choir:
Weeping may endure for the night
but joy will come in the morning
Weeping may endure for the night
But joy will come in the morning
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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Example #2: Joy, (Weeping May Endure For a Night, But Joy Comes in the Morning) by Mississippi Mass Choir.wmv



chosen12020, Uploaded on Jan 12, 2012

Weeping may endure for a night, but *joy* comes in the morning:)♥♥♥♥♥♥
-Psalm 30:5.
-snip-
BASIC LYRICS: WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING (also known as "JOY")
(as sung by the Mississippi Mass Choir

Chorus:
Weeping may endure for a night
But joy is gonna come in the morning.

{repeat several times}

First verse:
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I am found
was blind but now I see

Chorus:
Weeping may endure for a night
but joy comes in the morning

Verse #2
I came to Jesus just as I was
Weary worn and sad
I found in Him
a resting place
Ad He has made me glad.

Weeping may endure for a night
but joy comes in the morning

[repeat several times and elaborate]
-snip-
transcription of the basic lyrics to this song by Azizi Powell. Additions & corrections are welcome.

The line "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning" are from the Old Testament (Psalm 30:5). The verse which begins "Amazing Grace" is from the religious song with that title. The verse which begins with "I came to Jesus" is from the religious song "I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say".

I'm not sure if the Mississippi Mass choir was the first choir that combined those Bible verses with the "weeping my endure for the night" song lyrics.

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Example #3: SOUL CHILDREN JOY Weeping May Endure



reesamae, uploaded on Feb 19, 2010

Soul Children singing JOY - Weeping May Endure for a Night (Chicago)

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Example #4: Weeping May Endure For A Night



mtoliveoysterbay, Uploaded on Jun 14, 2010

5/30/10 Male Chorus "Weeping May Endure For A Night"
-snip-
This rendition reminds me of the way that congregations sing Dr. Watts hymns.

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Example #5: Lolita Floyd Amos - Weeping May Endure For A Night



Apostolicreturns, Uploaded on Mar 28, 2010

My Daughter Lolita with a vamp on the end of My First Born @ my appreciation Service in Jesup
-snip-
Here are the basic lyrics to this version of that song:

Weeping may endure
But joy comes in the morning

[repeat]

If you live right
if you pray right
you will die right
and you will live again

Weeping may endure
But joy comes in the morning

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
My thanks to the composer of this Gospel song, and to the performers of this song who are featured in this post. Thanks also to the uploaders of these examples.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Old Time Hand Clapping & Foot Stomping In African American Religious Singing

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases seven selected videos/sound files of various hand clapping and foot stomping styles that have been performed by African Americans as accompaniment for religious singing.

Many of these featured videos are of "Dr. Watts" songs. My sense is that that singing style is less frequently found in African American churches since the mid 20th century.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the singers, musicians, and videographers of these featured videos. Thanks also to the uploaders of these videos.

FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Go Down Moses - Mt Do Well




Hymn Choir Channel, Uploaded on Aug 8, 2009

Recorded by RAM and KB in March 2001 at Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC. Go to www.hymnchoir.org
-snip-
This way of singing hymns are called "Dr.Watts" , named after the 18th century composer of English hymns, "Dr Isaac Watts. These songs are also called "long meter", the "Old One Hundreds" , and "surge singing".

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Example #2: Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC -"He Set Me Free"



Uploaded by Hymnchoir on May 3, 2007

Recorded by RAM in 1991 at Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC www.hymnchoir.org

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Video #3: Mt Calvary Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina-"I Want Jesus To Rock Me To Sleep"



Hymnchoir | October 17, 2008

Recorded in 2008 by RAM at Mt Calvary Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC

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Video #4: Yonder Come Day



Uploaded by mediageneration on Dec 12, 2009

Georgia Sea Island Singers from the DVD- The Films of Bess Lomax Hawes- available from http://www.media-generation.com

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Video #5:"You Better Run"- Dr. C.J. Johnson



Uploaded by Rowoches on Jan 2, 2009

More singing in the old time way!!

-snip-
Here's some information about Dr. C.J. Johnson from http://www.theblackgospelblog.com/2007/03/tbgb-reviewsdr-cj-johnson.html:
"In March of 1965, Dr. C.J. Johnson recorded an original song, “I Want to Go Where Jesus Is,” for Savoy Records....A succession of singles and albums established Dr. C.J. Johnson as one of the country’s foremost hymnologists. His recordings were at once anachronistic and refreshing at a time when gospel music focused squarely on hard-singing leads and heavy instrumental backing. Dr. Johnson’s commitment to the old time sound – straight congregational singing with occasional slaps of the tambourine – earned him an invitation to sing at the White House on three separate occasions."...
-snip-
Click http://www.elyrics.net/read/d/dr.-cJ-johnson-lyrics/you-better-run-lyrics.html for the lyrics to "You Better Run (To The City Of Refuge)"

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Video #6: Janie Hunter and the Moving Star Hall Singers: Jonah (1983)



Published on Apr 24, 2012 by AlanLomaxArchive

Janie Hunter and the Moving Star Hall Singers (including Ruth Bligen, Esau Jenkins, Bertha Smith, Benjy Bligen, Mary Pinckney, and others unidentified) sing a brief "Jonah." Shot by Alan Lomax and crew at Moving Star Hall, Johns Island, South Carolina, August 1983. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit http://culturalequity.org

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Video #7: Vintage Pilgrim Jubilees An AGQC 2001 Hall of Fame Inductee

eric allen, May 15, 2017
-snip-

This YouTube video replaces a video that is no longer available. 

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrim_Jubilees for information about the musical group Pilgrim Jubilees that was inducted into the American Gospel Quartet Convention,Inc.Hall of Fame in 2001.

That Wikipedia page indicates that "The Pilgrim Jubilees, also known as The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers, are an American traditional black gospel music group originally from the cities of Jackson, Mississippi and Chicago, Illinois, where they were established by Elgie Graham and Willie Johnson, in 1934. The group have released 25 albums with six record labels Nashboro Records, Peacock Records, Savoy Records, Malaco Records, MCA Records, and Benson Records. Five of those albums charted on the Billboard magazine charts."...

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Viewer comments are welcome.

Black Churches Sing Old Dr. Watts Hymns

Edited by Azizi Powell

Go Down Moses - Mt Do Well



Uploaded by Hymnchoir on Aug 8, 2009

This post showcases five selected videos of Black churches singing Dr. Watts hymns. Two videos of the same song are provided for contrast. The lyrics for two of these featured songs are also included in this post.

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

My thanks to persons shown in those videos and thanks to the uploaders of these videos.

FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Go Down Moses - Mt Do Well
This video is presented at the top of this page.

"Recorded by RAM and KB in March 2001 at Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC. Go to www.hymnchoir.org"

-snip-

The lyrics for this version of "Go Down Moses" are posted below.

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Video #2: I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry



Uploaded by StampsMedia on Mar 1, 2011

Rev. Alphonso Bowens performs the classic call & response song, " I Love The Lord He Heard My Cry" filmed and recorded live in Greensboro, Alabama

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Video #3: Pastor T.L. James sings "Dr. Watts" [I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry]



Uploaded by chj333 on May 3, 2009

Pastor T.L. James sings "Dr. Watts" in 1989 in Memphis, TN.

-snip-
Here's a viewer comment that contains the words to this version of this hymn:
chj333, 2009
"Call: I love the Lord He heard my cry.

Response: I-I love the Lord He heard my cry.

Call: And pitied every groan.

Response: A-n-d pitied e-v-e-r-y groan.

Call: Long as I live while trouble rise.

Response: L-o-n-g as I-I live while trouble rise.

Call: I'll hasten to His throne.

Response: I'll ha-asten to-o-o His throne.

Call: I-I love the Lord He bowed His head.

Response: I-I love the Lord He bowed His head.

Call: And chased my grief away.

Response: A-n-d chased my grief away."
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3up6Sr65U for a contemporary version of this song by Whitney Houston & The Georgia Mass Choir.

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Video #4: Lord I Would Come to Thee



Uploaded by StampsMedia on Jan 1, 2010

The song Lord I Would Come to Thee as styled in this video is affectionately called within the African-American Church an Old Dr. Watts hymn. Old Dr. Watts hymns are sung in a slow, ornamental style, with each line being lined out by a leader before it is sung by the congregation.

Old Dr. Watts refers to Isaac Watts, an early 19th century English composer. Although these type hymns are fading from use in modern church services, Old Dr. Watts hymns enjoy a special place in the heart of the African-American church. Mourners Bench Records through its upcoming release Take Me Back to the Old Landmark hopes to preserve this part of the African-American heritage for future generations

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Video #5: When I Can Read My Title Clear



Uploaded by StampsMedia on Dec 27, 2009

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LYRICS FOR GO DOWN MOSES (Dr. Watts style hymn)
(from lyrics superimposed on video given as Video #1)

Go down Moses
Way down in Egypt land
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go.

Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
I’m going down to the river
I’m gonna stick my sword in the sand
I’m gonna shout my troubles all over
I done made it to the promised land
Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Would not be a sinner
I’ll tell you the reason why
I’m afraid my Lord would call me
I wouldn’t be ready to die.

Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Some say give me silver
Some say give me gold
But I say give me Jesus
To save my dying soul.
Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Weep like a willow
You can moan like a dove
But you can’t get to heaven
Lest you go by love.

I came to Jesus as I was
Weary worn and sad.
I found in Him a resting place.
And He has made me glad.

-snip-
Editor:
This version combines floating verses from African American spirituals with "standard" verses from Dr. Watts hymns.

Click http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Let_My_People_Go/ for the standard lyrics for the African American spiritual "Go Down Moses".

RELATED LINK
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/soulful-black-churches.html for a post that showcases the song "He Set Me Free" and three songs sung in the Dr. Watts style.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Soulful Black Churches (Dr Watts songs sung in African American churches)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Soulful churches are found throughout the United States. I was raised in one, but the soulfulness of my Baptist church in New Jersey pales in comparison to the down home santified for realness of this church service I found while YouTube surfing:

Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, South Carolina -"He Set Me Free"



Uploaded by Hymnchoir on May 3, 2007

Recorded by RAM in 1991 at Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC www.hymnchoir.org

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Updated- August 18, 2025
This quote appeared in the Black Music Research Journal Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College, Chicago, Vol. 15 NO. 1, Spring 1995; reposted from http://www.hymnchoir.org/ Historical Perspective of Hymn Choirs and Prayer Bands Tradition of Metered Hymns and Spirituals
"In African American Churches in certain parts of the South Eastern United States, there still exists a style of music that pre-dates what the Gospel Music industry refers to as "Traditional Gospel Music", founded by the late Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey.  Some congregations refer to the choirs that sing the foundational "old-style" music, made up of middle-aged adults to senior citizens, as Hymn Choirs or Prayer Bands.  They continue to have choir anniversaries and Fifth Sunday singings, and are very much favored for Revival services. e

According to William T. Dargan, Ph.D., Professor of Music at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina, the old style a capella "spirituals and hymns are characterized by two and three part modal harmonies, gradual but drastic quickening of tempos, frequent and strong body movements as well as polyrhythmic clapping and stomping patterns.

Developed by slaves during the camp meeting revivals of the early nineteenth century, spirituals are rhythmic, call-and-response song forms that continue in oral tradition among African-American congregations.

"Lining out" is a method of performing a psalm or hymn in which the leader gives out the words, or the melody, or both, one or two lines at a time, to be followed by the congregation. This practice began in the early seventeenth century by the British Parish Churches as an aid for those who were unable to read."
-snip-
Updated August 18, 2025- I'm not sure if the songs that are showcased in this post are actually Dr. Watts songs or not. 

Here are three comments from the discussion thread for the first video that is showcased in this post:  Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1.@SilenceIsGolden75, 2008
"This is called a "shouter" song in our African American history. Our ancestors use to sing these types of "shouter songs" in slavery until "they felt they help comin' on" they sang it till it got good to 'em! I am 33 and I praise God for this heritage."

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2.@augustusseir, 2008
"It's so interesting to see how different Baptist churches are from region to region. I'm from a small-town Baptist church and our hymns were what we called Devotion Hymns - congregational call-responses, some people call them Dr. Watts Hymns.

I like this! It's new to me."

**
3, @Ascott87, 2010
" I believe this style of praise music has its' origin in the Gullah ring shout, which has it's origin in the Slave Christian tradition.

The amazing thing is that these songs have as much power now as they did then. When engaged in song and dance in thanksgiving to God for being the great liberator,  the soul indeed  is made free. Our heritage is Great. It must be preserved."

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Example #1 [given near the top of this post.]

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Example #2: What I Am



Hymnchoir, Uploaded on Oct 4, 2007

Recorded by KB on 10/04/2003 at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Chester, SC.

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Example #3: All I Do - St Paul Baptist



Hymnchoir Uploaded on Jan 10, 2009

Recorded by RAM at Mt Do Well Baptist Ch. in Mcconnells, SC. Sung by St. Paul Baptist Church. www.hymnchoir.org

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Example #4: What a Time



Hymnchoir, Uploaded on Apr 5, 2009

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-churches-sings-old-dr-watts-hymns.html

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks for all those featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these YouTube videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.