How I Got Over by Joshua Nelson
Dr. Larry Williams, Sep 8, 2011
Joshua Nelson Singing, How I got Over by Mahalia Jackson. This was on my MySpace videos and glad I saved it before I deleted my MySpace page.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcase a YouTube video of Joshua Nelson singing and playing the piano for the Gospel song "How I Got Over" the same way as renown Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. .
This post also includes some comments from this video's discussion thread.
The Addendum of this post presents my explanation for the meaning of the African American Vernacular English phrase "got over" ("getting over") in the context of the Gospel song "How I Got Over".
The lyrics for "How I Got Over" can be found in the pancocojams post whose link is given below.
The content of this post is presented for religious, socio-cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Rev. William Herbert Brewster for composing this song and thanks to Mahalia Jackson for popularizing this song. Thanks to Joshua Nelson for his rendition of this song and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/two-youtube-examples-of-gospel-song-how.html for the closely related 2025 pancocojams post "Two YouTube Examples Of The Gospel Song "How I Got
Over" (with lyrics & with an explanation about the meaning of
"got over" in the context of that Gospel song)"
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WHAT "GOT OVER" ("GETTING OVER" MEANS IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS GOSPEL SONG
The
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) meaning of "to get over"
means to "overcome" or "to prevail" (in spite of
experiencing many hardships).
In these Gospel songs, entering heaven is the reward for prevailing through tremendous difficulties while living on earth. The phrase "how I got over" is also interpreted among African Americans to refer to making it through the difficulties of everyday life such as poverty, racism, troubled relationships, and serious illnesses.
Another way of saying either "how I got over" or "how I made it over" is "How did I make it through all the difficulties that I faced in my life."
Although it's not sung that way, particularly in Mahalia Jackson's version of that song, "How I got over" appears to me to be a rhetorical question, i.e. "How did I make it over?"; similar to a person asking herself or himself "How did I do all that?"
There are two meanings for the word "wonder" in Mahalia Jackson's version of "How I Got Over"
1. to be curious about something
and
2. to be in a state of wonderment (to marvel at something;
to be amazed at something),
I think that the second meaning fits the tone of the song "How I Got Over" much more than the first meaning. In that sense, the woman singing is marveling over how she made it through the hardships that she faced in her life. Of course, the song provides the answer to this question (and/or to this marveling) - It was with God's help that the woman got over.
The difference between "How I got over" and "How I got over on [someone].
It's important to note that "How I got over" doesn't mean the same thing as
"to get over on" someone. To "get over on" someone means
that you scammed (tricked, cheated) them.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THEAD FOR THIS VIDEO
(with special attention to examples of African American Vernacular English meanings for words and phrases such as "sang" and "sangin" meaning "to sing soulfully very well"; "got over"- meaning "to survive difficult times", and "went in" meaning "fully experienced [felt] the Holy Spirit")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwUKGDxcTv0
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1.@shellygarrett4830, 2012
"I just love Mahalia's music ministry. This young man really does her justice!!!"
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Reply
2, @patriciajones4918, 2024
"I was a young girl when Mahalia Jackson made this song popular. Dr. King loved this
song and always requested Mahalia sing it. I listen to this song every day
after my daily Devotional. Praise God..."
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3.@brunettalewis3135, 2013
"If he did'nt do like my granna would say " boy you
better sang that song". I love Mahalia Myself and he had me sing and
shouting all over my bedroom, Late in the Midnight hour. He really brought back
days when I went to Church with my granny who will soon turn 90 yrs. and they
really had church and didn't care what anyone said. I thank God for his Son
Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Sing on Joshua!!!! Rejoice in the
Lord, O,ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright(Psa.33:1)"
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4.@bjunior1988, 2014
"Its amazing how much he sounds so original. Mahalia would be
very proud!!!"
Reply
5.
"Thank U Thank U, Ms Mahalia is truly my favorite female
gospel artist of all time. Ms Mahalias voice lives thru this man. Just like she
is singing it."
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6. @mrgarycraig, 2014
"I AM STILL AMAZED!!!!!MY LAWD!!!YESSSSSSSS!!SANG SON!!!!"
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7.@MattBeckley, 2015
"So he can not only sing exactly like her, he also plays exactly like Mildred Falls her piano player. Thank God Almighty there are still people who have talent like this.
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8. @90sBGgamer, 2015
"Yasss sometimes you just need these old school gospel hymns to get you through"
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9. @LLigon, 2016
"Wow 😳....speechless. He went ALL THE WAY INNNNM! Awesome ."
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10. @curtispeters4725, 2016
"I normally do not much care for singers who choose to
imitate another singer when performing - especially if they are singing a song
that was a hallmark of said famous singer's lifetime of singing. I was prepared to roll my eyes when I began
listening. I was very wrong. It is very hard to put into words the sort of
living spirit that Mahalia Jackson brought to each and every song she sang. She lived her faith and it radiated from her
soul, though her throat and on to Jesus!
Somehow, Mr. Nelson, in studying the singing of Mahalia Jackson, has
tapped into that light and presents it extremely well. Yes, he deliberately takes on every one of
her mannerisms and vocal stylings like any good impressionist, but he takes it
WAY beyond that by putting his spirit into the song. His first few words sent chills up my spine
because they carried the authority and majesty of Mahalia's voice. I have NEVER seen or heard a singer do such
justice to another singer. I would love
to witness this man in concert, if he is still singing (and I hope he is). God's grace and peace be upon him!
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11. @jeffreygriffin7248, 2017
"Lord have mercy you Betta sing and play that piano! That's alright Joshua!"
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12. @willopam9356, 2018
"I am so proud that God created a young talent person to keep her legency alive. Thank God for this young man!"
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13.@jacquelyngriffin949, 2018
"God Bless You For Keeping Ms. Mahalia Jacksons Great Music Alive, And The Songs That my Grandfather, Dr. Rev. William Hebert Brewster Sr. (Writer) of most of her songs. These songs are so inspirational and motivating and needed now in this generation. Mr. Nelson you are truly anointed by God, Thank God For You !!!"
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14. @jacquelyngriffin949, 2018
"Ms Mahalia Jackson was part of my family, My mother Gloria Griffin, of The Roberta Martin Singers, and The Caravans toured all over with Ms. Mahalia, she was my brothers God Mother, she helped to raise us, My Grand Father Rev. Dr. William Herbert Brewster wrote this song for her, I hear her voice but I also hear my Grand Fathers heart in the words. Mr. Joshua Nelson sounds exactly like " Ms. Haley " we called her affectionately. She was so amazing I knew her as a child and, they all loved the Lord with their heart and soul. I really miss her so much, she was also very funny, and loved children even she never had any of her own. I will always love her she taught me many things about life. I am planning to write a book, and produce a film about the Gospel singers. I have many stories about the real lives of these Great Gospel Men and Women of our time."
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15. @eddiereddick4842, 2019
"This is old time gospel
singing that will make you soul
happy make you think of all the things God brought you through
how I make it over"
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Reply
16.@alfredajohnson5371, 2024
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17.@Sarah-i6u9m, 2024
"The Holy Spirit was in his singing!!"
Reply
18. @RereWilliams-i1x, 2024
"The old Church how you could feel the Holy Spirit working..Oh yes how I got over. ❤️"
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19. @williamragle5196, 2020
"Yes i to am a old Soul...i was raised in an area both People of color and White..of course im 30percent black..thank God..im so very proud of that..i came from a very big family..16 children we all walked to church 2 times on Sunday and once on Wednesday night..loved church still do had some of the best Black Gospel..i was shoutting in church by the age of 12. Thank God. Those kind of churches are so very hard to find..im 67 years old now..Anderson Indiana..Wesrside Jacksonpark..."
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20.
"How I wish we could hear singing like this in our Church today! Thank you Lord!"
"If my eyes were closed I would think I was hearing Mahalia Jackson singing. He is awesome. God bless him."
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22.@tazaman2009, 2020
"I had to take a double take when I heard his voice.... OMG 😲 WHAT AN ANOINTING !!!😇😎👍"
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23. @deloreshill2132, 2022
"I had to stop too. I heard
Ms. MAHALIA JACKSON sing this in
person. THANK YOU."
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24. @shayla19854, 2022
"He sounds like just Mahalia Jackson. Praise be to God. All
glory belongs to you. You brought us so many times we thank you for all you
continue to do in our lives"
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25. @v.dargain1678, 2022
"Believing every word that came out of his mouth . Beautiful
Before I was actually looking @ him I thought Mahalia herself was singing, his rendition is so unbelievable, as though he's channeling our Ancestor Queen Mahalia in person: Amazing!!🌹🌹🌹💜💜😭👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾"
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26. @charolevistamissbodi2464, 2024
"Who is still looking at this in 2024? 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
YASSSSSSS, LAWDY 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
THANK YOU JESUS 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
SINGGGGGG!!🎤🎶🎵"
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27. @TriState-91, 2024
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28. @ANIZATHOMAS, 2025
"These videos are timeless!!! He sssaaannngggs some Mahalia Jackson!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾"
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29.@ALT_listens_ATT, 2025
"❤️ ❤️we are in real danger because
They don't have church like this!! You really got in the spirit and caught real
joy. Church was always amped when I was a young guy"
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30.@CarrieWarren-q2m, 2025
"This song will hold you up in any bad situation"
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