Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on the lining out hymn/Gospel song "I Feel Good". This religious song is also known as "I Feel Good Good Good".
Part I of this series presents information about African American lining out hymns and showcases a video filmed in 2002 of a lining out version of "I Feel Good". My partial transcription of that song is included in this post. Additions and corrections are welcome.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-canton-spirituals-i-feel-good-with.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases a sound file of "I Feel Good" and presents several text examples of lyrics for Gospel versions of that song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/three-youtube-examples-of-gospel-song-i.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases three videos of Gospel renditions of "I Feel Good".
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composers of this song and thanks to the Together As One Hymn Choir for their rendition of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click the "lining out hymns" tag below for other pancocojams post about this music.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT HYMNS
Excerpt #1:
"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/
"This way of singing hymns is 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."
Here's some more information about this type of soulful singing:
"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."...
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://www.urbancusp.com/2014/09/lined-hymn-african-american-vocal-tradition/ "The Lined-Hymn: An African American Vocal Tradition" By Urban Cusp on September 23, 2014
..."In the sweltering summers of my childhood, I spent many Sunday mornings with family tracking that clay into my grandparents’ small church. It was here where the elders – iron men and women who’d seen and survived a lynch-happy South, Jim Crow laws, and the hardscrabble lives of sharecroppers – brought their troubles to the altar and renewed the faith that sustained them. The Sunday ritual began with a time-honored tradition that is equally haunting and hopeful: a singing method called “lining a hymn.”
Lining a hymn is a common art form that has been practiced for centuries. The basic scheme is a leader, or precentor, raises the song by reciting a lyric, and the congregation carols the line back. This is done a cappella and follows a distinct melody that may sound a bit haphazardly constructed to the untrained ear. As is to be expected with such an old practice, it has many names: lining-out, surge-singing, deaconing, long meter, or Dr. Watts (named after 17th century Englishman and songwriter Isaac Watts who produced hymnals).
This method of singing originated in England as a way of compensating for the lack of hymnals and facilitating participation for illiterate parishioners. Gilbert Chase writes in America’s Music that the practice was legally sanctioned by Westminster in 1644, citing,
“for the present, where many of the congregation cannot read, it is convenient that the minister, or some other fit person appointed by him and the other officers, to read the psalm, line by line, before the singing thereof.”
This practice made its way to Scotland and eventually across the Atlantic to the colonies, from northeasterly winds in New England to the red clay of Georgia. Upon arrival on the American shores, whites and blacks in various parts of the land adopted the custom to their developing subcultures. During slavery, lining a hymn accompanied blacks’ conversion to Christianity and flourished because of their forced illiteracy. Whites in the hills of Appalachia sing it a little differently than blacks along the river banks of Mississippi. No matter the melodic dialect, lining a hymn is intrinsically American. The Smithsonian Institute calls it “the oldest English-language religious music in oral tradition in North America.”
There’s speculation that the oral tradition of many West African cultures made the practice particularly appealing to black slaves thrust and pressed into servitude. The horrific conditions of their existence certainly made the Christian teachings of a utopian afterlife attractive. As with the more familiar Negro spirituals, the lyrics of lined-out hymns center on enduring suffering with strength, believing that an end to grief will one day come.
As such, in the black church, the purpose of lining a hymn arguably always has been more than a utilitarian practice based on the availability of songbooks. It serves as a choral binding of the congregation, one to another, expressed in the harmonies of shared sorrows and the strength drawn from chords of accord.
After the end of slavery, the Reconstruction period, and Jim Crow, this custom has slowly begun to fade. The spread of literacy among blacks, the large migration north in search of economic opportunity, and the advent of gospel’s popularity has mostly relegated lining-out to that of an ancient art. When it’s heard in urban centers or contemporary black churches, it’s often aperiodic commemoration. It still, however, lives on in rural corners of the country where the centuries-old pain of the black American experience hangs in the air and covers the soil."...
****-
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [revised November 10, 2018]
I don't know when the religious song "I Feel Good" was first sung or recorded. However, based on comments that are found in video/sound file summaries or discussion threads for this song, "I Feel Good" is an old Black (African American) Gospel song.
My guess is that the oldest styles of singing "I Feel Good" are like the lining out example that is showcased in Part I of this series and the Gospel style that is showcased as Example #3 in Part III of this series.
The sub-title for the video which is featured in this post categorizes this version of "I Feel Good" as a spiritual. I've seen African American lining out hymns categorized as spirituals on some other websites. However, I'm not sure if lining out hymns should be categorized as spirituals, or if they are a [later?] sub-section of spirituals or a sub-section of Gospel music*.
I'd love it if any musicologists or any other person would share whether they think that any or all African American lining out hymns should be categorized as spirituals.
*This NPR (National Public Radio) broadcast referred to lining out hymns as Gospel music: "Before Churches Had Songbooks, There Was 'Lined-Out' Gospel"; October 15, 2013; Heard on Morning Edition; transcript by John Burnett; https://www.npr.org/2013/10/15/234606252/before-church-songbooks-there-was-lined-out-singing
-snip-
This broadcast focused on White American lining out hymns and the word "gospel" may have been used as a synonym for "religious music".
That said, would it be more accurate to refer to African American lining out hymns as Gospel than Spirituals?
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: I Feel Good
Hymn Choir Music Channel, Published on Oct 12, 2015
Leader: Sister Joann McCrorey
The Award Winning Together As One Hymn Choir, Volume 3, Recorded Live at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC November 22, 2002.
Author Unknown - Negro Spiritual - Oral Tradition
****
PARTIAL LYRICS*
(composer unknown; as sung by Together As One Hymn Choir, recorded Live at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC November 22, 2002)
I feel good
I feel so good
I feel good
I feel so good
just as long as I know that
I’ve got Jesus
I feel good
I been to the Jordan river
and I been baptized
just as long as I know
that I got Jesus
I feel good
I feel good
I feel so good
I feel good
I feel so good
just as long as I know
that I’ve got Jesus
I feel good
I sat near my mother*
And my mother said
Won’t be back till judgement day
but as long as I’ve got Jesus
I feel good.
-snip-
The leader sings the first line and the rest of the choir (and the congregation) then sings along.
*This is my transcription of this video. Italics means that I'm not sure about this verse.
This transcription doesn't include all of the iterations of each verse and there's a least one verse I couldn't understand. Verses followed by the chorus were repeated more than once.
****
This concludes Part I of this three part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label lining out hymns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lining out hymns. Show all posts
Friday, November 9, 2018
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Mt Moriah Baptist Church in Chester, South Carolina - "Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee" (An Example Of African American Lining Out Singing)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about "lining out" hymns in African American churches.
This post also showcases an example of a lining out hymn that was sung by Mt Moriah Baptist Church congregation (Chester, South Carolina).
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread is also included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/soulful-black-churches.html "Soulful Black Churches (Dr Watts songs sung in African American churches)" for additional examples of African American lining out songs. This was the very first pancocojams blog post (August 29, 2011).
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these YouTube examples.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT
These excerpts are given in no particular order.
Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
"Lining out or hymn lining, called precenting the line in Scotland, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response. First referred to as "the old way of singing" in eighteenth-century Britain, it has influenced twentieth century popular music singing styles.[1]
[...]
Lining out persisted much longer in some churches in the American South, either through theological conservatism or through the recurrence of the conditions of lack of books and literacy, and in some places is still practiced today. In African American churches this practice became known as "Dr. Watts Hymn Singing," a historical irony given Watts' disapproval of the practice.
Current usage
Some Christian churches in the U.S. still practice lining out. While some churches calling themselves Primitive Baptist or Regular Baptist use it, this form of singing predominates among the Old Regular Baptist churches. The practice is becoming attenuated in some of them—the leader will begin lining out, but after the first verse or two will say "Sing on!", or a part of the service is lined out but other parts are not—so it is unclear how long it will survive."...
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://www.urbancusp.com/2014/09/lined-hymn-african-american-vocal-tradition/ "The Lined-Hymn: An African American Vocal Tradition" By Urban Cusp on September 23, 2014
..."In the sweltering summers of my childhood, I spent many Sunday mornings with family tracking that clay into my grandparents’ small church. It was here where the elders – iron men and women who’d seen and survived a lynch-happy South, Jim Crow laws, and the hardscrabble lives of sharecroppers – brought their troubles to the altar and renewed the faith that sustained them. The Sunday ritual began with a time-honored tradition that is equally haunting and hopeful: a singing method called “lining a hymn.”
Lining a hymn is a common art form that has been practiced for centuries. The basic scheme is a leader, or precentor, raises the song by reciting a lyric, and the congregation carols the line back. This is done a cappella and follows a distinct melody that may sound a bit haphazardly constructed to the untrained ear. As is to be expected with such an old practice, it has many names: lining-out, surge-singing, deaconing, long meter, or Dr. Watts (named after 17th century Englishman and songwriter Isaac Watts who produced hymnals).
This method of singing originated in England as a way of compensating for the lack of hymnals and facilitating participation for illiterate parishioners. Gilbert Chase writes in America’s Music that the practice was legally sanctioned by Westminster in 1644, citing,
“for the present, where many of the congregation cannot read, it is convenient that the minister, or some other fit person appointed by him and the other officers, to read the psalm, line by line, before the singing thereof.”
This practice made its way to Scotland and eventually across the Atlantic to the colonies, from northeasterly winds in New England to the red clay of Georgia. Upon arrival on the American shores, whites and blacks in various parts of the land adopted the custom to their developing subcultures. During slavery, lining a hymn accompanied blacks’ conversion to Christianity and flourished because of their forced illiteracy. Whites in the hills of Appalachia sing it a little differently than blacks along the river banks of Mississippi. No matter the melodic dialect, lining a hymn is intrinsically American. The Smithsonian Institute calls it “the oldest English-language religious music in oral tradition in North America.”
There’s speculation that the oral tradition of many West African cultures made the practice particularly appealing to black slaves thrust and pressed into servitude. The horrific conditions of their existence certainly made the Christian teachings of a utopian afterlife attractive. As with the more familiar Negro spirituals, the lyrics of lined-out hymns center on enduring suffering with strength, believing that an end to grief will one day come.
As such, in the black church, the purpose of lining a hymn arguably always has been more than a utilitarian practice based on the availability of songbooks. It serves as a choral binding of the congregation, one to another, expressed in the harmonies of shared sorrows and the strength drawn from chords of accord.
After the end of slavery, the Reconstruction period, and Jim Crow, this custom has slowly begun to fade. The spread of literacy among blacks, the large migration north in search of economic opportunity, and the advent of gospel’s popularity has mostly relegated lining-out to that of an ancient art. When it’s heard in urban centers or contemporary black churches, it’s often aperiodic commemoration. It still, however, lives on in rural corners of the country where the centuries-old pain of the black American experience hangs in the air and covers the soil."...
****
Excerpt #3:
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/
"This way of singing hymns is 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."
Here's some more information about this type of soulful singing:
"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."...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D5LrCTmzk8&feature=player_embedded
Embedding is disabled for this video
Hymn Choir Channel, Published on Oct 9, 2008
Recorded by KB in October 2008 at Mt Moriah Baptist Church in Chester, SC
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only):
1. myrbl30, 2011
"Thank you for sharing , Although u don't hear these hyms sung in most black churches today, it is their loss ... I sing them at home and I can feel the presense of the Lord and the Ancestors and it takes me all the way back to the Motherland! These songs and hymns are so rich and potent, it's like medicine to my soul. A million thanks for sharing."
**
2. britdlake86, 2011
"This is powerful! I love it. We don't sing like this anymore. I've got to go home to Irmo, SC to get this kind of music. Thanks for sharing."
**
3. minorholley1924, 2012
"This is a magnificent hymn and the singing is indeed powerful!! Is this a variant of the "meter hymns" that are often attributed to the Primitive Baptists? Please advise at your convenience. Thank you."
**
REPLY
4. anointed1choirmaster, 2012
"Now I have never heard this version of this hymn before. VERY interesting!!!!! Just shows you that the same hymn is sung differently in different regions of the country and sometime even the next county over. lol"
**
REPLY
5. Brandiejm, 2012
"@anointed1choirmaster This the black southern version lol Where are u from?"
**
6. Martin DelJustice X, 2012
"I know this is known as lined out singing, but is this a different variant of it? What is it called? It sounds a lot different from other southern baptist lined out spirituals I've heard. It's beautiful and always gives me goosebumps when I hear this."
**
7. morticin, 2012
"Now this is what I grew up on. My grandfather was Chrm of the Deacon Board. Those old Deacons would sing like this before Pastor took the pulpit. No music, then they sat down,and the beautiful organ would sound at the command of Mr Hamilton the great organist. Where did those days go. The pastor, my grandfather and most of the deacons are gone to heaven and so has Mr Hamilton."
**
8. franzitaduz, 2013
"I believe the tradition is called "Lining" hymns. I heard it in my father's church, and thought I would never hear it again. Thank you so much for posting. This is true "Praise Music" ."
**
REPLY
9. Hattie Mackey, 2017
"I am so glad to hear all of these old songs. They take me back to my childhood in Lancaster County SC."
**
10. Christina Martin, 2013
"My gpa would sing songs like this. Some churches in TN still sing like this....."
**
11. Gavin Mallory, 2013
"Deep south, GA, SC, Mississippi, Alabama, Bible Belt Devotion Singing. The Greatest."
**
12. PGR777, 2013
"This is an extract of the extraordinary congregational/communal singing evolved from West Africa into the African-American Culture and preserved in the Black Baptist tradition. I remember hearing something similar at my Grandmother's Wake and graveside service in Jamaica, as rendered by her peers. I knew I would probably never hear that kind of singing again, as her generation would soon die out."
**
13. Micheal Gardner, 2014
"Having grown up in a National Baptist Church, and being African American 100% I can say that this form of singing is a combination of African culture and european influence. The stomping on the ground, clapping and responding to the leader (the person speaking before the congregation sings) is an African custom known as call an response. The song is european. The practice of the deacon reading the music is known as "lining a hymn", this is done in the black church because our ancestors as slaves did not all know how to read. I must note that the only way to properly carry out this form is to have been brought up in it and be spirit led."
**
14. Shakira Gilchrist, 2014
"My great-grandmother's church, St. James Baptist Church , in Johnsonville, SC sang meter hymn style and it would make chills go up and down your spine. I pray that this style of singing is always remembered and practiced by music ministries everywhere, especially in the south."
**
REPLY
15. JSARogers, 2014
"My people in Britton's Neck--Red Hill MBC and Bethel AME--used to sing with the old meter hymn style, too. Big ups to J-Ville."
-snip-
"MBC = Missionary Baptist Church
"AME" = African Methodist Episcopal
**
16. Albert Allen, 2015
"Sang Church!!!!!!!!!!!"
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "sang" is a present tense African American Vernacular English term meaning "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well"
**
17. ear will, 2015
"This is a primitive baptist church right cause the sing hymn like it is"
-snip-
"Primitive Baptist" is a term for a Christian denomination.
**
REPLY
18. Evelyn F. Harris-Rayford, 2016
"+ear will Yes Lord! Ours is a little different, but we carry the notes long--wouldn't take nothing for my journey!"
**
19. Pg Curtwright, 2016
"lining a hymn. don't here it much anymore. It's so basic a connection to African-American music. Beautiful example."
**
20. Marcus ANT Adams, 2016
"This is refreshing havent heard a hymn lined in a LONGGGGG TIME. I agree i am 30 and i remember this is as a kid and ill say modern has nothing on this. i moss and long for this again"
**
21. Lammar Clement, 2016
"All the Spiritual Hymn are still and have anyways been sung here in the great state of South Carolina. look at the stop down by the title of the video"
**
REPLY
22. Ny Gadson, 2017
"yes sir! Beaufort south Carolina"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post presents information about "lining out" hymns in African American churches.
This post also showcases an example of a lining out hymn that was sung by Mt Moriah Baptist Church congregation (Chester, South Carolina).
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread is also included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/soulful-black-churches.html "Soulful Black Churches (Dr Watts songs sung in African American churches)" for additional examples of African American lining out songs. This was the very first pancocojams blog post (August 29, 2011).
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these YouTube examples.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT
These excerpts are given in no particular order.
Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
"Lining out or hymn lining, called precenting the line in Scotland, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response. First referred to as "the old way of singing" in eighteenth-century Britain, it has influenced twentieth century popular music singing styles.[1]
[...]
Lining out persisted much longer in some churches in the American South, either through theological conservatism or through the recurrence of the conditions of lack of books and literacy, and in some places is still practiced today. In African American churches this practice became known as "Dr. Watts Hymn Singing," a historical irony given Watts' disapproval of the practice.
Current usage
Some Christian churches in the U.S. still practice lining out. While some churches calling themselves Primitive Baptist or Regular Baptist use it, this form of singing predominates among the Old Regular Baptist churches. The practice is becoming attenuated in some of them—the leader will begin lining out, but after the first verse or two will say "Sing on!", or a part of the service is lined out but other parts are not—so it is unclear how long it will survive."...
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://www.urbancusp.com/2014/09/lined-hymn-african-american-vocal-tradition/ "The Lined-Hymn: An African American Vocal Tradition" By Urban Cusp on September 23, 2014
..."In the sweltering summers of my childhood, I spent many Sunday mornings with family tracking that clay into my grandparents’ small church. It was here where the elders – iron men and women who’d seen and survived a lynch-happy South, Jim Crow laws, and the hardscrabble lives of sharecroppers – brought their troubles to the altar and renewed the faith that sustained them. The Sunday ritual began with a time-honored tradition that is equally haunting and hopeful: a singing method called “lining a hymn.”
Lining a hymn is a common art form that has been practiced for centuries. The basic scheme is a leader, or precentor, raises the song by reciting a lyric, and the congregation carols the line back. This is done a cappella and follows a distinct melody that may sound a bit haphazardly constructed to the untrained ear. As is to be expected with such an old practice, it has many names: lining-out, surge-singing, deaconing, long meter, or Dr. Watts (named after 17th century Englishman and songwriter Isaac Watts who produced hymnals).
This method of singing originated in England as a way of compensating for the lack of hymnals and facilitating participation for illiterate parishioners. Gilbert Chase writes in America’s Music that the practice was legally sanctioned by Westminster in 1644, citing,
“for the present, where many of the congregation cannot read, it is convenient that the minister, or some other fit person appointed by him and the other officers, to read the psalm, line by line, before the singing thereof.”
This practice made its way to Scotland and eventually across the Atlantic to the colonies, from northeasterly winds in New England to the red clay of Georgia. Upon arrival on the American shores, whites and blacks in various parts of the land adopted the custom to their developing subcultures. During slavery, lining a hymn accompanied blacks’ conversion to Christianity and flourished because of their forced illiteracy. Whites in the hills of Appalachia sing it a little differently than blacks along the river banks of Mississippi. No matter the melodic dialect, lining a hymn is intrinsically American. The Smithsonian Institute calls it “the oldest English-language religious music in oral tradition in North America.”
There’s speculation that the oral tradition of many West African cultures made the practice particularly appealing to black slaves thrust and pressed into servitude. The horrific conditions of their existence certainly made the Christian teachings of a utopian afterlife attractive. As with the more familiar Negro spirituals, the lyrics of lined-out hymns center on enduring suffering with strength, believing that an end to grief will one day come.
As such, in the black church, the purpose of lining a hymn arguably always has been more than a utilitarian practice based on the availability of songbooks. It serves as a choral binding of the congregation, one to another, expressed in the harmonies of shared sorrows and the strength drawn from chords of accord.
After the end of slavery, the Reconstruction period, and Jim Crow, this custom has slowly begun to fade. The spread of literacy among blacks, the large migration north in search of economic opportunity, and the advent of gospel’s popularity has mostly relegated lining-out to that of an ancient art. When it’s heard in urban centers or contemporary black churches, it’s often aperiodic commemoration. It still, however, lives on in rural corners of the country where the centuries-old pain of the black American experience hangs in the air and covers the soil."...
****
Excerpt #3:
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/
"This way of singing hymns is 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."
Here's some more information about this type of soulful singing:
"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."...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D5LrCTmzk8&feature=player_embedded
Embedding is disabled for this video
Hymn Choir Channel, Published on Oct 9, 2008
Recorded by KB in October 2008 at Mt Moriah Baptist Church in Chester, SC
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only):
1. myrbl30, 2011
"Thank you for sharing , Although u don't hear these hyms sung in most black churches today, it is their loss ... I sing them at home and I can feel the presense of the Lord and the Ancestors and it takes me all the way back to the Motherland! These songs and hymns are so rich and potent, it's like medicine to my soul. A million thanks for sharing."
**
2. britdlake86, 2011
"This is powerful! I love it. We don't sing like this anymore. I've got to go home to Irmo, SC to get this kind of music. Thanks for sharing."
**
3. minorholley1924, 2012
"This is a magnificent hymn and the singing is indeed powerful!! Is this a variant of the "meter hymns" that are often attributed to the Primitive Baptists? Please advise at your convenience. Thank you."
**
REPLY
4. anointed1choirmaster, 2012
"Now I have never heard this version of this hymn before. VERY interesting!!!!! Just shows you that the same hymn is sung differently in different regions of the country and sometime even the next county over. lol"
**
REPLY
5. Brandiejm, 2012
"@anointed1choirmaster This the black southern version lol Where are u from?"
**
6. Martin DelJustice X, 2012
"I know this is known as lined out singing, but is this a different variant of it? What is it called? It sounds a lot different from other southern baptist lined out spirituals I've heard. It's beautiful and always gives me goosebumps when I hear this."
**
7. morticin, 2012
"Now this is what I grew up on. My grandfather was Chrm of the Deacon Board. Those old Deacons would sing like this before Pastor took the pulpit. No music, then they sat down,and the beautiful organ would sound at the command of Mr Hamilton the great organist. Where did those days go. The pastor, my grandfather and most of the deacons are gone to heaven and so has Mr Hamilton."
**
8. franzitaduz, 2013
"I believe the tradition is called "Lining" hymns. I heard it in my father's church, and thought I would never hear it again. Thank you so much for posting. This is true "Praise Music" ."
**
REPLY
9. Hattie Mackey, 2017
"I am so glad to hear all of these old songs. They take me back to my childhood in Lancaster County SC."
**
10. Christina Martin, 2013
"My gpa would sing songs like this. Some churches in TN still sing like this....."
**
11. Gavin Mallory, 2013
"Deep south, GA, SC, Mississippi, Alabama, Bible Belt Devotion Singing. The Greatest."
**
12. PGR777, 2013
"This is an extract of the extraordinary congregational/communal singing evolved from West Africa into the African-American Culture and preserved in the Black Baptist tradition. I remember hearing something similar at my Grandmother's Wake and graveside service in Jamaica, as rendered by her peers. I knew I would probably never hear that kind of singing again, as her generation would soon die out."
**
13. Micheal Gardner, 2014
"Having grown up in a National Baptist Church, and being African American 100% I can say that this form of singing is a combination of African culture and european influence. The stomping on the ground, clapping and responding to the leader (the person speaking before the congregation sings) is an African custom known as call an response. The song is european. The practice of the deacon reading the music is known as "lining a hymn", this is done in the black church because our ancestors as slaves did not all know how to read. I must note that the only way to properly carry out this form is to have been brought up in it and be spirit led."
**
14. Shakira Gilchrist, 2014
"My great-grandmother's church, St. James Baptist Church , in Johnsonville, SC sang meter hymn style and it would make chills go up and down your spine. I pray that this style of singing is always remembered and practiced by music ministries everywhere, especially in the south."
**
REPLY
15. JSARogers, 2014
"My people in Britton's Neck--Red Hill MBC and Bethel AME--used to sing with the old meter hymn style, too. Big ups to J-Ville."
-snip-
"MBC = Missionary Baptist Church
"AME" = African Methodist Episcopal
**
16. Albert Allen, 2015
"Sang Church!!!!!!!!!!!"
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "sang" is a present tense African American Vernacular English term meaning "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well"
**
17. ear will, 2015
"This is a primitive baptist church right cause the sing hymn like it is"
-snip-
"Primitive Baptist" is a term for a Christian denomination.
**
REPLY
18. Evelyn F. Harris-Rayford, 2016
"+ear will Yes Lord! Ours is a little different, but we carry the notes long--wouldn't take nothing for my journey!"
**
19. Pg Curtwright, 2016
"lining a hymn. don't here it much anymore. It's so basic a connection to African-American music. Beautiful example."
**
20. Marcus ANT Adams, 2016
"This is refreshing havent heard a hymn lined in a LONGGGGG TIME. I agree i am 30 and i remember this is as a kid and ill say modern has nothing on this. i moss and long for this again"
**
21. Lammar Clement, 2016
"All the Spiritual Hymn are still and have anyways been sung here in the great state of South Carolina. look at the stop down by the title of the video"
**
REPLY
22. Ny Gadson, 2017
"yes sir! Beaufort south Carolina"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
"Lift Him Up" - African American Gospel Versions Of That Christian Hymn
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases seven examples of African American choirs and vocal groups performing the Christian hymn "Lift Him Up". There are various Gospel songs with the title "Lift Him Up". This post focuses only on a few of the numerous African American Gospel versions of that early twentieth century "Lift Him Up" hymn.
All of these renditions are examples are what I refer to as "gospelized hymns" - Christian hymns that are arranged and sung in an African American Gospel style. Notice the different African American Gospel styles that are showcased in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this hymn and thanks to the all of the arrangers, singers and musicians who are featured in these examples. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYMN "LIFT HIM UP"
From https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/quotlift-him-upquot/
"INTRO.: A song which talks about the role of the church in making known the message of Him who was lifted up from the earth to help draw all men unto Him is "Lift Him Up." The text was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856-1922). Oatman was a prolific hymn text writer, who is credited with "Count Your Blessings," "Hand in Hand with Jesus," "Higher Ground," "I’ll Be a Friend to Jesus," "Sweeter Than All," "The Last Mile of the Way," "No, Not One," and "What Shall It Profit a Man?", along with "He Included Me," "If Today Were the End of the World," and "When the Sun Goes Down." The tune for "Lift Him Up" was composed by Benjamin Burke Beale (1874-1945). The song is dated 1903 and was originally copyrighted by Beall, who is probably best known for the melody used with Ada Powell’s "Sing to Me of Heaven.""
****
LYRICS: LIFT HIM UP
(Johnson Oatman Jr., lyrics; Benjamin Burke Beale, tune)
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Refrain:
Lift Him up, lift Him up;
Still He speaks from eternity:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Oh! the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift the Savior up for them to see;
Trust Him, and do not doubt the words that He said,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Don’t exalt the preacher, don’t exalt the pew,
Preach the Gospel simple, full, and free;
Prove Him and you will find that promise is true,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Lift Him up by living as a Christian ought,
Let the world in you the Savior see;
Then men will gladly follow Him Who once taught,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Source: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Lift_Him_Up/
-snip-
I grew up with this song (attending a Black Baptist church in Atlantic City, New Jersey)- the standard hymnal version and a version similar to that given in Example #2. However, I've never heard the "Don't exalt the preacher"..." verse sung then or now. Other lyrics for this song are found below.
****
FEATURED AFRICAN AMERICAN GOSPEL EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order by their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest video given first.
Example #1: St. James Mass Choir - Lift Him Up
Marcel West, Uploaded on Feb 9, 2009
Mass Choir sings the hymn Lift Him Up
-snip-
The "St. James" referred to in this video is a Baptist* church that is located in Detroit, Michigan.
[Oct. 24, 2022- Hammond Grinder. Thanks for correcting the denomination for this church.]
****
Example #2: The Drinkard Singers singing "Lift Him Up"
gospellin, Uploaded on Feb 28, 2009
-snip-
Here's a portion of that arrangement that is also found in some of the other Black Gospel versions of this hymn:
My God said
[God said]
If I walk right
[If I walk right]
He said
[He said]
If I talk right
[If I talk right]
He said
[He said]
If I live right
[If I live right]
He said
[He said]
If I pray right
[If I pray right]
I'll draw
[I'll draw]
I'll draw
[I'll draw]
Draw all men unto me.
-snip-
Some choirs sing "God said" instead of "He said".
Read the words to the "Who will help me lift Jesus" in the notes that are given under Example #5.
****
Example #3: "Lift Him Up"- Rev. Cleophus Robinson
Rowoches, Uploaded on Jan 19, 2011
Bertha Robinson, wife of Rev. Cleophus Robinson, & the Bethlehem Baptist Church Choir, singing, "Lift Him Up," which happens to be one of my ABSOLUTE favorite hymns. From the Savoy album, WE SHALL GAIN THE VICTORY.
-snip-
Here's my attempt at transcribing part of this song-when the choir departs from the standard rendition of "Lift Him Up".
-snip-
Read the "Who will help me lift Jesus" portion given after Example #5. The soloist improvises his or her lines for this portion.
****
Example #4: Pastor Smith sings - Lift Him Up
PastorDeweySmithJr, Uploaded on Mar 2, 2011
Wonderful praise
-snip-
"E. Dewey Smith, Jr., is the Pastor/Teacher of The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church located in Decatur, Georgia". http://www.streamingfaith.com/index.php/directory/broadcaster/29503/
-snip-
In this video, people are coming to the altar for prayer. Notice how Pastor Smith, Jr. does a form of lining out with this song.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
"Lining out or hymn lining, called precenting the line in Scotland, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response.
It has survived to the present day among some communities and contexts, including the Gaelic psalmody on Lewis in Scotland, the Old Regular Baptists of the southern Appalachians in the United States, and for informal worship in many African American congregations."
-snip-
As you can see from this video, "lining out" is still formally done in some African American churches.
****
Example #5: Hymn #411 Lift Him Up (Praise Break/War Cry) - Third Baptist @ UBC for Pastor's Installation Service
BaptistBoi Published on Mar 20, 2012
Third Baptist Church @ UBC Singing a great Hymn of the Church "Lift Him Up" which followed with a Praise Break.
-snip-
I'm not sure where this church (these churches?) is (are) located.
The choir sings the standard lyrics for "Lift Him Up" (without the "Don’t exalt the preacher" verse), and then from 3:33 -5:51 in that video, adds the following call & response lyrics [The response is given in brackets.]
Oh, tell me who’ll
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Help me lift Jesus
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna clap my hands
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna stomp my feet
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna shout if I want to
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
We gonna take you higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
I’ll draw all men unto me
(Oh), preacher will you
[same pattern as above]
I wanna see you clap your hands
I wanna see you stamp your feet
Lift your hands if you want to
Come on help me lift Jesus
Oh church, will you ...
[same pattern as above]
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/bishop-kenneth-moalessr-war-cry-and.html for a pancocojams post on the Praise Break "War Cry".
****
Example #6: Soul Stirrers - Lift Him Up (1949)
niyicodemus, Published on May 21, 2012
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key,
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me.
Lift Him up, lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
"My Lord and if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
Well and I heard the voice of Jesus say
Come on to Me and rest
Lie down thy weary one lie down
with thy head upon my breast
Oh lift Him up, (I wonder will you) lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
God said "if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
I said the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift my Savior up for men to see;
No man never doubt not a word He said,
"I'll draw all men unto Me."
Lift God up, (I wonder will you) lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
God said "if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwWZUWXlxO8 for a 1989 video of the Soul Stirrers singing a different arrangement of "Lift Him Up".
****
Example #7: "Lift Him Up" Hymn # 411 - UBC Women's Choir
BaptistBoi, Published on Nov 2, 2013
Women's Choir singing "Lift Him Up" as opening hymn on Women's Day 2013!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases seven examples of African American choirs and vocal groups performing the Christian hymn "Lift Him Up". There are various Gospel songs with the title "Lift Him Up". This post focuses only on a few of the numerous African American Gospel versions of that early twentieth century "Lift Him Up" hymn.
All of these renditions are examples are what I refer to as "gospelized hymns" - Christian hymns that are arranged and sung in an African American Gospel style. Notice the different African American Gospel styles that are showcased in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this hymn and thanks to the all of the arrangers, singers and musicians who are featured in these examples. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYMN "LIFT HIM UP"
From https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/quotlift-him-upquot/
"INTRO.: A song which talks about the role of the church in making known the message of Him who was lifted up from the earth to help draw all men unto Him is "Lift Him Up." The text was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856-1922). Oatman was a prolific hymn text writer, who is credited with "Count Your Blessings," "Hand in Hand with Jesus," "Higher Ground," "I’ll Be a Friend to Jesus," "Sweeter Than All," "The Last Mile of the Way," "No, Not One," and "What Shall It Profit a Man?", along with "He Included Me," "If Today Were the End of the World," and "When the Sun Goes Down." The tune for "Lift Him Up" was composed by Benjamin Burke Beale (1874-1945). The song is dated 1903 and was originally copyrighted by Beall, who is probably best known for the melody used with Ada Powell’s "Sing to Me of Heaven.""
****
LYRICS: LIFT HIM UP
(Johnson Oatman Jr., lyrics; Benjamin Burke Beale, tune)
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Refrain:
Lift Him up, lift Him up;
Still He speaks from eternity:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Oh! the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift the Savior up for them to see;
Trust Him, and do not doubt the words that He said,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Don’t exalt the preacher, don’t exalt the pew,
Preach the Gospel simple, full, and free;
Prove Him and you will find that promise is true,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Lift Him up by living as a Christian ought,
Let the world in you the Savior see;
Then men will gladly follow Him Who once taught,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Source: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Lift_Him_Up/
-snip-
I grew up with this song (attending a Black Baptist church in Atlantic City, New Jersey)- the standard hymnal version and a version similar to that given in Example #2. However, I've never heard the "Don't exalt the preacher"..." verse sung then or now. Other lyrics for this song are found below.
****
FEATURED AFRICAN AMERICAN GOSPEL EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order by their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest video given first.
Example #1: St. James Mass Choir - Lift Him Up
Marcel West, Uploaded on Feb 9, 2009
Mass Choir sings the hymn Lift Him Up
-snip-
The "St. James" referred to in this video is a Baptist* church that is located in Detroit, Michigan.
[Oct. 24, 2022- Hammond Grinder. Thanks for correcting the denomination for this church.]
****
Example #2: The Drinkard Singers singing "Lift Him Up"
gospellin, Uploaded on Feb 28, 2009
-snip-
Here's a portion of that arrangement that is also found in some of the other Black Gospel versions of this hymn:
My God said
[God said]
If I walk right
[If I walk right]
He said
[He said]
If I talk right
[If I talk right]
He said
[He said]
If I live right
[If I live right]
He said
[He said]
If I pray right
[If I pray right]
I'll draw
[I'll draw]
I'll draw
[I'll draw]
Draw all men unto me.
-snip-
Some choirs sing "God said" instead of "He said".
Read the words to the "Who will help me lift Jesus" in the notes that are given under Example #5.
****
Example #3: "Lift Him Up"- Rev. Cleophus Robinson
Rowoches, Uploaded on Jan 19, 2011
Bertha Robinson, wife of Rev. Cleophus Robinson, & the Bethlehem Baptist Church Choir, singing, "Lift Him Up," which happens to be one of my ABSOLUTE favorite hymns. From the Savoy album, WE SHALL GAIN THE VICTORY.
-snip-
Here's my attempt at transcribing part of this song-when the choir departs from the standard rendition of "Lift Him Up".
-snip-
Read the "Who will help me lift Jesus" portion given after Example #5. The soloist improvises his or her lines for this portion.
****
Example #4: Pastor Smith sings - Lift Him Up
PastorDeweySmithJr, Uploaded on Mar 2, 2011
Wonderful praise
-snip-
"E. Dewey Smith, Jr., is the Pastor/Teacher of The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church located in Decatur, Georgia". http://www.streamingfaith.com/index.php/directory/broadcaster/29503/
-snip-
In this video, people are coming to the altar for prayer. Notice how Pastor Smith, Jr. does a form of lining out with this song.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
"Lining out or hymn lining, called precenting the line in Scotland, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response.
It has survived to the present day among some communities and contexts, including the Gaelic psalmody on Lewis in Scotland, the Old Regular Baptists of the southern Appalachians in the United States, and for informal worship in many African American congregations."
-snip-
As you can see from this video, "lining out" is still formally done in some African American churches.
****
Example #5: Hymn #411 Lift Him Up (Praise Break/War Cry) - Third Baptist @ UBC for Pastor's Installation Service
BaptistBoi Published on Mar 20, 2012
Third Baptist Church @ UBC Singing a great Hymn of the Church "Lift Him Up" which followed with a Praise Break.
-snip-
I'm not sure where this church (these churches?) is (are) located.
The choir sings the standard lyrics for "Lift Him Up" (without the "Don’t exalt the preacher" verse), and then from 3:33 -5:51 in that video, adds the following call & response lyrics [The response is given in brackets.]
Oh, tell me who’ll
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Help me lift Jesus
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna clap my hands
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna stomp my feet
[Help me lift Jesus]
I’m gonna shout if I want to
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
Will you
[Help me lift Jesus]
We gonna take you higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
Higher
[Higher]
I’ll draw all men unto me
(Oh), preacher will you
[same pattern as above]
I wanna see you clap your hands
I wanna see you stamp your feet
Lift your hands if you want to
Come on help me lift Jesus
Oh church, will you ...
[same pattern as above]
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/bishop-kenneth-moalessr-war-cry-and.html for a pancocojams post on the Praise Break "War Cry".
****
Example #6: Soul Stirrers - Lift Him Up (1949)
niyicodemus, Published on May 21, 2012
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key,
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me.
Lift Him up, lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
"My Lord and if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
Well and I heard the voice of Jesus say
Come on to Me and rest
Lie down thy weary one lie down
with thy head upon my breast
Oh lift Him up, (I wonder will you) lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
God said "if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
I said the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift my Savior up for men to see;
No man never doubt not a word He said,
"I'll draw all men unto Me."
Lift God up, (I wonder will you) lift Him up;
Till He speaks from eternity:
God said "if I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
I'll draw all men unto Me."
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwWZUWXlxO8 for a 1989 video of the Soul Stirrers singing a different arrangement of "Lift Him Up".
****
Example #7: "Lift Him Up" Hymn # 411 - UBC Women's Choir
BaptistBoi, Published on Nov 2, 2013
Women's Choir singing "Lift Him Up" as opening hymn on Women's Day 2013!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Andrae Crouch - Jesus Is The Answer (Videos & Lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases two examples of and lyrics for Andrae Croach's Gospel song "Jesus Is The Answer".
In portions of both of those renditions of "Jesus Is The Answer, Andrae Croach utilizes a form of the musical technique called "lining out". For that reason, I've included some information about lining out in this post.
The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out "Lining out, also called hymn lining, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response...
Lining out persisted much longer in some churches in the American South, either through theological conservatism or through the recurrence of the conditions of lack of books and literacy, and in some places is still practiced today. In African American churches this practice became known as "Dr. Watts Hymn Singing," a historical irony given Watts' disapproval of the practice."
-snip-
In Gospel songs, such as Andrae Croach & Sandra Croach's composition "Jesus Is The Answer", "lining out" is used to enhance the song and not because the choir couldn't read. Furthermore, the lining out portion in this Gospel song has a faster tempo than the tempo used by African Americans for Dr. Watt's hymns.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-churches-sings-old-dr-watts-hymns.html for examples of African American congregations singing a form of lining out Dr. Watts' hymns.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: andre crouch--Jesus is the answer
inveca,Uploaded on Feb 29, 2008
andre crouch, in concert, singing 'Jesus is the answer'.
-Song begins at .033.
****
Example #2: Andrae Crouch & The Disciples "Jesus Is The Answer" 1975
Johnny Tarberg, Uploaded on Feb 2, 2012
Good old classic by Andrae Crouch & The Disciples
-snip-
The tempo of this rendition is slightly slower than that of the example given above.
****
LYRICS: JESUS IS THE ANSWER
(Andrae Croach and Sandra Croach)
Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(3x)
Lead #1 says -
Sing along with us.
Jesus is the answer
Group sings - Jesus is the answer
Lead #1 says – for the world today
Group sings – for the world today
Lead #1 says – Above Him there’s no other
Group sings – above Him there’s no other.
Lead #1 says – ‘Cause Jesus is the way.
Group sings – ‘ Cause Jesus is the way
Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(1x)
Verse One:
Lead #2 -If you have some questions
In the corners of your mind,
And traces of discouragement,
And peace you cannot find,
Reflections of your past,
Seem to face you every day,
But this one thing I do know,
Lead & Chorus -That Jesus is the way.
Lead & Group
Jesus is the answer, for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
‘Cause Jesus is the way.2x
Verse Two:
Lead #1 -I know you've got mountains,
That you think you cannot climb,
I know your skies are dark,
You think the sun won't shine,
But in case you don't know,
That the word of God is true,
Everything He's promised,
He will do it for you.
That’s the reason I say
Lead & Group -
Jesus is the answer for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way. (2x)
Instrumental Bridge
Lead #1- Let’s tell the world that
Lead and Group -Jesus Is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way
Lead #1-I want to tell the world that
Group -Jesus is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way.
Lead #1- He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1-He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way, yeah
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1 – Hmm. the only way
Lead #1 and Group-Jesus is the way
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from the song file given above. Additions and corrections are welcome.
*****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Andrae Crouch & Sandra Croach for composing this song & thanks to the all of the vocalists for singing this song. Thanks also to the uploaders of this featured sound file and video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
This post showcases two examples of and lyrics for Andrae Croach's Gospel song "Jesus Is The Answer".
In portions of both of those renditions of "Jesus Is The Answer, Andrae Croach utilizes a form of the musical technique called "lining out". For that reason, I've included some information about lining out in this post.
The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINING OUT
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out "Lining out, also called hymn lining, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune. It can be considered a form of call and response...
Lining out persisted much longer in some churches in the American South, either through theological conservatism or through the recurrence of the conditions of lack of books and literacy, and in some places is still practiced today. In African American churches this practice became known as "Dr. Watts Hymn Singing," a historical irony given Watts' disapproval of the practice."
-snip-
In Gospel songs, such as Andrae Croach & Sandra Croach's composition "Jesus Is The Answer", "lining out" is used to enhance the song and not because the choir couldn't read. Furthermore, the lining out portion in this Gospel song has a faster tempo than the tempo used by African Americans for Dr. Watt's hymns.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-churches-sings-old-dr-watts-hymns.html for examples of African American congregations singing a form of lining out Dr. Watts' hymns.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: andre crouch--Jesus is the answer
inveca,Uploaded on Feb 29, 2008
andre crouch, in concert, singing 'Jesus is the answer'.
-Song begins at .033.
****
Example #2: Andrae Crouch & The Disciples "Jesus Is The Answer" 1975
Johnny Tarberg, Uploaded on Feb 2, 2012
Good old classic by Andrae Crouch & The Disciples
-snip-
The tempo of this rendition is slightly slower than that of the example given above.
****
LYRICS: JESUS IS THE ANSWER
(Andrae Croach and Sandra Croach)
Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(3x)
Lead #1 says -
Sing along with us.
Jesus is the answer
Group sings - Jesus is the answer
Lead #1 says – for the world today
Group sings – for the world today
Lead #1 says – Above Him there’s no other
Group sings – above Him there’s no other.
Lead #1 says – ‘Cause Jesus is the way.
Group sings – ‘ Cause Jesus is the way
Chorus (Lead and Group) -
Jesus is the answer
For the world today,
‘Cause above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way.(1x)
Verse One:
Lead #2 -If you have some questions
In the corners of your mind,
And traces of discouragement,
And peace you cannot find,
Reflections of your past,
Seem to face you every day,
But this one thing I do know,
Lead & Chorus -That Jesus is the way.
Lead & Group
Jesus is the answer, for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
‘Cause Jesus is the way.2x
Verse Two:
Lead #1 -I know you've got mountains,
That you think you cannot climb,
I know your skies are dark,
You think the sun won't shine,
But in case you don't know,
That the word of God is true,
Everything He's promised,
He will do it for you.
That’s the reason I say
Lead & Group -
Jesus is the answer for the world today,
For above Him there's no other,
Jesus is the way. (2x)
Instrumental Bridge
Lead #1- Let’s tell the world that
Lead and Group -Jesus Is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way
Lead #1-I want to tell the world that
Group -Jesus is the answer for the world today
Above Him there’s no other
Jesus is the way.
Lead #1- He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1-He’s the truth and the light
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way, yeah
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1- I said He’s the only way
Group – Jesus Is The Way
Lead #1 – Hmm. the only way
Lead #1 and Group-Jesus is the way
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from the song file given above. Additions and corrections are welcome.
*****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Andrae Crouch & Sandra Croach for composing this song & thanks to the all of the vocalists for singing this song. Thanks also to the uploaders of this featured sound file and video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
"Yonder Come My Jesus" (sung to the tune "Michael Row The Boat Ashore")
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents three examples of the Gospel song "Yonder Come My Jesus". This song has the same tune & a somewhat similar pattern as the song "Michael Row The Boat Ashore".
The only other reference that I've found online to this song is a line in Howard W. Odum's 1909 university dissertation "Religious Folk-Songs Of The Southern Negroes".
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39078/39078-h/39078-h.htm. That line "Oh yonder comes my Jesus, I know him by his shinin’" is given as line #13 in an 19 line excerpt of a "negro" religious song as part of a description about how those songs included concrete descriptions of Jesus. [I put quotation marks around that spelling "negro" because it's considered offensive now to spell that referent that way.]
In the first two videos, uploaded by the same person, this song was sung by members of the Primitive Baptist Church denomination. In the context of this church denomination "primitive" has the meaning "original"*. The third video may also be from that same denomination, but that information isn't given in the video's summary.
I'm not sure if that second part of the line given in Odum's example is included in the examples that I've transcribed below, since I was unable to decipher every line that was sung in these videos. In my transcriptions the lines that I'm unable to decipher are given as question marks. The phrases or words that I'm not certain of are given in italics. Additions and corrections are very welcome.
*Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_Baptists for information about the Primitive Baptist denomination.
This post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
"Yonder Come My Jesus" appears to be an old time African American religious song or at least a religious song that is sung in the old time, lining out, surge style. Information about surge singing, which is described as an "older black spiritual style" is given in this quote from an article about Claude Joseph Johnson http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/fellow.php?id=1987_06&type=bio
Additional links to information or comments about surge singing and lining out are found in the related links section below.
As is the case with Spiritual, old time Gospel songs, and folk songs, it's very likely that the lines (lyrics, verses) for this song aren't completely fixed. The order of the verses, and the length of this song are also probably not fixed.
Performance description:
A leader sings the first line and the congregation sings the next line and the repeat of the first line. The congregation may also join in the singing of the first line.
Definition & Additional Examples Of Religious Songs With The Word "Yonder"
"Yonder" means "over in a distance from where you are".
Other African American religious songs that include the word "yonder" are "Yonder Come Day" and "Going Up Yonder". The word "yonder" is also found in the religious song "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder".
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in the order of their posting dates, with the oldest dates given first.
Example #1: Elder James Hudson - Elder A. Austin (Yonder Come My Jesus)
mountcalvarypb, Uploaded on Mar 9, 2010
The Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Association October 2009 which was held at Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church. Our Next Session will be held at County Line Primitive Baptist Church on HWY 212 in Milledgeville, GA beginning Friday before the 1st Sunday in October 2010.
-snip-
The first part of this video- until 1.07- is a rendition of a portion of another old time African American church song that is also unfamiliar to me. That song is entitled "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me":
Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, Jesus going down in the grave with me
Well, Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, When I die
Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, Jesus going down in the grave with me
Well, Jesus goin down in the grave with me
When I die.
-snip-
I found a sound file of "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me" as sung by Rev. Julius Cheeks & Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyE5tgYvRYU. I also found a sound file of that song as sung by The Mighty Clouds Of Joy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgyq5NLM3pM.
To clarify, I'm very familiar with the verse "I am going to trust in the Lord/till I die". However, I didn't know that that verse was part of a song "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me".
-snip
The song "Yonder Come My Jesus" begins at 2:28. It was sung during an “offering”. An “offering” is when those present (the congregation) give money to the church for its upkeep or for missionary work. A man is heard setting a goal of $500.00 for this offering. Some men (probably the church "Trustees [church officials] are shown counting the money that was given.
These lyrics are based on descriptions of Jesus, professions of faith, and accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.
LYRICS: YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #1)
Church, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
Oh I said, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appears to usually start with "oh".]
Well, He’s comin on the clouds, now...
Well, I said in Heaven * I shall see Him....
Well, you know that in Heaven* He’s got the power...
Well I said yonder come my Jesus...
Oh, how do you know that Jesus...
Well, His hair was white like lamb’s wool...
Well, His heart was a flame on fire...
Well, his vestiments were dipped in blood, y’all...
[vestiments= vestments meaning his ceremonial robe, garment]
Oh church, how do you know that Jesus...
Well, they crowned Him, the King of Kings...
Well, He’s comin on the clouds*, y’all...
Oh church, yonder come my Jesus...
Well, He’s the beginning and the end, y’all...
Oh, He’s the first and the last...
Well, He’s the alpha and omega...
I cried Halle, Hallelujah...
I shouted, Halle, Hallelujah...
-snip-
* Italics mean that I'm not completely sure about this transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.
****
Example #2: Pilgrim Chapel Primitive Baptist Church - Baptism Service July 2, 2011
Mountcalvarypb, Uploaded on Jul 5, 2011
Pilgrim Chapel Primitive Baptist Church - Baptism Service July 2, 2011
-snip-
This is the first video of a Baptism service. This singing is in the worship service prior to the formal church service. The chairs that are placed in the front are for two Baptism candidates and an older woman who may be their relative, or may be an unrelated church elder. This rendition begins before the start of the video & the video ends before the song ends. In the subsequent video of that same church service, that song isn't continued.
Most of the lyrics in this version of "Yonder Come My Jesus" are based on accounts of Jesus' crucifixion. These lyrics also include a profession of faith ("Church, He got all my troubles" which is probably another way of saying that Jesus dying on the cross took all people’s sins away.)
LYRICS - YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #2)
(Church,) Yonder come my Jesus,
Hallelujah
Oh, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appear to usually start with "oh" or "well" instead of "church".]
Church, the ship done rockin and reelin...
Church, He got all my troubles...
Oh, yonder come my Jesus...
Church, they whipped Him all night long...
Church, they pierced Him in His side...
Church, ????
Church, they marched Him all around*...
Church, They put Him on a rugged cross...
Church, they put on a stony [?]...
Church, they put on a starry crown...
Church, they switched Him an awful while...["switched" = beat him with switches (sticks)]
Church, they hung Him. He bled and died...
-snip-
* Italics mean that I'm not completely sure about this transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.
****
Example #3: Elder Grier " yonder come my Jesus "
1twinsma, Published on Jul 2, 2012
Mount Nebo 2012
-snip-
This rendition has a slightly different tune than the previous two. However, the similarity to the tune used for "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" can still be heard. Perhaps the tune sounds different because the surge singing style is more pronounced in this rendition than in the other two examples.
These lyrics are mostly based on accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.
LYRICS: YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #3)
(This transcription begins at .20 of the video.)
They whipped Him all night long
Hallelujah
They whipped Him all night long
Hallelujah
Church, they pierced Him in His side
Hallelujah
They pierced Him in His side
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appear to usually start with "oh" or "well" instead of "church".]
???
???
???
They put him on a rugged cross...
They switched Him an awful while...
Church, He hung His head and died...
The ship is rockin and a reelin...
Church, yonder come my Jesus...
Church, He got all my sickness...
Church, yonder come my Jesus...
****
RELATED LINKS
Information about "lining out songs" and "surge" singing is found in an excerpt of the article "Dr. Watts and Mahalia Jackson - The Development, Decline, and Survival of a Folk Style in America" by William H. Tallmadge is found at this link http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/924323?uid=3739864&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101851374917
**
Also, information about lining out is found on this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the unknown composers of this religious song. Thanks also to the church members who are shown singing this song. Thanks also to the author of the article which is quoted in this post and the uploaders of these videos.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
This post presents three examples of the Gospel song "Yonder Come My Jesus". This song has the same tune & a somewhat similar pattern as the song "Michael Row The Boat Ashore".
The only other reference that I've found online to this song is a line in Howard W. Odum's 1909 university dissertation "Religious Folk-Songs Of The Southern Negroes".
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39078/39078-h/39078-h.htm. That line "Oh yonder comes my Jesus, I know him by his shinin’" is given as line #13 in an 19 line excerpt of a "negro" religious song as part of a description about how those songs included concrete descriptions of Jesus. [I put quotation marks around that spelling "negro" because it's considered offensive now to spell that referent that way.]
In the first two videos, uploaded by the same person, this song was sung by members of the Primitive Baptist Church denomination. In the context of this church denomination "primitive" has the meaning "original"*. The third video may also be from that same denomination, but that information isn't given in the video's summary.
I'm not sure if that second part of the line given in Odum's example is included in the examples that I've transcribed below, since I was unable to decipher every line that was sung in these videos. In my transcriptions the lines that I'm unable to decipher are given as question marks. The phrases or words that I'm not certain of are given in italics. Additions and corrections are very welcome.
*Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_Baptists for information about the Primitive Baptist denomination.
This post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
"Yonder Come My Jesus" appears to be an old time African American religious song or at least a religious song that is sung in the old time, lining out, surge style. Information about surge singing, which is described as an "older black spiritual style" is given in this quote from an article about Claude Joseph Johnson http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/fellow.php?id=1987_06&type=bio
Normally referred to as "lining out," this style began during slavery when hymnbooks were not available and literacy was punished. Hymns were therefore "dictated," sung a line at a time by a lead singer, with the congregation often echoing the lead voice in a call-and-response pattern that originated in Africa. Over the centuries, the effects have become subtler, with the lead voice and congregation overlapping, supporting, and decorating the elongated hymn tunes until an extraordinary effect, sometimes called "surge singing," has been achieved.
Additional links to information or comments about surge singing and lining out are found in the related links section below.
As is the case with Spiritual, old time Gospel songs, and folk songs, it's very likely that the lines (lyrics, verses) for this song aren't completely fixed. The order of the verses, and the length of this song are also probably not fixed.
Performance description:
A leader sings the first line and the congregation sings the next line and the repeat of the first line. The congregation may also join in the singing of the first line.
Definition & Additional Examples Of Religious Songs With The Word "Yonder"
"Yonder" means "over in a distance from where you are".
Other African American religious songs that include the word "yonder" are "Yonder Come Day" and "Going Up Yonder". The word "yonder" is also found in the religious song "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder".
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in the order of their posting dates, with the oldest dates given first.
Example #1: Elder James Hudson - Elder A. Austin (Yonder Come My Jesus)
mountcalvarypb, Uploaded on Mar 9, 2010
The Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Association October 2009 which was held at Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church. Our Next Session will be held at County Line Primitive Baptist Church on HWY 212 in Milledgeville, GA beginning Friday before the 1st Sunday in October 2010.
-snip-
The first part of this video- until 1.07- is a rendition of a portion of another old time African American church song that is also unfamiliar to me. That song is entitled "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me":
Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, Jesus going down in the grave with me
Well, Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, When I die
Jesus goin down in the grave with me
Oh, Jesus going down in the grave with me
Well, Jesus goin down in the grave with me
When I die.
-snip-
I found a sound file of "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me" as sung by Rev. Julius Cheeks & Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyE5tgYvRYU. I also found a sound file of that song as sung by The Mighty Clouds Of Joy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgyq5NLM3pM.
To clarify, I'm very familiar with the verse "I am going to trust in the Lord/till I die". However, I didn't know that that verse was part of a song "Who Is Going Down In The Grave With Me".
-snip
The song "Yonder Come My Jesus" begins at 2:28. It was sung during an “offering”. An “offering” is when those present (the congregation) give money to the church for its upkeep or for missionary work. A man is heard setting a goal of $500.00 for this offering. Some men (probably the church "Trustees [church officials] are shown counting the money that was given.
These lyrics are based on descriptions of Jesus, professions of faith, and accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.
LYRICS: YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #1)
Church, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
Oh I said, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appears to usually start with "oh".]
Well, He’s comin on the clouds, now...
Well, I said in Heaven * I shall see Him....
Well, you know that in Heaven* He’s got the power...
Well I said yonder come my Jesus...
Oh, how do you know that Jesus...
Well, His hair was white like lamb’s wool...
Well, His heart was a flame on fire...
Well, his vestiments were dipped in blood, y’all...
[vestiments= vestments meaning his ceremonial robe, garment]
Oh church, how do you know that Jesus...
Well, they crowned Him, the King of Kings...
Well, He’s comin on the clouds*, y’all...
Oh church, yonder come my Jesus...
Well, He’s the beginning and the end, y’all...
Oh, He’s the first and the last...
Well, He’s the alpha and omega...
I cried Halle, Hallelujah...
I shouted, Halle, Hallelujah...
-snip-
* Italics mean that I'm not completely sure about this transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.
****
Example #2: Pilgrim Chapel Primitive Baptist Church - Baptism Service July 2, 2011
Mountcalvarypb, Uploaded on Jul 5, 2011
Pilgrim Chapel Primitive Baptist Church - Baptism Service July 2, 2011
-snip-
This is the first video of a Baptism service. This singing is in the worship service prior to the formal church service. The chairs that are placed in the front are for two Baptism candidates and an older woman who may be their relative, or may be an unrelated church elder. This rendition begins before the start of the video & the video ends before the song ends. In the subsequent video of that same church service, that song isn't continued.
Most of the lyrics in this version of "Yonder Come My Jesus" are based on accounts of Jesus' crucifixion. These lyrics also include a profession of faith ("Church, He got all my troubles" which is probably another way of saying that Jesus dying on the cross took all people’s sins away.)
LYRICS - YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #2)
(Church,) Yonder come my Jesus,
Hallelujah
Oh, yonder come my Jesus
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appear to usually start with "oh" or "well" instead of "church".]
Church, the ship done rockin and reelin...
Church, He got all my troubles...
Oh, yonder come my Jesus...
Church, they whipped Him all night long...
Church, they pierced Him in His side...
Church, ????
Church, they marched Him all around*...
Church, They put Him on a rugged cross...
Church, they put on a stony [?]...
Church, they put on a starry crown...
Church, they switched Him an awful while...["switched" = beat him with switches (sticks)]
Church, they hung Him. He bled and died...
-snip-
* Italics mean that I'm not completely sure about this transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.
****
Example #3: Elder Grier " yonder come my Jesus "
1twinsma, Published on Jul 2, 2012
Mount Nebo 2012
-snip-
This rendition has a slightly different tune than the previous two. However, the similarity to the tune used for "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" can still be heard. Perhaps the tune sounds different because the surge singing style is more pronounced in this rendition than in the other two examples.
These lyrics are mostly based on accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.
LYRICS: YONDER COME MY JESUS (Example #3)
(This transcription begins at .20 of the video.)
They whipped Him all night long
Hallelujah
They whipped Him all night long
Hallelujah
Church, they pierced Him in His side
Hallelujah
They pierced Him in His side
Hallelujah
[Follow this pattern throughout. The beginning word in line #3 appear to usually start with "oh" or "well" instead of "church".]
???
???
???
They put him on a rugged cross...
They switched Him an awful while...
Church, He hung His head and died...
The ship is rockin and a reelin...
Church, yonder come my Jesus...
Church, He got all my sickness...
Church, yonder come my Jesus...
****
RELATED LINKS
Information about "lining out songs" and "surge" singing is found in an excerpt of the article "Dr. Watts and Mahalia Jackson - The Development, Decline, and Survival of a Folk Style in America" by William H. Tallmadge is found at this link http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/924323?uid=3739864&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101851374917
**
Also, information about lining out is found on this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lining_out
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the unknown composers of this religious song. Thanks also to the church members who are shown singing this song. Thanks also to the author of the article which is quoted in this post and the uploaders of these videos.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
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.
****
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
****
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.
****
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
****
Video #5: When I Can Read My Title Clear
Uploaded by StampsMedia on Dec 27, 2009
****
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.
****
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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.
****
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
****
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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Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Monday, August 29, 2011
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
"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.
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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.
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
****
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."
**
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 #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.
****
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
****
Example #4: What a Time
Hymnchoir, Uploaded on Apr 5, 2009
****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-churches-sings-old-dr-watts-hymns.html
****
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.
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