Tuesday, April 17, 2012

"Jesus Dropped The Charges" & Two Other Gospel Songs by The O'Neil Twins

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the African American Gospel duo The O'Neil Twins. Biographical information about The O'Neil Twins is found in the summary of the first video in this post. This post includes five videos and lyrics to three of the featured songs.

Enjoy & be inspired!

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Video #1: The O'Neal Twins - A Short History



Uploaded by ArtistIncorporated on Nov 4, 2008

"Mr. O'Neal and his late brother, Edward Vazon O'Neal Jr., began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.

In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.

During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area.They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse."

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Video #2: "Jesus Dropped The Charges" The O'Neal Twins(Original)



Uploaded by Johnzoe777 on Feb 12, 2010

"The O'Neal Twins & The Interfaith Choir 10th Year Reunion Title of album "Saved By His Love" "Jesus Dropped The Charges" soloists: Edward O'Neal-Edgar O'Neal "1981"

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Video #3: Jesus Dropped The Charges - The O'Neil Twins
[From the 1990 Documentary/Album: Say Amen Somebody (1990)]



Uploaded by ChiOne07 on Mar 6, 2007

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Video #4: The O'Neal Twins - He Chose Me



Uploaded by OlSkoolSaint on Jun 2, 2008

"This is one of the songs they've recorded on Say Amen, Somebody! The harmony was unique. Enjoy!"

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Video #5: The O'Neal Twins - God's Always Making A Way For Me



Uploaded by jcart91 on Sep 20, 2009

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LYRICS

JESUS DROPPED THE CHARGES
[Composer: (Bishop) Richard "Mr. Clean" White, 1980]

Verse 1:
I was guilty (guilty)
of all the charges (charges),
doomed and disgraced,
but Jesus (Jesus)
with His special love (special love)
saved me by His grace;
He pleaded (pleaded)
and He pleaded (pleaded)
He pleaded my case.

Chorus 1:
Jesus dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
and now I'm saved through grace and faith.

Verse 2:
I was guilty (guilty)
for oh so long (so long)
lived in sin too long,
but Jesus (Jesus)
with His special love (special love)
reached out with His arms so strong;
He picked me (picked me up),
turned me around (turned me around)
gave me a brand new song.

Chorus 2:
Jesus dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
and to Him I belong.

Verse 3:
If they remember (remember)
and remember (remember)
some of the things I've done,
but Jesus (Jesus)
with His special love (special love)
forgave me from everyone;
He put me (put me)
on the right road (right road)
lifted my heavy load.

Chorus 3:
Jesus dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
now I'm free down in my soul.

Bridge:
He dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
(although I was wrong).

He dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
(showed me right from wrong).

He dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges,
(and cast them all away);

at Calvary I heard Him say,
at Calvary I heard Him say,
at Calvary I heard Him say,
"case dismissed, case dismissed",
"saved by grace"

Vamp:
He dropped the charges,
Jesus dropped the charges.

-snip-

[Hat Tip to Peace http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=38594&messages=27 for posting these lyrics in March 2008 from a site which doesn't appear to be accessible any longer.]

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Lyrics: HE CHOSE ME*
[Composer?, early 1980s]

*This is my imcomplete transcription from the video of this song that is embedded in this post. I'm posting this transcription because I couldn't find the lyrics to this song online. This transcription doesn't include what I think are improvised exclamations or other spoken words. Some "improvised" lyrics are given in brackets. A question mark following a word means that I'm unsure if that transcription is correct. Corrections & additions are very welcome. Please add corrections or additions as comments and please include your source/s [such as "CD notes" or "sung in my choir x year] and I will correct the lyrics in this post accordingly.

-snip-

HE CHOSE ME
[Spoken: All you got to do today is want to be used.
You ought to be proud today to tell somebody today that]

Chorus: (singing)
He chose me
He chose me
Out of all that He could have used
He chose me
He chose me
He can use me till He use me up
(sing entire chorus two times)

Verse 1 :
I gave Him my heart
And I gave Him my soul
Gave over my life to complete control
He can use me till he used me up.
(Repeat entire verse one time)

Verse #2
[I used to hear Mother Smith say]

Use me Lord
In Thy service
Draw me nearer
Every day
I’ll be [one word]
[one word]
All the way

[I used to hear her say]
If I falter
While I’m tryin [?]
Draw me nearer [?]
Let me stand [?]
I’ve been [one word] to [one word]
All the way.

[I wonder if you can raise your hands
and say with me]

Chorus:
(Sung several times, with improvisation)

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Lyrics: GOD'S ALWAYS MAKING A WAY
[Composer, composition date ?]

This is my imcomplete transcription from the video of this song that is embedded in this post. I'm posting this transcription because I couldn't find the lyrics to this song online. This transcription doesn't include what I think are improvised exclamations or other spoken words. Some "improvised" lyrics are given in brackets. Corrections & additions are very welcome. Please add corrections or additions as comments and please include your source/s [such as "CD notes" or "sung in my choir x year] and I will correct the lyrics in this post accordingly.

-snip-

GODS ALWAYS MAKING A WAY FOR ME
Verse #1
Soloists: Everytime I plan my days
Choir - He’s always making way
Soloists - He’s always
Choir - making a way for me
Soloists - All my needs He supplies
Choir - Yes
Soloists -I’m truly glad I’m His child
Choir - Yes
Soloist/Choirs -He’s aways making a way for me

Verse #2
Soloists- And if I need
A helping hand
Choir - He’s always making a way
Soloists/ Choir He’s always making a way for me
Soloists - I just call on His name
Choir - Yes
Soloists = I don’t have to worry
Because help is on the way
Choir - Yes
Soloists/Choir - He’s always making a way
for me.
Soloists - [Oh yes, Hallelujah!
I’d like to testify, listen]
When I’m weak He sure makes me strong
Choir - Yes
Soloists - You see, He’s keep blessing me all the day long
He’s always making a way for me

Soloists - Yes He is
He’s always He’s always
[choir sings “making a way” throughout]
Making a way for me
Yes he is
Everyday of my life
He's always blessing me
He’s always blessing me
I’m so thankful
If I had ten thousand tongues
I couldn’t praise him enough
He’s blessed me once
He’s blessed me twice
He’s been blessing me all the days of my life
He’s always making a way for me

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RELATED LINK
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/videos-of-gospel-song-its-high-way-to.html for a video of The O'Neil Twins leading a choir in a processional singing of the Gospel song "It's A Highway To Heaven".

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My thanks to the featured soloists, choirs, video producers, and the video uploaders.

Thanks for visiting this page.

Viewer comments are welcome.

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