Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Post II of a four part pancocojams series of selected videos and sound files of African American spirituals or Gospel songs that include the words "hold on" or "holding on".
This post showcases five videos/sound files of arrangements of the African American spiritual "Hold On Just A Little While Longer". This post also provides "standard" lyrics for that song.
For Part I of this series -"Keep Your Hand On The Plow" (also known as "Hold On"), click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-keep-your-hand-on-plow-hold-on.html.
For Part III of this series ("Hold On Old Soldier"), click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-hold-on-old-soldier.html.
For Part IV of this series (Various Gospel Songs With The Phrase "Hold On"), click h ttp://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/various-gospel-songs-with-phrase-hold.html.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, religious, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this traditional African American spiritual. Thanks also to all the vocalists, musicians, producers, and uploaders of these videos.
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POST II OF THE "HOLD ON" SERIES
SONG LYRICS FOR "HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER"
[unknown composer, Sound Of Blackness arrangement without soloist's part]
Hold on just a little while longer
Hold on just a little while longer
Hold on just a little while longer
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Fight on just a little while longer
Fight on a little while longer
Pray on a little while longer
Every little thing will be alright
[We will] sing on just a little while longer
Sing on just a little while longer
Sing on just a little while longer
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
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FEATURED VIDEOS [revised 2/14/2015]
These videos are posted in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube, with the oldest dated video given first.
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Video #1: Sung by Sounds of Blackness
kuumbasingers Uploaded on Aug 12, 2007
Recorded in Leipzig, Germany (2002)
Music
"Hold On (Part 2)" by Sounds Of Blackness
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Example #2: "Hold On" Performance with Bobby McFerrin
kuumbasingers, Uploaded on Aug 12, 2007
Recorded in Leipzig, Germany (2002)
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Video #3: Hold On (Just a Little While Longer)
smoothrobUploaded on Jul 13, 2008
This is one of my favorite traditional spirituals with verses I wrote 3-4 years ago. It is intended for anyone who is going through a test and has ever thought about just giving up. I was going to add images such as from Hurricane Katrina, the midwest flooding, homelessness, and the like, but then I realized that my struggle may not be your struggle, my fears are not your fears, and my test is not your test. Rather than attempt to dramatize trials and tribulations, I will just let the words minister as you allow.
In Psalm 3, David laments that "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." Later on, in Psalm 30:5, he simply lets us know that "For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
Notes: Ordinarily I don't sing nearly this much in falsetto; the end of the song is normally very powerful. However, I recorded it at home around 2am, so I really didn't want to wake everyone up!
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Video #4: Pray On / Hold On Just a little while longer - Doris Washington
dNessa, Uploaded on Aug 14, 2010
Doris Ann (Fennell) Washington & Millard (Mel) Washington
dNessa & Renita's parents performing "Hold ON"... just a little while longer.
Poem by Doris A. Washington
PARENT TO CHILD
Thought you couldn't tell me anything ... I'm the parent, you're the child
All I needed to do was to wait a little while
You've had your experiences and your solutions too
And guess what I've found out ... I am now learning from you.
♥Great woman, Great Spirit... SO blessed to be her child!♥ Love U! Miss U!
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Video #5: Hold on Just a Little While Longer- The Richmond Boys Choir
Thelma Thomas, Published on Apr 28, 2013
The Richmond Boys Choir in concert @ the historical First Baptist Church in Petersburg VA.
April 28, 2013
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Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Here's a link to a YouTube video of "Hold On" (Just A little While Longer) that I was sent to me by a visitor from France who sang it with her group):
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA_OWfT_XPo&feature=youtu.be
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Here's the thank you note that I posted in this video's discussion thread:
Bonjour Renee, Jean Marc & chorists.
I love your spirit filled rendition of this African American Gospel song.
Thank you for sharing it with the world!
By the way, I think that the African American religious song "Hold On" (A Little While Longer" is a Gospel song and not a Spiritual (meaning that I think it was composed in the 20th century.)
DeleteThank you for sharing, ahh and I did not know when it was written originally, anyway it was quite an adventure to discover and imagine the chords and voices!! Big hugs from France :)
DeleteRenee, you're comment sent to my email caused me to re-visit this pancocojams post and this song.
DeleteMy previous comment from August 6, 2019 11:19 AM should have been emphasized that I think that "Hold On (Just A Little While Longer" is a contemporary (20th century) Gospel song and not a Spiritual.
I'm not sure whether this is an Spiritual, or based on a Spiritual (a modern arrangement of a Spiritual) or a newly composed Gospel song.
I first heard this song from the Sound Of Blackness album Africa To America - The Journey Of The Drum (Perspective, 1994)
Here's a quote about this song from http://thebirdsings.com/hold-on-just-a-little-while-longer/.
"COMPOSER & COPYRIGHT
Traditional gospel song in the public domain. This arrangement by Lisa Goettel."...
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That page includes sound files for different voices of the same rendition which sounds like the Sound Of Blackness rendition.
I'm not sure what the referent "traditional Gospel" means, but I think that "traditional Gospel" means the same as an African American Spiritual.
You've started me on a quest to suss out information about this song. I've come across several comments stating that "Hold On" (Just A Little While Longer" is a song that was sung during African American slavery. I've also come across comments giving various dates in the 20th century when this date was composed. However, since this song is featured in the 1994 Sound Of Blackness album, the composition date for that arrangement can't be after 1994.
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Delete