Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases four renditions of the old Gospel song "God Put A Rainbow In The Sky". Two examples of "God Put A Rainbow In The Sky" feature Sallie Martin, one features Mahalia Jackson, and one features The Braxtons. The original lyrics to this song and lyrics to the version of this song that was popularized by Mahalia Jackson are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for religious, inspirational, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to Daddy Andrew Jenkins for composing this song and thanks to all the vocalists who are featured in this post. Thanks also to all the commenters and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
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LYRICS AND COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SONG
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=62811
Subject: Lyr Add: GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUD
From: masato sakurai
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 01:36 PM
GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUD
By Reverend Andrew Jenkins and Irene Spain
When God shut Noah in the grand old ark
He put a rainbow in the cloud
When thunders rolled and the sky was dark
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
God put a rainbow in the cloud
God put a rainbow in the cloud
When it looked like the sun wouldn't shine anymore
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
Away down yonder in Egypt's sand
God put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to lead His children to the promised land
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
When they put old Daniel in the lion's den,
God put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to prove His promise to the sons of men
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
As a sign by day and a sign by night
God put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to guide His people and keep them right
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
Oh, Jordan deep and Jordan wide
God put a rainbow in the cloud
To lead his people to the other side
God put a rainbow in the cloud.
SOURCE: Dorothy Horstman, Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy, 3rd ed. (p. 44)
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Put a Rainbow in the Clouds
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 04:24 AM
The background story in Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy is interesting:
This song was made by Daddy Jenkins, as we called him, after a short period of silence. It seemed too quiet, and we soon learned that he was in deep thought. Going to the piano, he came up with "God Put a Rainbow In the Cloud".' He loved the 'blue' note. I wrote it down for him and arranged the music score. It was made one real hot summer afternoon—in August, I believe. The year: 1931.
The song made a good hit with singers. Mahalia Jackson's recording made a good seller, but it had been recorded as 'not belonging to anyone.' SESAC got in touch with me, and as I had the original pencil copy, the song was verified. When I hear it on radio, it makes me so happy, for that is why Daddy made so many grand songs. He never received any remuneration for any of his work—at least not enough to be counted. He always said he could make more, and he wanted the people to sing them and love them. That was pay enough for him."
—Irene Spain Futrelle
the song's copyright is dated 1931, renewed 1959, assigned to Mosie Lister Publishing Company
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Put a Rainbow in the Cloud
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:36 PM
Musical notation for GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUD, arranged for 4 voices, can be seen in Songs of the Church: 21st Century Edition (West Monroe, La.: Howard Publishers, 1990), page 329.
The attribution there is: Words and music by Rev. Andrew Jenkins, Arr. Mrs. M. L. Spain.
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES:
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest example given first.
Example #1: *Audio* Sallie Martin: God Put A Rainbow In The Sky
damonemontez , Uploaded on Oct 26, 2008
Mother Sallie Martin along with The Mass Choir of The National Convention of Choirs & Choruses,1980. Founded by Thomas Dorsey, in the early 1930's in Chicago.
-snip-
selected comments from this example's discussion thread:
Rowoches, 2008
"This was actually Sallie Martin's song before Mahalia and others recorded it. I've been told that this would be one of several songs Sallie would do when she was a member of the First Church of Deliverance in Chicago"
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saintben2008, 2009
"Most people don't know that Sallie Martin is actually the co architect of gospel music along with thomas dorsey. She is responsible for bringing it to the public."
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newcreature2011, 2011
"Remember that when this (traditional) music came on the scene it was considered WAY OUT THERE and banned from a lot of churches, because it drew HEAVILY on jazz and blues structure. I would hope that we don't limit our artists today like they tried to limit Dorsey when he started it all. The litmus test should not be style, or even emotional response, it should be if God is glorified with the artist's expression. Artists today are using what they hear around them just like Dorsey did."
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Bryan Jackson, 2014
"Have anybody notice the choir is saying "God put a rainbow in the Cloud" not "God put a rainbow in the sky" ?"
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Reply
mrtheoneandonly 83, 2014
"You'll find the lyrics to this hymn in the church hymnal."
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Reply
michael maternowski, 2014
"The original pre-30's version of this song uses "in the cloud" as it was to have a more darker tone to enlighten the rainbow part in reference to God's first covenant. As the song passed through translation and became less and less a hymn, the words were changed to "in the sky". Particularly, the more blues translation of this song by Mahailia Jackson popularized the ending of "in the sky". Both Mahailia and Sallie interpreted the song to be more upbeat as opposed to it's original slower "folk" version. Sallie would have grown up in a time where both versions were equally known and may have chose to translate the song with both "in the sky" and "in the cloud" for that reason.
-snip-
This commenter referred to "The original pre-30's version of this song". However, "God Put A Rainbow In The Sky" was actually composed in 1931. My friendly correction to that comment reads "The original 1931 version of this song uses "in the cloud"..."
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Example #2: Sallie Martin In Phila sings God Put A Rainbow In The Sky in 1986
gospellin, Uploaded on Sep 17, 2010
Edwin Newberry & Phila Seminar Choir brought Sallie Martin to town for Mother's Day.
-snip-
selected comments from this example's discussion thread:
Ivan Berry, 2011
"she was 90 in this video?"
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MrTheOneAndOnly83, 2011
in reply to Ivan Berry
"@ivanberry19 yes she was born in 1896"
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modelmethodist77, 2012
"What's going on with the mother walking up to the choir and the director holding on to her. Was she trying to take the mic from Sallie? LOL"
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gospellin, 2012
in reply to modelmethodist77
"@modelmethodist77 The elderly lady was a Philly pioneer Susie Walker. When Sallie came to Philly in the early 50's to set up a Phila chapter of Thomas Dorsey convention she stayed with Susie and they remained good friends thru the years. Before service Sallie asked Susie who was almost blind if she felt up to it would she sing with the Philly chapter (victory Choral Union) Sallie also passed her a little brown envelop while she was singing. Hope that answers your question"
-snip-
Sallie also passed her a little brown envelop- That envelop probably contained a “goodwill offering” (A stipend-money-given to a special guest at an event. The guest doesn’t charge a fee, but receives this money as a token of the congregations’ good will toward her or him.)
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Example #4: The Braxtons - 'God Put A Rainbow In The Sky' (Live) (HQ)
PsionicP3 Uploaded on Jul 7, 2011
The Braxton Sisters sing 'God Put A Rainbow In The Sky' on the steps of their old house during Season 1, Episode 9 of 'Braxton Family Values'. *Credit goes to WE tv. No copyright infringement intended*.
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Example #4: Mahalia Jackson - God Put A Rainbow In The Sky
Nostalgicjukebox, Published on Feb 13, 2013
Mahalia Jackson "God Put A Rainbow In The Sky"
From the album Mahalia Jackson - "Gospels, Spirituals, & Hymns" (Vol.2)
[Lyrics to "God Put A Rainbow In The Sky "]
God put a rainbow in the sky A rainbow in the sky A rainbow in the sky God put a rainbow in the sky A rainbow in the sky A rainbow in the sky It looked like the sun wasn't gon' shine no more Oh, God put a rainbow in the sky.
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