Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the Biblical prophet "Elijah" and showcases The Golden Gate Quartet's 1978 song "Elijah" and a contemporary barbershop quartet replication of that song by (JR).
My transcription of that song is given in this post.
The Addendum to this post provides information about the meaning of "holy fire".
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This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on religious songs that mention people from the Bible's Old Testament. Click the "songs and rhymes about Old Testament people" tag to find for more posts in this series.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to The Golden Gate Quartet for their composition and 1978 performance of "Elijah". Thanks also to JR (StillJreming) for his contemporary replication of that song. Thanks also all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube examples.
Special thanks to Gigi Erba from Italy for sending me a request for a transcription of The Golden Gate Quartet's "Elijah" and in doing so introducing me to both of the performances that are showcased in this post. I appreciate you request and your support of this pancocojams blog.
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INFORMATION ABOUT ELIJAH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah
"Elijah ...Hebrew... meaning "My God is Yahu/Jah"[1][2]) or Elias (/ᵻˈlaɪ.əs/; Greek: Ηλίας Elías; Syriac: ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ Elyāe; Arabic: إلياس or إليا, Ilyās or Ilyā) was a prophet and a miracle worker who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel[3] during the reign of Ahab (9th century BC), according to the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah defended the worship of Yahweh over that of the Canaanite deity Baal. Yahweh also performed many miracles through Elijah, including resurrection (raising the dead), bringing fire down from the sky, and entering Heaven alive "by a whirlwind".[4] He is also portrayed as leading a school of prophets known as "the sons of the prophets".[5] After his death, Elisha his disciple and most devoted assistant took over his role as leader of this school. The Book of Malachi prophesies Elijah's return "before the coming of the great and terrible day of Yahweh",[6] making him a harbinger of the Messiah and of the eschaton in various faiths that revere the Hebrew Bible. References to Elijah appear in Ecclesiasticus, the New Testament, the Mishnah and Talmud, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and Bahá'í writings.
In Judaism, Elijah's name is invoked at the weekly Havdalah ritual that marks the end of Shabbat, and Elijah is invoked in other Jewish customs, among them the Passover Seder and the brit milah (ritual circumcision). He appears in numerous stories and references in the Haggadah and rabbinic literature, including the Babylonian Talmud.
The Christian New Testament [7] describes how Elijah was thought, by some, to be the Messiah. Jesus makes it clear that John the Baptist is "the Elijah" who was promised to come in Malachi 4:5.[8] Elijah appears with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus. Elijah is also a figure in various Christian folk traditions, often identified with earlier pagan thunder or sky gods.
In Islam, Elijah appears in the Quran as a prophet and messenger of God, where his biblical narrative of preaching against the worshipers of Baal is recounted in a concise form.[9] Due to his importance to Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Elijah has been venerated as the patron saint of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1752."...
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SHOWCASE SONG
Example #1: The Golden Gate Quartet - Elijah
koliakaramasov Published on Mar 9, 2016
The Golden Gate Quartet
"All Over This World"
1978
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Quartet
"The Golden Gate Quartet (a.k.a. The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet) is an American vocal group. It was formed in 1931 and, with changes in membership, remains active. It is the most successful of all of the African-American gospel music groups who sang in the jubilee quartet style."...
Read more information about The Golden Gate Quartet on that page.
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Example #2: Elijah - (Barbershop Quartet with Guitar) - By JR
StillJreming, Published on Feb 15, 2013
It's been my desire for a long time to pay a tribute to the Barbershop Gospel Quartets that I grew up listening to and that vastly influenced my music. From the Golden Gate Quartet to the Jubalaires and even lesser known bands like the Dixieraires, they brought the Negro Spirituals out of the confines of the sweat and tears of the cotton fields, to make it a music of harmony and jubilation. I hope you enjoy, this is only a start! :-)
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LYRICS - GOLDEN GATE QUARTET - ELIJAH*
(as sung by The Golden Gate Quartet)
All:
God said He would
Send down fire
Send it down to Elijah
Said He would set the altar on fire
Yep, didn’t He say
Didn’t He say
God said He would
Send down fire
(Yeah)
Send it down to Elijah
Said He would set the altar on fire
Yep, didn’t He say
Didn’t He say
Other members of the quartet hum “Hmmm” after every line
Soloist :
Well, God know Elijah was a great man of God
They tell me that Elijah went wandering abroad
In a land of no food, no water to drink
But they tell me, Great God, he had the Bible strength
He got food from the raven and the dove
Water from the brooks so I heard
So he went struttin’ on down to Israel land
To tell them how long the family would stand.
All:
God said He would
Send down fire
Send it down to Elijah
Said He would set the altar on fire
Yep, didn’t He say
Didn’t He say
God said He would
Send down fire
(Yeah)
Send it down to Elijah
Said He would set the altar on fire
Yep, didn’t He say
Ah, didn’t He say
Soloist:
(Members of the quartet hum “Dooo” in the background after every line)
Great God!
Then old King Ahab he wanted to know
How could be so sure
Then Elijah said “Stop” Let me show
That a man of God ought to know
Just heard from the Master and got a request
Just build and have a contest
Ah build an altar all made of stone
And the mighty man began to moan.
And they cried “Baal”
All:
Send down the fire
(Oh!)
Send the fire
Oh, send the fire
Send the fire from the sky
(Woah! Call them!)
Send the fire
(Woah! Call them!)
Send the fire
Well, call a little louder.
Oh, won’t you call them.
Some people sleepin.
Won’t you send the fire from the sky.
Soloist:
Members of the quartet hum “oooo” throughout
From morning to evening they did cry
Tryin to bring down fire from the sky
Then Elijah callin from freedom land
to the Rose of Sharon, the God on high
Then lightning came down from the sky
And struck the altar with a burning fire
And the people standing heard him cry
God said He would
All:
God said He would
Send down fire
(Said He would)
Send it down to Elijah
(Said He would)
Set the altar on fire
Didn’t He say
Didn’t He say
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell from the Golden Gate Quartet recording that is found above. Additions and corrections are welcome.
Pancocojams interjections by one or more members of the Quartet are given in parenthesis and performance instructions are given in italics.
The lyrics for both renditions of this songs are basically the same except for some interjections such as "Whoo".
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ADDENDUM- THE CHRISTIAN MEANING OF THE TERM "HOLY FIRE"
From https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-fire.html
"Question: "How is the Holy Spirit like a fire?"
Answer: The Bible describes God as “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), so it is not surprising that fire often appears as a symbol of God’s presence. Examples include the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), the Shekinah glory (Exodus 14:19; Numbers 9:15-16), and Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:4). Fire has many times been an instrument of God’s judgment (Numbers 11:1, 3; 2 Kings 1:10, 12) and a sign of His power (Judges 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38).
For obvious reasons, fire was important for the Old Testament sacrifices. The fire on the altar of burnt offering was a divine gift, having been lit originally by God Himself (Leviticus 9:24). God charged the priests with keeping His fire lit (Leviticus 6:13) and made it clear that fire from any other source was unacceptable (Leviticus 10:1-2).
… At the very beginning of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is associated with fire. John the Baptist predicts that Jesus will be the One to “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). When the Holy Spirit began His ministry of indwelling the early church, He chose to appear as “tongues of fire” resting on each of the believers. At that moment, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:3-4).”...
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