Repetitive Songs In Contemporary Black Worship Services Collection Marches: "Don't You Hear Them Bells" And "I'm Riding With Jesus On The Hallelujah Train"

1baw2009, Published on Apr 13, 2009

Abiezer Pentecostal Church: 96 Milvan Drive Toronto, Canada--It's offering time @ Abiezer (This is how we do it every Sunday.)
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A number of commenters in this video's discussion thread wrote that the way this choir marched was the same as Jamaican Apostolic church collection marches.

Unfortunately, this is the only Black Canadian church processional video that I've found on YouTube. If you know of any other Black Canadian church processional videos, please share their links in the comment section below. Thanks!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series that highlights examples of repetitive songs in contemporary Black worship services collection marches. 

This post showcases a collection march by the youth choir of Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto, Canada).    

My editorial notes present information about the two hymns that are sources to the choruses that are sung in this march. My editorical notes also provide a description of that collection march. 

Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post. 

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of these songs. Thanks also to the youth choir of Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto, Canada) for their ministries. Thanks to 1baw2009, the videographer and publisher of this video on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/06/abiezer-pentecostal-church-choir.html.for a 2018 pancocojams post entitled "Abiezer Pentecostal Church Choir (Toronto, Canada) Offertory March - "I'm Riding On The Hallelujah" Train" "

That post includes a number of comments from that YouTube video's discussion thread.   

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DISCLAIMER: "Black worship services" in this title means that all or most of the people in attendance at these worship services are Black. However, these songs can certainly be sung by non-Black people. 

In the title for this ongoing pancocojams series I'm highlighting the fact that these songs (or "choruses" to use the Pentecostal term) are repeated over and over again while the choir marches. I believe that this is an important feature of these marches as repetitive singing or chanting and repetitive movements can help bring down the Holy Spirit.

Click the "repetitive songs in Black worship services" tag to find additional pancocojams posts in this series.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/repetitive-songs-in-contemporary-black.html to read why I began this pancocojams series on Black church collection marches. That Pancocojams Editorial note also includes my overview (purposes) of this pancocojams series on Black church collections marches as well as an encouragement for those who are much more familiar with that tradition than me to add to the historical and cultural record by publishing online information and descriptions about that tradition.

PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES

Identification of the source songs for this collection march

This choir combined portions of two songs for their march:

Chorus #1- a portion of the song "Don't You Hear Them Bells"
"Dont you hear the bells are ringing?
Dont you hear the angels singing?
Its the glory, hallelujah, jubilee.
In the land of sweet forever, just beyond the shining river,
they will ring the golden bells for you and me."

Chorus #2- a portion of the song "I'm Riding In The Alleluia Train"
"Im riding with Jesus, on the Alleluia Train
Im singing, Im shouting on the Alleluia Train
And when I reach the station, Heaven is my destination
Im riding with Jesus, on the Alleluia train
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The publisher of that video, 1baw2009, published this lyrics that way in the discussion thread for the video that is showcased in this post. 

In the United States, "Hallelujah" is the standard spelling for the word "Alleluia".

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The Source Songs For Those Two Choruses 

Chorus #1- "When They Ring Those Golden Bells"

Here's some information about the source song for the chorus that choir titled "Don't You Hear Them Bells"
From http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/dont-you-hear-the-bells-a-ringing-joafl-1911.aspx
"Folk Index; Journal of American Folklore, Volume 24 by American Folklore Society in 1911.

NOTES: "Don't You Hear the Bells A-Ringing?" or "Don't You Hear Them Bells A-Ringing?" is a public domain/traditional old-time/bluegrass gospel song. It's based on Dan­i­el de Mar­belle, 1887 song "When They Ring Those Golden Bells." There also a tag from the song, "Climbin' Up the Golden Stairs."

This version, collected by EC Perrow, comes from the Journal of American Folklore, Volume 24 by American Folklore Society in 1911. Here are two versions of When They Ring Those Golden Bells:

When They Ring Those Golden Bells (Traditional: Arranged by Emory Gordy/ Patty Loveless)

There's a land beyond the river that we call the sweet forever
And we only reach that shore by faith, you see
Yes I want to see my Jesus
Shake His hand and have Him great us
When they ring those golden bells for you and me

Don't you hear the bells a-ringin'
Can't you hear the angels singin'
It's a glory hallelujah jubilee
In the far off great forever just beyond the shining river
When they ring those golden bells for you and me"...

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Click that link for more verses of this song, and more versions of this song.

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Chorus #2- "I'm Riding With Jesus On The Hallelujah Train"

I think that it's likely that the early 19th century American song entitled "Traveling Now On The Safest Road" may be an early source song for the chorus that the choir titled "I'm Riding On The Hallelujah Train". The refrain (chorus) of that song begins with the word "I am traveling on the Hallelujah line".  Here's information about and lyrics for that song:

From https://hymnary.org/text/im_traveling_now_on_the_safest_road

composer:  Charles Austin Miles USA 1868-1946 *

1. I’m traveling now on the safest road,
That a traveler ever found,
My right of way is the Word of God,
And it runs upon solid ground.

Refrain

I am traveling on the hallelujah line,
On the good old Gospel train,
I am on the right track and never will go back
To the station of sin again.

I need no fare, I’m riding on a pass,
’Tis the blood for sinners slain,
I am traveling on the hallelujah line,
On the good old Gospel train.

2. The will of God is my orders now,
And I’m running right on time,
I’m all prayed up and with signals clear,
Up the grade I’m prepared to climb.[Refrain]

From the website: https://hymnary.org/text/im_traveling_now_on_the_safest_road
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #1983
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Charles Austin Miles was a White American.

"Chorus" is another word for a "refrain" of a song. However, it appears that Black Apostolic churches refer to the songs that the sing as the "chorus" even though it is detached from the rest of the song and even though those words may be a part of or a complete verse of a song.

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My description about how the march in this video is performed:

This video shows the choir moving down the center aisle of the church.

 The choir consist of teenage or young adult females and males. All of the choir members wear the same blue and white robes. The women also wear a cap on their hair in accordance with Pentecostal beliefs that women shouldn't be in the church sanctuary with their hair uncovered.  

The choir is led by a man who wears a suit. This man appears older than the choir. Based on some Jamaican videos of collection marches, my guess is that this man is a church usher (although he doesn't wear the white gloves which are part of the traditional attire for Black church ushers.)

The man in the lead and the choir sings while they march. They aren't shuffling or taking small steps, but their feet don't appear to be raised that high off the ground.

The marchers in this video exhibit much of the body stance that is characteristic of the Jamaican Apostolic church marches- The body from the hips up leans slightly down. Someimes the marchers look down, but then they raise their face to look straight ahead. Their facial expression is serious and resolute.

The marchers rock back and forth to the moderate tempo rhythm. This is an energetic march. The choir members' arms are held mostly held below the waist. But their arms move up and down with their fist balled in what I refer to as a boxer's or a jogger' stance. I've also referred to this arm movement for church collection marchers a and a "chugging motion".

 

Additions and corrections to this description are very welcome.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. leona foster, 2009
"I love the old time worship and the old old songs such as this one.  If you want to reach the Lord, just sing the old hymms."

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2.1baw2009, 2009
"I don't know if there is a defined theory behind this (marching at offering time).  I need to think about it."
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This comment appears to be written in response to a question that is no longer shown on this discussion thread.

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3. r om. 2009
"i love the energy! good ole church right here. church definitely should be an experience that's authentic and a glaringly different from the world. i love it!

does your church believe in women preachers?"

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4. Reply
ibaw2009, 2009 "The choir members do have a lot of energy, and you should see how high the stiletto heels are that the majority of the sisters march in.

Yes, we do believe in women preachers. Our pastor encourages all members in our assembly to excel in every area of ministry. One of our motto is--Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ** 5. lovejones238, 2010 
"I must say I was like why am I watching this over & over then finally realized, I began to feel this just like the saints on the video were, as we say where I'm from, "they began to feel it" and so did I ..great post...I love the energy."

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6. FaithfulKweenBhee🐝, 2010
"Love it....and the two girls in the front of the choir line...Lord yall better march!"
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7. IsaiahRaymondDyer09, 2010  
"OH YES MARCH & RIDE ZION! MARCH & RIDE! I LOVE this!!! GLORYYYYYYYYYYY!!"

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8. Cheryl Williams, 2010
"Marching up the King's Highway!!! Hallelujah!"
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9. csneed02, 2010
"I need words." PLEASE

 This is awesome!  They dance like this is Africa when they give.  Maybe if we do this in our Church the people will look forward to giving time."
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10. mimes30, 2010
"Choo, choo, alrite y'all!!! I see Canada can praise too!!"
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11. limitedtasks, 2010
"This is off the chain " OFFERING TIME " usually you see people running the other way ( out the door ) We can't touch this, go ahead and STOMP ALL OVER THE DEVILS HEAD!!!!!!Buffalo, New York"

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12. IsaiahRaymondDyer09, 2011
"LUJAH!! Mi luv dah wun deh!!! HALLELUJAH TRAIN!! GLORY!!"

** 13. Trey Cox, 2011

"I remember coming to Abiezer as a child and seeing the choir do this same march around! Simply Awesome, glory to God, and i love the songs, the choir rock is classic! Go Ahead!!"
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14. John Blackwood, 2012
"This church must be Jamaican background!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could hear the bass player a little bit more thou! If I go to Canada.. I must find this church , where ever y'all are. GOD BLESS THIS CHURCH! AND THE CHOIR!!!!!!!"

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15. kennie Dennis, 2012
"must be an Apostolic vibrant indeed!!!!!"
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16. Mo W, 2012 
"Its obvious that this church is jamaican .. The TRAIN!!!!!!!! HALELLUJAH TRAIN iM RUNNING JESUS ON THE HALELLUJAH TRAIN !!!!!"
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17. desmarie spence, 2012 
"This is how we do it in Holiness Born Again in Jamaica."

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18. Travae Williams, 2012 
"YES !! now thats church"

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19. Queendom Come, 2012
"This is what you call praise. What is the name of this song?"
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Reply
20. desmarie spence, 2012
"1.When they ring the golden bells- The Pentecostal Hymnal #141   2. Riding with Jesus"       

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21. NYCsistahofvirtue, 2012
"march march march saints unward christian soldiers!"
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22. Tiffi, 2013 
"I feel the Jamaican in this church"

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23. MJQ7688, 2013
"I was just thinking that about this church being Jamaican! They got DOWN!"

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24. Ephesians6:10-18, 2013
"y'all betta do the choir train for jesus"
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25. Uncilro. 2013
"As a fellow organist, I too do appreciate the its playing in this one"

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26. TheTiana V❤, 2015
"️Y'all better praise him"

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27. ddoddy76, 2015
"ok no offense .....but what was the point?"
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Reply
28. Miya Henry, 2016
"They make it seems they are marching into heaven... must pentecostal church do this to have a mind set of how they will be like in heaven. I don't know if I'm right but it's my idea"
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29. Margaret Mcpherson, 2015 "These saints just know how to trample on them serpents and

demons, the action is so important keep on fighting and trampling them forces ** 30. Ann_N_NC North Carolina, 2015

"Love their energy church used to be like

this.Bless them

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31. Kemo Clarke, 2016
"i love it soilder of jesus christ halleluia"

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32. ItsKayTho, 2018

"I remember a church I attended, the whole choir would come down circle the church, turn around and go back up the offering aisle. & they took their time too! I love this choir’s energy"
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Is the offering aisle the center aisle?

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33. after7pm, 2018
"Y'all Better MARCH ON IN..💘

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34. Mo W, 2018
"I think churcejs need to go back to the way we used to worship just like this. Marching and all why not? You can dance for the world you can dance for God. I get such a great vibe from this all these yrs later"

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35. Karlene Bernard, 2019
"We need more of this kind in todays church and run way satan"

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36. Yolanda Johnson, 2020
"I LOOOOOVE church marches and processions"

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37. Carmen Reece, 2020
"NOW THESE SAINTS ARE  TRULY PRAISING AND  WORSHPING GOD AS  OUR PASTOR DARLING IN CHRISTIAN PEN PORTMORE  JAMAICA  SO, I MISS THIS KIND OF WORSHIP 🎵 SONGS AND PRAISE."

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38. Drucella, 2021
"Definitely Jamaican, the song, the musical beat,the train, the caps the choir members are wearing =Jamaican 😷🤗"

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I think that "the train" in this comment refers to the march itself" 

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