"We Are On Our Way" (Examples Of African American Gospel Choir Renditions & Choir Processionals & Church Renditions)

Walter Robinson Jr., Nov 16, 2019

Rev. James Cleveland and The Southern California Community Choir

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases YouTube examples of an older Gospel song "We Are On Our Way". This song was popularized by Rev. James Cleveland in 1971.* and is often sung as a church service choir processional. 

This post also includes the lyrics for that song and comments from some of these video's discussion threads. 

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 this Gospel song. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who published these videos on YouTube.

-snip-
*Read the comment that is given after the lyrics to this song that are published immediately below.

****
LYRICS -WE ARE ON OUR WAY

(Rev. James Cleveland. 1971)

We are on our way  (we are on our way)
To a land  (to a land of endless days*
We are  (we are on our way)
(We’re on our journey home)

When we get to glory  (when we get to glory)
We will shout  (we will shout and tell the story)
How we made it over  (how we made it over)
We’re on our journey home  (we’re on our journey home)

We are on our way, oh yeah  (we are on our way)
To a land  (to a land of endless days)
(We are on our way)
(We’re on our journey home)



online source - https://allaretha.wordpress.com/category/cancons-songs-2/on-our-way/ Posted by allaretha on July 7, 2015
-snip-
This lyrics page incorrectly gives the words “endless days” as “fairytales”.

Here's a comment about this Gospel song that is part of a discussion thread for a video that isn't featured in this post(because of its poor visual quality).
"GNJ Pastor Small, 2019, 
"Fadeless days” are the words sang in this version by Los Angeles Chapter (and still to this day).  “Endless Days” I believe may have been on the original recording by the Emeralds and a few other choirs (like the Charles Fold Singers) that I’ve heard."

In another video discussion thread about this song, Joseph Curtis, 2003 a commenter in another video discussion thread of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgdWXBD9kA gives the words "to a land of Pearly Gates". 

I think the "endless days" words make the most sense, but according to what I've read online in several discussion threads, the words "fadeless days" are the ones that are most often sung.

****

ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are given in chronological order with the oldest examples given first, based on their publishing date. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - St. James Mass Choir - We Are On Our Way/Praise The Lord

Marcel West, Feb 10, 2009

St. James Mass Choir singing We Are On Our Way & Praise The Lord [St James MIssionary Baptist Church. Detroit, Illinois]
-snip-
Unfortunately, the visual quality of this video is rather poor. Notice the 2 4 hand clapping and the double hand clapping that accompanies this singing.
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1/ Deontaye Clay, 2009
"Yess!!!! This is church, choirs marched in to this with their right hand up, and the lefted behind their back, in correct uniform. (Robes) Marcell, you are an angel that is heaven sent!!"

**
2. steven2312, 2009
"James Cleveland choir Sang This Song On aretha franklins Album amazing Grace."

**
3. Mr Grace, 2009
"The Adult choir of the Cornerstone BC in Los Angeles (late Rev. James Cleveland, Pastor) used to march in on this."

**
Reply
4. Dante Jones, 2019
"We sure did every Sunday morning and evening service, this song written for Southern California CommunityChoir, later became the theme for all of Rev. JamesCleveland's Choirs."

**
5. P K, 2018
"Marcel can you post the words to Praise the Lord"

**
Reply
Marcel West,2018
"@P K  Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Everybody Praise the Lord!
For he understands, when no one else can!
Everybody Praise the Lord!

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - LA Chapter GMWA We Are On Our Way

Phinehas Mosley, Sep 5, 2018

my favorite chapters theme song. Every time they began playing this song the crowd pops.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Processional - We Are On Our Way 7232017

New Orleans Chapter - Gospel Music Workshop of America, Aug 20, 2017

This is the processional for the 2017 Convocation and Communion service of the GMWA in Atlanta, GA.
 -snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. Roxanne Kinnally, 2020
"I don't se these in church anymore"

**
2. Carl Anthony, 2021
"Why is half the choir singing and not looking happy."

**
Reply
3. New Orleans Chapter - Gospel Music Workshop of America,2021
"Looking happy is subjective. But the choir is huge. So, the back may not know what the front is doing. And the since the movement changed they may not have been able to synchronize their walking and singing. They went from marching to running. Try that in heels. And some were up and at it 6am."

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.