The O'Neil Twins -"Jesus Dropped The Charges" And "He Chose Me"

 

luckysmusic,July 26, 2008

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube videos of the African American Gospel duo The O'Neil Twins.

This post also includes biographical information about The O'Neil Twins and lyrics to those two Gospel songs as sung by The O'Neil Twins..

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to The O'Neil Twins for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post

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This 2025 post replaces a  2012 pancocojams post about The O'Neil Twins and these songs.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/videos-of-gospel-song-its-high-way-to.html for a video of The O'Neil Twins leading a choir in a processional singing of the Gospel song "It's A Highway To Heaven".

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE O'NEIL TWINS (Gospel duo) 
Online Information Source #1
https://opalnations.com/files/O_Neal_Twins.pdf "The O’Neal Twins by Opal Louis Nations", 1995
"The O’Neal Twins hailed from a long-established family out of central St. Louis. Their grandparents belonged to the Pentecostal movement headquartered at the All Saints Holiness Church, which later became associated with The Church of God in Christ denomination of Missouri, under the guidance of the late bishop Daniel Bostic. Twins Edgar and Edward were born in 1938 to Rowena and Edward O’Neal III. Early vocal endeavors were encouraged by their pastor, Elder James Ward Senior. However, the lads did not take singing seriously until they were well into their teens. Fooling around on piano and knowing little about harmony, the boys fudged around with a few songs for awhile. The O’Neals were hampered by the fact that they came from a non-musical family. But the boys persevered and by the late fifties were singing at storefront churches, prayer meetings, and occasional trips to guest on programs out of town. St. Louis, of course, is home to The Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church on Washington Street, pastored by the Rev. Cleophus Robinson. The O’Neals became featured guests on Robinson’s church programs.

In 1962, the twins were introduced by Robinson to Don Robey, head of Peacock Records in Houston, who signed the pair to a five-year contract. The twins’ first single, topped with the song “Every day with Jesus,” yielded promising sales figures. The O’Neals were fortunate enough to appear on Peter Brysac’s “TV Gospel time” over the spring of 1965. On the program, hosted by Georgia Lewis with Professor Alfred Miller handing the musical arrangements, the duo sang three selections, “Power in the blood,” the twosome’s then current release, plus rapturous renditions of “Prayer is the key” and “Keep in touch with Jesus” from a single put out a year earlier.

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Online Information Source #2
[This information was included in the summary of  the YouTube video "The O'Neal Twins - A Short History" which was published in 2008 by ArtistIncorporated. That video is no longer available.]

"Mr. O'Neal and his late brother, Edward Vazon O'Neal Jr., began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.

In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.

During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area. They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse."

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS & LYRICS

Showcase Video #1 -THE O'NEAL TWINS (Live) - Jesus Dropped The Charges (with lyrics)

This video is found at the top of this post.

LYRICS- JESUS DROPPED THE CHARGES (as sung by the O'Neil Twins)

I was guilty (guilty) of all the charges (charges), doomed and disgraced, but Jesus (Jesus) with His special love (special love) saved me by His grace; He pleaded (pleaded) and He pleaded (pleaded) He pleaded my case. Jesus dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, (and now I'm saved) Now I'm saved through grace and faith. I was guilty (guilty) for oh so long (so long) lived in sin too long, but Jesus (Jesus) with His special love (special love) reached out with His arms so strong; He picked me up (picked me up), turned me around (turned me around) gave me a brand new song. Jesus dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, (Now I'm free) Now I'm free down in my soul. He dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, Although I was wrong He dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges Showed me right from wrong He dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, Cast them all away (At Calvary) at Calvary I heard Him say, (Calvary )at Calvary I heard Him say, (Calvary) at Calvary I heard Him say, (Case dismissed) Case dismissed, Case dismissed, Saved by grace He dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, Yes He did, I saw it, When He said, I heard Him say it's finished, It's finished, It's finished Dropped the charges, Dropped the charges, Dropped the charges (At Calvary) at Calvary I heard Him say, (At Calvary) at Calvary I heard Him say, (At Calvary) at Calvary I heard Him say, (Case dismissed) Case dismissed, Case dismissed, Saved by grace -snip- This video clip is from the 1990 Documentary/Album: Say Amen Somebody. The documentary was filmed in 1982.

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Showcase Video #2: "Jesus Dropped The Charges" The O'Neal Twins(Original)



Uploaded by Johnzoe777 on Feb 12, 2010

"The O'Neal Twins & The Interfaith Choir 10th Year Reunion Title of album "Saved By His Love" "Jesus Dropped The Charges" soloists: Edward O'Neal-Edgar O'Neal "1981"

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Showcase Video #3: The O'Neal Twins - He Chose Me



Uploaded by OlSkoolSaint on Jun 2, 2008

"This is one of the songs they've recorded on Say Amen, Somebody! The harmony was unique. Enjoy!"
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LYRICS FOR "HE CHOSE ME" (as sung by the O'Neil Twins"

1)
This is my incomplete transcription from the video of this song that is embedded in this post. I'm posting this transcription because I couldn't find the lyrics to this song online. This transcription doesn't include what I think are improvised exclamations or other spoken words. Some "improvised" lyrics are given in brackets. A question mark following a word means that I'm unsure if that transcription is correct. Additions & corrections are very welcome.

HE CHOSE ME
[Spoken: All you got to do today is want to be used.
You ought to be proud today to tell somebody today that]

Chorus: (singing)
He chose me
He chose me
Out of all that He could have used
He chose me
He chose me
He can use me till He use me up
(sing entire chorus two times)

Verse 1 :
I gave Him my heart
And I gave Him my soul
Gave over my life to complete control
He can use me till he used me up.
(Repeat entire verse one time)

Verse #2
[I used to hear Mother Smith say]

Use me Lord
In Thy service
Draw me nearer
Every day
I’ll be [one word]
[one word]
All the way

[I used to hear her say]
If I falter
While I’m tryin [?]
Draw me nearer [?]
Let me stand [?]
I’ve been [one word] to [one word]
All the way.

[I wonder if you can raise your hands
and say with me]

Chorus:
(Sung several times, with improvisation)

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Lyrics #2 ND #3
Here are two posts about the lyrics for the song "He Chose Me"
from https://namethathymn.com/hymn-lyrics/viewtopic.php?t=1410

1) Appe21, Oct 21, 2021

"He chose me
He chose me
Out of all that He could have used
He chose me He chose me He can use 'til He use me up

I gave Him my Heart And I gave my soul
Gave over my life to complete control
He can use me 'til He use me up...

Bridge
Use me Lord in thy service
Draw me nearer everyday
I'll be willing Lord to walk all the way

If I fall down while I'm trying
Don't be angry, let me stand
I'll be willing Lord to walk all the way

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#2

gserep111

Re: He Chose Me

Post Sat Jul 12, 2025 9:53 pm

I love this song. It is actually 2 songs combined.
The "bridge" is actually an old gospel song I learned as a child .It is sung as a call and response (soloist sings first and church sings the same words in response)
USE ME LORD IN THY SERVICE
Use me Lord (use me Lord ) in thy service (in that service)
Draw me nearer...each and every day
For I'm willing Lord to run on...all of the way....every step of the way)
If I falter(If I falter) while I'm trying (while I'm trying)
Don't be angry(don't be angry) just let me stay(let me stay
For I am willing Lord to run on ....all the way.
All the way Lord (all the way) All the way (all the way)
All the way Lord (all the way Lord) Every step of way (all the way)
For I'm willing Lord to run on all the way, yeah
If I falter, while I'm trying don't be angry .. just let me stay...
For I am willing lord to run on...all the way.

I believe Bishop Carlton Pearson sang it the way I'm trying to explain .. it's an old Negro Spiritual we sang in the old Louisiana/Mississippi Baptist Churches of the 40's 50's and 60's. I love these old songs."
-snip-
"Negro Spiritual" is an outdated racial term. I prefer to use the term "African American Spiritual" or "Black American Spiritual).

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