"My Soul Is A Witness For My Lord" -Video & Comments About "Holy Rocking" At African American Primitive Baptist Churches

KATHY PHELPS, Nov 7, 2011

Mt. Ramah Primitive Baptist Association 2011 Thomaston, GA

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a 2011YouTube video of members of African American Primitive Baptist church singing "My Soul Is A Witness For My Lord".
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This post also includes the lyrics for that old Gospel song as well as some comments from these videos' discussion threads.* 

The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer of this song. Thanks to the church that is  featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to Kathy Phelps, the publisher of this video on YouTube.   
-snip-
*I'm particularly interested in documenting comments about the congregation doing a form of the ring shout (circling the offering table in front of the church sanctuary). I believe that some commenters in this video's discussion thread also referred to this as doing "the holy rock" and "rocking". However, those terms may also refer to singing and swaying back and forth while seated or standing.

Additions and corrections are very welcome.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/03/two-youtube-videos-of-african-american.html for information about Primitive Baptist Churches (African American congregations) and for three other YouTube videos of this Christian denomination.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcTu0njFdfc

2013

1. @matiroka3
"When I hear this song my spirit vibrates. I would like to sing but do not understand the lyrics. If anyone can send me the letter would greatly appreciate it. Greetings from South America."

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Reply
2. @myjollyboy
"There are many  verses.

But these are basic lyrics.

Chorus:

My soul is a witness for my Lord

My soul is a witness for my Lord

My soul is a witness for my Lord

My soul is a witness for my Lord

 

Bridge:

Will you be a witness; yes I'll be a witness

Want the world to know He saved my soul

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

In it there's joy, power, wisdom and might

 

Tag:

Tell it! Everywhere I go

Tell it! I want the World to know

Tell it! Jesus lives in me

Tell it!And He set me free"

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Reply
3. @mzhollywood8978, 2019
"Thank you so much. I grew up in the primitive Baptist Church. But when I hear them sing the songs now some of them singing different. I am glad you shared the words I wish more people will respond when people ask for the words. There is nothing like the old Primitive Baptist Church singing. Both of my parents are members of the New Prospect Primitive Baptist Church Pineville Buena Vista Georgia."

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4. @kemille77
"Okay why the rocking in circles? Is this shouting?"

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Reply
5. @benabi2294, 2019
"It's the "ring shout" a tradition brought over from so called Africa along with the call and reponse"

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6. @MiltonKelly
"I love this! You can tell the spirit of the HolyGhost was with them. The best part was that they didn't have no instrument at all."

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2014

7. @EbonyStory
"Good ole Primitive Baptist church singing ,stumping, and rocking"

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8. @junebriggs7946
"All primitive baptist rock up front of the church circling the table, just something we do!"

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9. @junebriggs7946
"It's just something we primitive baptist do!"

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10. @Ashb72
"This is what I grew up on as a child. My grandmother and all my family attended Mt Moriah Primitive (HardShell) Baptist St. Petersburg Florida. They would have prayer meeting at her house and "rock" all night long!..Mattie, Lucille, Camilla, Hattie, Annie, Georgia..I know y'all rocking right now!..My grandmother favorite" 

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2015

11. @Smoochz1
"Love the primintiive baptist, no more here in Columbus Ohio, but my parents belong to Prospect In Buena Vista Georgia grew up praising God just like this. "

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Reply
12. @gregorythornton9159, 2019
"Smoochz1 I am from Ellaville, GA live in Memphis,  TN now can't get this here"

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13. @woody11363
"Why hold them when they shout"

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Reply
14. @mzhollywood8978, 2019
"They hold them so they do not injure their self  or others when they get the Holy Spirit"

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2016

15. @roxsmith9902
"I love to watch Deacon Phelps do his holy rock!"

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16. @ldmookers
"thats old school praising  lol  we didnt have a organ or durmmm  or a bass we had hands and feet and a voice and a memory"

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17. @ElderMcCloud
"Now this is old fashioned song singing with soul, this has got to be in Alabama or South Carolina."

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Reply
18. @junebriggs7946, 2017
"Carlos McCloud this church is in Thomaston, GA"

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Reply
19. @mellownwv, 2021
"We worshipped just like that in Rectortown Virginia when I went there with my family for our annual Homecoming on the third Sunday in July. I t was like that any Sunday."

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20. @shirlethaanderson9241
"I Love this song reminds me of  down home  singing  in S. C."

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Reply
21. @brentjames6927
"South Carolina Yes Lord"

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2017

22. @YaGurlDaGoddess78
"these are churches in we go too. that's my uncle singing we are Baptist and we praise with our hands and feet"

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Reply
23. @secret-garden, 2020
"So happy to see that some churches still do it the old way!"

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2018

24. @benjaminblocksom4927
"Feeling the Spirit"

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2019 

25. @athfinest44
"Now dis is Chuuuuch!!!!"

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26. @rosalindgreen2246
"Love these ole time songs, and how our God is being praised!!"

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2020

27. @YT4Me57
"This is how the ancestors did it!!!"

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28. @deeharrison2565
"I pray that one day we can go back to these old ways. They understood the power of The Most High, they knew where to put their trust, love, dependency come he'll or high waters. To submit to The Lord in spirit and in truth.  My heart aches to go back to the old landmark where we stayed in The Presence of The Lord🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾"

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29. @secret-garden
"I'm enjoying this church so much today. New subbie here. One question, are the men and women sitting separately?"

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Reply
30. @mariekatherine5238
"butterflyqueenify   Possibly.  Some old time Primitive Baptist, Amish, Mennonite, Brethren have separate areas."

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31. @deeharrison2565
"I pray that one day we can go back to these old ways. They understood the power of The Most High, they knew where to put their trust, love, dependency come he'll or high waters. To submit to The Lord in spirit and in truth.  My heart aches to go back to the old landmark where we stayed in The Presence of The Lord🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾"

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32. @sistacbell
"We already headed there with the way these pandemic attacks are happening. And our government. Adversity will take you to the old school way of doing things. But music is not just the hands and feet. David said we had to praise him with all instruments of music and the first instruments were not just our hands and feet but they had the washboard and would take a wire hanger or something to make music with it. Then I like the way they would make instruments to praise him in those days. Music is language to our God. He communicates with us not only in prayer but he loves music. All forms of music. As long as we praise and worship him in spirit and truth you cant go wrong. "

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2021

33. @lindabowens8299
"Back then there was no rushing, you would let The Holy Spirit have It's way, taking full control of the atmosphere. Didn't get tired of sanging the same verses over and over again, they just got better and better. Everybody was on one accord."

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34. @jayejohnson5257
"I grew up Baptist in the North and never heard of Primitive Baptist but I love it❤️"

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2022

35. @one4truth236
"The whole congregation is the choir"

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2023

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2024

36. @FloraCruthirds-if4my
"Sing that song yall"

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37. @yvonnedavis1461, 2025
"Amen , That Was So Beautiful"

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2025

38. @christiansgrandma6812
"God, I wish I could visit this church. I'm rocking with them.😊 It's weeks later, and I'm  still marching around in my kitchen while I cook.😊"

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