African American Gospel Song "I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord" (Videos From 1928-2017 with a 2025 Rendition of that Gospel song))

Rev. D.C. Rice - Topic, Oct 4, 2014

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises

I'm In The Battlefield For My Lord · Rev. D.C. Rice [recorded between] (1928-1930)

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about and lyrics for the Gospel song "I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord".(also known as "I Am On The Battlefield".

This post also showcases seven YouTube videos that document a small sample of the different ways that African Americans have performed "I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord" from 1928 to 2017. 

The Addendum to this post showcases a 2025 rendition of "I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Sylvanna Bell and Estelle V. (E. V.) Banks for composing this song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these showcases examples and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOSPEL SONG "I AM ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR MY LORD"

https://hymnary.org/text/i_was_alone_and_idle

56 “I’m In The Battlefield For My Lord” by Rev. D.C. Rice & His Sanctified Congregation6

July 5, 2011 by gadaya

..."This classic gospel song, written by Sylvana Bells and E.V. Banks, and performed here with lots of swing by Rev. D.C Rice, his congregation and some jazz musicians, is the perfect closing for the religious set of the Anthology. The song itself is an old favorite of Gospel singers, using the war imagery to express one’s faithful worship of God.

I’ve selected a few recordings of the song, ....

1. I’m In The Battlefield For My Lord  Rev. D.C. Rice   1928-30...
   
   

Refrain First Line:	O I'm on the battlefield for my Lord
Copyright:	Public Domain"...

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LYRICS- I AM ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR MY LORD
(composers: Sylvanna Bell and E.V. Banks, first published in 1927) 

Refrain:

I am on the battlefield for my Lord,

I'm on the battlefield for my Lord;

And I promised Him that I would serve Him till I die.

I am on the battlefield for my Lord.

1. I was alone and idle,

I was a sinner too,

I heard a voice from heaven

Say there is work to do,

I took the Master's hand,

And I joined the Christian band,

I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]

2  I left my friends and kindred

Bound for the Promised Land,

The grace of God upon me,

The Bible in my hand,

In distant lands I trod,

Crying, sinner, come to God,

I'm on the battlefield for my Lord.


[Refrain]

3.  Now when I met my Savior,

I met Him with a smile,

He healed my wounded spirit,

And owned me as His child,

Around the throne of grace,

He appoints my soul a place,

I'm on the battlefield for my Lord.


[Refrain]

Online Source - https://hymnary.org/text/i_was_alone_and_idle
-snip-
Sylvanna Bell and Estelle V. (E. V.) Banks were African American females

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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
These examples are presented based on their publishing date on YouTube.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #2 - I'm on the Battlefield



garyholmz, Jan 5, 2008

Rev.Shirley LaCour

Price Chapel AME

Singing Ministers Concert 11-18-07
-snip-
A.M.E. = "African Methodist Episcopal"

Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:

@QueenDiva, 2011
"I just LOVE Old Fashioned CHURCH SANGIN'!"... -snip- "Sangin" is a present tense African American Vernacular English word that means "to sing very good, and especially to sing soulfully very good."
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #3-The Original Messengers - I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord

malacomg, Nov 1, 2010

Willie Banks And The Messengers - Battlefield

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #4 - On the Battlefield for My Lord

 

Metropolitan AME Church, Jan 18, 2011

Praise and worship with the First Family at Metropolitan AME on January 16, 2011.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #5 - i'm on the Battlefield for My Lord 

ncrtodscrossing, May 17, 2012

Tods Crossing Annual Remembrance Service

Mother Mae Etta Peterson

Tods Crossing Warren OHIO

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #6 - (On The) Battlefield For My Lord (1978) James Cleveland and The Charles Fold Singers

gospelvinyl, Jun 12, 2015

soloist: Charles Fold, from Savoy Double LP "(Is There Any Hope For) Tomorrow" (7020)

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE #7 - On The Battlefield - James Harris

Ernest Jones, Mar 26, 2017

Bro. James Harris of First Tabernacle, Newark, NJ  performs On The Battlefield to inspires us to continue to serve God.

Rabbi Curtis G. Caldwell - local pastor 

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ADDENDUM-I AM ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR MY LORD

Eric Young, Jun 15, 2025  BETH EDEN BAPTIST CHURCH

Congregational hymn.

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