Joshua fit de battle (African American Spiritual)

Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
An’ de walls come tumblin’down.

You may talk about yo’ king ob Gideon
You may talk about yo’ man ob Saul
Dere’s none like good ole Joshua
At de battle ob Jerico

Up to de walls ob Jericho
He marched with spear in han’
“Go blow dem ram horns”, Joshua cried,
“Kase de battle am in my han’.”

Den de lam’ ram sheep begin to blow,
Trumpets begin to soun’
Joshua commanded de children to shout
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down
Dat mornin’

Joshua fit the battle ob Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
An’ de walls come tumblin’down.

Historical Information

Traditional African American Spiritual
 

Walk Together Children

Walk together children
Don' you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
Oh, talk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised land

Sing together children
Don' you get weary
Sing together children
Don't you get weary
Oh, shout together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised land

Gwineter mourn and never tire
Mourn and never tire
Mourn and never tire
There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land

Traditional African American Spiritual

When we all get to heaven

Refrain:

When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
we'll sing and shout the victory!

1. Sing the wondrous love of Jesus;
sing his mercy and his grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
he'll prepare for us a place. (Refrain)

2. While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
clouds will overspread the sky;
but when traveling days are over,
not a shadow, not a sigh. (Refrain)

3. Let us then be true and faithful,
trusting, serving every day;
just one glimpse of him in glory
will the toils of life repay. (Refrain)

4. Onward to the prize before us!
Soon his beauty we'll behold;
soon the pearly gates will open;
we shall tread the streets of gold. (Refrain)

Text: Eliza E. Hewitt
Tune: HEAVEN, 87.87 with Refrain. By Emily D. Wilson

His eye is on the sparrow

1. Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shaddows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (Refrain)

3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (Refrain)

Historical Background 

Text: Civilia D. Martin (1866-1948)
Tune: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Peace in the Valley (Thomas Dorsey)

1. Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes

Refrain:

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

 2. Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes

Background Information

Composer: Thomas A. Dorsey (1937)

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Refrain

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. (Refrain)

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. (Refrain)

Traditional Gospel Spiritual

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Sweet little Jesus Boy —
They made you be born in a manger.
Sweet little Holy Child —
Didn't know who you was.
Didn't know you'd come to save us, Lord;
To take our sins away.
Our eyes was blind, we couldn't see,
We didn't know who you was.

Long time ago, you was born,
Born in a manger low,
Sweet little Jesus Boy.
The world treat you mean, Lord,
Treat me mean too,
But that's how things is down here —
We don't know who you is.

You done told us how, we is a tryin'!
Master, you done show'd us how,
even when you was dyin'.
Just seem like we can't do right,
Look how we treated you.
But please, sir, forgive us, Lord —
We didn't know 'twas you.

Sweet little Jesus Boy, born long time ago.
Sweet little Holy Child,
And we didn't know who you was.

Composer: Robert MacGimsey (1934)

Down By The Riverside

Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Ain't gonna study war no more.

Refrain:

I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more.
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more.

Gonna lay down my sword and shield...

Gonna put on my starry crown ...

Gonna put on my long white robe ...

Gonna put on my golden shoes ...

Traditional African American Spiritual

Background information

Fix Me, Jesus

Refrain:

Oh Lord, fix me,
Oh Lord fix me,
Oh Lord fix me,
Fix me Jesus, fix me

1. Fix me for my long white robe.
Fix me, Jesus, fix me.
Fix me for my starry crown.
Fix me, Jesus, fix me. (Refrain)

2. Fix me for my journey home.
Fix me, Jesus, fix me.
For me for my dying bed.
Fix me, Jesus, fix me.

Traditional African American Spiritual

Keep Your Hand On The Plow

Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Heard the voice of Jesus say
Come unto me, I am the way.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When my way gets dark as night,
I know the lord will be my light,
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

You can talk about me much as you please
the more you talk, gonna stay on my knees.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout
Be nobody there to put me out.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
I know my robe's gonna fit me well,
I tried it on at the gates of Hell.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Traditional African American Spiritual

Wayfaring Stranger

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
A-traveling through, this world of woe.
Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger
In that bright land, to which I go.
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam;
I'm just go-ing over Jordan
I'm just go-ing over home.

I know dark clouds will gather round me
I know my way is rough and steep;
Yet beauteous fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep
I'm going there to see my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come;
I'm just go-ing over Jordan
I'm just go-ing over home.

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm just go-ing over home.

American folk gospel/spiritual

I Want Jesus To Walk With Me

want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
I want Jesus to walk with me

In my trial, Lord, walk with me
In my trials, Lord, walk with me
When the shades of life are falling
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

In my sorrow, Lord walk with me
In my sorrows, Lord walk with me
When my heart is aching
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

In my troubles, Lord walk with me
In my troubles, Lord walk with me
When my life becomes a burden,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

Traditional African American Spiritual

We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
Soldiers of the cross.

Every round goes higher, higher,
Every round goes higher, higher,
Every round goes higher, higher,
Soldiers of the cross.

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Soldiers of the cross.

If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
Soldiers of the cross.

Traditional African American Spiritual

Lord, I Want To Be A Christian

Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.

Traditional African American Spiritual

It's Me, It's Me, O Lord, Standing In The Need Of Prayer

BLUEGRASS STYLE:


GOSPEL STYLE:




Refrain

It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer. (Refrain)

Not the preacher, nor the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not the preacher, nor the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer. (Refrain)

Not my father, nor my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not my father, nor my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer. (Refrain)

Not the stranger, nor my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not the stranger, nor my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer. (Refrain)

Traditional African American Spiritual

Guide My Feet Lord, While I Run This Race

Guide my feet, Lord
While I run this race.
Guide my feet, lord
While I run this race.
Guide my feet, Lord,
while I run this race,
'cause I don't want to run this race in vain.

Hold my hand, Lord, while I run this race...

Stand by me, Lord, while I run this race...

Traditional African American Spiritual

There Is A Balm In Gilead

Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead,
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,
to heal the sinsick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again. (Refrain)

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,
and say, "He died for all." (Refrain)

Don’t ever feel discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge,
He’ll never refuse to lend. (Refrain)

Historical Information

Traditional African American Spiritual

Every Time I Feel The Spirit

Refrain:
Every time I feel the spirit
Movin’ in my heart I will pray
Every time I feel the spirit
Movin’ in my heart I will pray

Up on the mountains my Lord spoke
Out of His mouth came fire and smoke
Looked all around me, it looked so fine
I asked the Lord could it be mine (Refrain)

The Jordan river is chilly and cold.
It chills the body but not the soul.
There aint but one train upon this track.
It runs to heaven and then right back (Refrain)

Oh, I have sorrow and I have woe
I have heartaches here below
But while God leads me I’ll never fear
For I know that He is near (Refrain)

Traditional African American Spiritual

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Ev'ry where I go, I'm going to let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

All in my house, I'm going to let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

I'm not going to make it shine, I'm just going to let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Out in the dark, I'm going to let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

African American Spiritual

He Never Said A Mumbalin' Word (USA)

They crucified my Lord
And he never said a mumbalin word
They crucified my Lord.
And he never said a mumbalin' word
Not a word, not a word, not a word.

They nailed him to a tree

They pierced him in the side

The blood came trickalin' down

He bowed his head and died

Traditional African American Spiritual