GOSPEL SONGS from ISAIAH

Gospel Songs for Isaiah

A lot of Gospel songs are based on verses from Isaiah, not to mention Handel's Messiah, which uses Isaiah more than any other biblical book (for example, the famed Hallelujah Chorus).

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Children, Go Where I Send Thee

This is probably based on the commision of the prophet, Isaiah, in that book. Like many Afro-American spirituals, a series of repetitions are an aid in remembering the song. Go here.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee one-by-one

well one was a little bitty baby

wrapped in swaddling clothing

lying in the manger,

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee two-by-two

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Three for the three men riding (or: the Hebrew children)

Four for the four that stood at the door (or: were knocking at the door)

Five for the gospel preachers (or: the five that came back alive)

Six for the six that never got fixed (or: picked)

Seven for the seven that never got to Heaven (originally "the seven that all went to Heaven", probably alluding to Luke 20:27-33)

Eight for the eight that waited (or: stood) at the gate

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine (or: the nine that stood in the line)

Ten for the Ten Commandments

Eleven for the eleven deriders

Twelve for the twelve Apostles

Another set of lyrics is here:

Twelve by twelve that couldn't get help

Eleven by eleven that couldn't get to heaven

Ten by ten that couldn't get in

Nine by nine that dressed so fine

Eight by eight that stood at the gate

Seven by seven that went on to heaven

Six by six that couldn't get fixed

Five by five that couldn't get by

Four by four that stood at the door

And three by the Hebrew children

And two by Paul and Silas

And one by the little bitty baby, who was born, born, born in Bethlehem

PEACE IN THE VALLEY

This is not a spiritual but a Gospel song, written by "The Father of Gospel Music," Thomas A. Dorsey. This is one of the most recorded Gospel songs in history. Elvis Presley recorded it on an early Gospel EP (extended play album, featuring 4 Gospel songs). The EP was the first Gospel EP to sell a million copies. Oddly Elvis won his only two Grammy awards for his Gospel recordings (How Great Thou Art, His Hand in Mine), not his Rock recordings. Go here. To see Elvis sing the song on Live Television (The Ed Sullivan Show) in 1957, go here.

Well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go along
Till the lord will come and call, call me away, oh yeah
Well the morning's so bright
And the Lamb is the light
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
(alt lyric: 'and the night, night is as fair as the day, oh yes')

(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, my Lord,
no trouble, trouble I see)
There will be peace in the valley for me

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

(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, oh my Lordy, no trouble, trouble I see)
There will be peace in the valley for me, [for me]

DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE

One of the most famous Afro-American Spirituals, based on verses in Isaiah (some of these verses also appear in Micah, a minor prophet, living around the same time as Isaiah). Again, "minor" does NOT mean "lesser," but "shorter." To hear Gospel great, Mahalia Jackson, sing this song, go here. Another Gospel great, Rosetta Tharpe, sings the song here. But there are many more versions on youtube. As usual, Black artists rarely sing the same lyrics so there's no easy way to find a match of lyrics and recording.

 

 

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 stick my sword in the golden sand;
Down By the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more.

refrain

Gonna put on my long white robe;
Down By the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna put on my long white robe; Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more.

refrain

Gonna put on my starry crown; Down By the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna put on my starry crown;
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more.

refrain

Gonna put on my golden shoes;
(ETC)
Gonna talk with the Prince of Peace;
(ETC)
Gonna shake hands around the world;
(ETC)

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