SONGS BASED ON REVELATION (and a few other Biblical texts)
1) Revelation 4
**Deep River [ 'Walk into heaven and take my seat/ And cast my crown at Jesus'
feet']
Ballad for Americans [sound recording] : and great songs of faith, love and
patriotism / Paul Robinson.
Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976.
[CD 05111]
1989m 1967, 1965 Vangard Records
*Deep river
My home is over Jordan
..
I want to cross over into campground
…
O don't you want to go to the gospel feast
That promised land, where all is peace.
Deep river, Lord
I want to cross over into campground.
[Find other recording that has the bit about casting crowns??]
2) Revelation 5
Messiah [sound recording] / Georg Friedrich Haendel. (1742)
[CD 04764]
Libretto Charles Jennens.
Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Caen 1994.
[Notes: 3 parts; part I; prophecy; part Ii: the narrative; Part III: commentary on the
signifance of the story] -- explain why Hallelujah chorus is at end of part II
Jennens: ecucated Oxford/ textual studies of the Bible and Shakespeare
Worthy is the lamb that was slain,
and hath redeemed us to God by his blood,
to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength,
and honour, and glory, and blessing.
3) cont. of same
Blessing and honour, glory and power
be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. (Rev 5:12-13)
Amen (Chorus) Rev 5: 14 "And the four living creatures said 'Amen!"
[?? Is this on the CD Mark recorded)
4) Revelation 6
The Fisk Jubilee Singers [sound recording] / directed by John W. Work.
Jubilee Singers. directed by John W. Work
[CD 07955]
Smithsonian Folkways Records, 1955
**"My Lord what a mornin' " (Stars fall etc. Rev 6:12 Johnson & J i.162-3; cf. Oxford:
Hogan #3]
"My Lord what a mornin', My Lord what a mornin', My Lord what a mornin'
When the stars begin to fall" Rev 6:13
[Different words from Johnson & Johnson after first part]
5) O the rocks and the mountains shall all flee away
The Fisk Jubilee Singers [sound recording] / directed by John W. Work.
Jubilee Singers. directed by John W. Work
[CD 07955]
Smithsonian Folkways Records, 1955
Side One #2
O the rocks and the mountains shall all flee away
And you shall have a new hiding place that day" [see Rev 6:16-17 ?no
"Sinner, sinner give up your heart to God
And you shall have a new hiding place that dasy"
falling rocks (Rev 6:16; 8:8)
6) Revelation 6 [Or Rev 1:10-11: "I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
saying, 'Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches….'"
The complete Blind Willie Johnson [sound recording].
Johnson, Blind Willie.
CD 07564
Columbia 1993 (recorded Atlanta, April 20, 1930)
with Willie Harris
Notes:Intro by Samuel Charters/ gospel singer, cf early country blues/ relentless
guitar rhythms and harsh, insistent voice
John the Revelator (Willie Johnson" www/ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden/Revel
NOTE: maybe not called a spiritual??)
*Well, Who's dat a writin'
John the Revelator
Hey book of the seven seals.
Well, what's John a writin'
'’bout the revelator
Hey book of the 7 seals" (Refrain)
[Work on getting rest of the words]
John the Reveelator
great advocator
….
tellin the story
riding the glory
Lord don't you love …
Well Moses …watchin the flock
saw the bush where they had to stop
God tol' Moses put off you shoes
I'll let the flock go it's.you I choose
cried a holy
.son of Bible God
daughter of Zion
Judah the lion
Hey redeemer said he bought us with his blood
7) Revelation 7
**I got a robe, you got a robe, All o' God's Chillun got a robe" (Rev 7:9)
(Johnson J i.71 cf. i.118-19; ii.68-71; ii.84-5; ii.105-7)
The best of the Moses Hogan Chorale [sound recording].
Moses Hogan Chorale.
[CD 08137 disk 1 #3
[Final touring season 1998-99, community choir from New Orleans
existed 1993-99; MGH Records, 2 disk set]
I got a robe, you got a robe, All o' God's Chillun got a robe" [disk one]
*Marietta Simpson, mezzosoprana
I got a robe, you got a robe, All o' God's Chillun got a robe
I'm goin' walk all over God's heaben
I got shoes
I got a crown, you got a crown, all God's chillin' got a crown
I got a harp, you got a harp [cf. Rev 14.2]
When I get to heaben I'm going playt on my harp gonna
Everybody talkin' about heaben ain't goin' there
8) Revelation 8
**Steal Away to Jesus [8:5 fire; 8:7 thunder, lightening; 8:7 green trees a bending"
[Johnson & J i.114-7; K/R 112]
The best of the Moses Hogan Chorale [sound recording].
Moses Hogan Chorale.
[CD 08137] disk 1 #15 see description under Rev 7 I gotta robe
Rodney Vaughn, tenor
*Refrain
Steal Away, Steal Away, Steal Away to Jesus
Steal Away, Steal Away Home.
I ain't got long to stay here.
My Lord calls me, he calls me by the thunder
The trumpet sounds withina my soul
I ain't got long to stay here.
Green trees a bendin'
O sinner stands a tembli'
The trumpet sounds withina my soul
I ain't got long to stay here.
My Lord calls me
He calls me by the lightening.
The trumpet sounds withina my soul
I ain't got long to stay here.
9) **Gimme dat ol' time relgion [Rev 8:5: it will do when de world's on fiah"
The best of the Moses Hogan Chorale [sound recording].
Moses Hogan Chorale.
CD 08137 see description Rev 7 I gotta robe
disk 1 #16 Alfred Walker, bass
*Gimme dat ol' time relgion, Gimme dat ol' time relgion,
Gimme dat ol' time relgion
It's good enough for me.
It was good for the Hebrew children.
It's good enough for me.
It was good for Paul and Silas.
It was good for my grandmother.
[It will do when de world's on fiah NOTE not in this recording!]
10) Revelation 10
In Dat Great Gittin up Mornin'" [Also Rev 8;1-3; 19:11-16; 20:7; 20:11-15
takes angel of Rev 10:3-4 as Gabriel
Witness. Volume I, Spirituals and gospels [sound recording].
Brunelle, Philip, 1943- cnd
CD 07237
The Ensemble Singers and Choirs of the Plymouth Music series of Minnesota.
Philip Brunell, Conductor.
[ARRANGED BY JESTER HAIRSTON 1930. BOURNE CO., 1952)
NOTES: In dat Great carries subte message of escape
#11 In dat Great Gittin up Mornin'
Yoland Williams, soprano
I'm gonna tell you 'bout de comin' of judgemnt
Fare ye well, fare ye well.
Der's a better day a comin',
Fare ye well, fare ye well.
O preacher fold yo' Bible
Fo' de last sou's converted,
Blow yo' trumpet, Gabriel
Lord, how loud shall I blow it?
Blow it right calm and easy.
Do not 'larm all my epople.
Tell dem to come to de judgment.
Fare ye well, fare ye well.
Den you see dem coffins bustin',
Den you see de folkses risin'.
Den you see de world on fire,
Den you see de stars are fallin'
Den you see dat forked lightnin'
Den you hear dat rumblin' thunder,
Fare ye well, po' sinner
Fare ye well, fare ye well.
In Dat Great Gittin up Mornin'
Blow your trumpet Gabriel
Dint you see the world on fire
Didn't you see the …lightening
…. hear the roll of thunder
[ K/R 120-121 quotation; Johnson & J ii.40-3
11) Revelation 19
Hallelujah
Rev 19:6; 11:15: 19:16
Messiah [sound recording] / Georg Friedrich Haendel. (1742)
[CD 04764]
Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Caen 1994.
[Part II (after Luke 2
begins with #16
Behold the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) ]
Ends with Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! …
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."
"Worthy is the Lamb that sittith upon the throne"
12) Revelation 21-22 Well, I want to be ready to walk in Jerusalem just like John
Golden Gate Quartet [sound recording] : radio transcriptions, in chronological
order, 1941-1944.
Golden Gate Quartet.
CD 09078
Document Records, produced Johnny Parth, Vienna, 1996,
[NOTES: Golden Gate Quartet, 1930 Norfolk ; then Charlotte. 1938 Carnegie Hall
1941 Roosevelt's inauguration; Willie Johnson et al]
Well, I want to be ready to walk in Jerusalem just like John
Well, John said it was prettty fair.
I won't be contented til I get there.
John said the city was foursquare wide
I could enter with the sanctified.
My Lord told me what to do
..
My lord up and spoke to me
Said if I take two steps I'll make three
….
If you make four steps, I'll make five"
Gonna walk walk
.. walk in Jerusalem just like John.
13) Revelation 21-22
Zion's Walls
CD 09534
Willard White sings [sound recording] : Copland; American spirituals; folksongs / by Willard White.
White, Willard. bass 1991 Chandos Records. England.
[booklet but no words]
Aaron Copland Old Amercian Songs
Set II, #2 Zion's Walls
[Notes: revivalist song weords and music by John G. McCurry 1821-86.
Setting by Copland, composed in 1950 premiered William Warfield]
*Come fathers and mothers,
come sisters and brothers
come join us in singing
the praises of Zion, …assist us in singing
We'll shout and go round
the walls of zion
14) Revelation 21-22
You got a right, I got a right/ We all got a right to the tree of life"
CD 04598
African American congregational singing [sound recording] : nineteenthcentury roots.
Reagon, Bernice Johnson, 1942life' (Johnson and Johnson i.183-4)
**Great Day ("Build Zion's Walls... Set his people free" Oxford: Hagan #10
(NB Jerusalem image and freedom)
15)
*Lily of the Valley ("Streets paved with gold) Oxford: Hagan #18
Gospel and Negro spirituals [sound recording].
Tharpe, Rosetta, d. 1973. Tuxedo Music, 1990.
CD 06756
He's a lily, lily, lily of the valley
He's a white, white, white rose of sharon.
[NB streets paved with gold not in this recording]
16) Revelation 21-22
**Jerusalem My Happy home (an American folk tune and a hymn; Episcoapl
Hymnal 1982: 620; K/R p. 236)) [also Rev 2:10; 3:21]
Mostly about love [sound recording] / Virgil Thomson.
Thomson, Virgil, 1896CD 05175
Northeastern 1994
NOTE: very different tune from the one I know.
Hierusalem, my happie home,
When shall I come to Thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end.
Thy joys when shall I see?
O happie harbour of the Saints!
O sweet and pleasnt soyle!
In thee noe sorrow may be founde,
Noe griefe, noe care, noe tyle.
Thy waies are made of precious stones,
Thy bulwarkes of diamondes square;
Thy gates are of right Orient pearle,
Exceeding rich and rare.
Thy tureets and thy pinnacles
With carbuncles do shine;
Thy verie streets are paved with gold,
surpassing cleare and fine.
Quite through the streets, with silver sound
The folld of life doth flowe,
Upon whose banks on ev'rie side
The wood of Life doth growe. [Rev 22:1-2]
There trees for evermore bear fruite,
And evermore do springe,
There evermore the Angels sit,
and evermore do sing.
There David standes, with harpe in hand,
As master of the Quire;
Tenne thousand times that man were blest
That might this music hear.
Our Ladie sings "Magnificat,"
With tones surpassing sweete;
And all the virgins bear their part,
Sitting about her feet.
There Magdalene hath left her mone,
And cheerefullie doth singe
With blessed Saints whose harmonie
In ev'rie street doth ringe.
Hierusalem, my happie home.
Would God I were in thee!
Would God my woes were at an end
Thy joys that I might see!
[NOTE: ANONYMOUS STANZAS ON 'MATER HIERUSALEM CIVITAS SANCTA
DEI from The Meditation of Saint Augustine, ch. 25]
from Virgil Thomson, Praises and Prayers 1963
D'anna Fortunate, mezzo-soprano]
17) Revelation 5 v. 11 Title Honor the Lamb
["Worthy is the Lamb.. to receive honor …']
Southern Journey, Vol. 11. ed. Alan Lomax
The Belleville A cappella Choir.
[CD 06023]
1998 Rounder Records original 1961.
Honor the Lamb.
[NB I don't like this one so much, many omit;\
only tie to Rev = "Lamb"
also the music is boring]
[Notes: new groups bet 1890 and 1900: Church of God and Saints
of God, found 1896, prophet William S. Crowdy
Negro race descendedd from 10 lost tribes of israel
Jewish calendar etc.
ceneter today in Belleville, outside Portsmouth, VA
--many of their own comositions
#13 Soloist Caleb Garris.
O I wouldn't take nothin' for my.
Honor the Lamb, Honor the Lamb
.
Oh I promised the Lord I would deny Him not,
Honor the lamb, honor the lamb.
I wouldn't run away when the battle got hot.
Honor the Lamb, Honor the Lamb
Oh, today is the day which the Lord hath made.
We will rejoice and be glad, amen.
Oh, I'm goin' down, children to pray my prayer.
I'll have a lifetime journey when I get there.
??CD
18) Revelation 21:4
All of my Appointed Time [JLK: Maybe omit this/ I don't like the music much;
monotonous] notes: leading exponents of gospel musics
40 years of a capella gospel singenge, 1996. Mojo Records.
Rare broadcasts of Jubilee influenced groups of the 1940's
CD 6565
th
[NOTES a cappella: Dr Watts tyle: named in honor of Isaac Watts, an 18 century
English Methodist hymn writer, transmogrified by myth into an old slave. Leader
chants a line, congregation sings that line with embellishments. then the moaning
(humming)
God shall wipe away all tears
The Kings of Harmony, Carey Bradley, lead
19)
Will there be any stars in my crown?
All of my Appointed Time [JLK: Maybe omit this/ I don't like the music much;
monotonous] notes: leading exponents of gospel musics
40 years of a capella gospel singenge
Rare broadcasts of Jubilee influenced groups of the 1940's
CD 6565
Will there be…..
The Golden Harps, lead Jeanette Harris (Chicgo quartet of
women, 1941)
Time [JLK: Maybe omit this/ I don't like the music much; monotonous] notes:
leading exponents of gospel musics
Will there be any crowns in my crown
(??Crown Rev 2:10 "crown of life
Rev 3:11 crown
4:4 gold crowns
4:10 cast their crowns
6:2 crown given to him
9:7 gold crowsn
*12:1: crown of 12 stars"14:14 (son of Man) gold crown
20)
Who will win from my Lord (?)
Will y'all win from my Lord
21)