Mahalia Jackson ♫ Gospels ♪ Spirituals ♪ Hymns

Mahalia Jackson Singing🙏

&

Martin Luther King Jr Preaching

During the Chicago Movement for Freedom (ca. 1965-1967), Mahalia Jackson joined his friend Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., when he was preaching a sermon about justice and equality at Church.

Jackson, who is known as the "Queen of Gospel Music", sang the spiritual "Joshua Fit / Fought the Battle of Jericho".

King, who considered that negro spirituals were "the most original of all American music", said:

"I think I can say concerning this great Gospel singer in our midst, our dear friend, my great friend Mahalia Jackson, that a voice like this comes only once in a millenium."

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An old African American spiritual based on the story of Joshua in the Bible.

'Fit' represents a way of saying 'fought'. 

The song tells how Joshua captured the city of Jericho when he ordered the Israelites to blow trumpets until the walls fell down.

Mahalia Jackson

Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho

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"Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" (or alternatively "Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho") is a well-known African-American spiritual.

Lyrics

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Mahalia Jackson
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
The walls came tumblin' down, Hallelujah
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down
You may talk about the men of Gideon
You may talk about the men of Saul
But there're none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho, Hallelujah
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down, Hallelujah
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down
Up to the walls of Jericho
With sword drawn in his hand
Go blow them horns, cried Joshua
The battle is in my hands
Joshua fit the battle of…

The song is believed to have been composed by slaves in the first half of the 19th century. Some references suggest that it was copyrighted by Jay Roberts in 1865. In 1882, the song was published in Jubilee Songs by M. G. Slayton and in A Collection of Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies by Marshall W. Taylor. The first recorded version was by Harrod's Jubilee Singers, on Paramount Records No. 12116 in 1922  (though some sources suggest 1924). The Online 78 Discography entry for this record credits Jay Roberts as the author. Later recordings include those by Paul Robeson (1925), Mahalia Jackson (1958), Clara Ward, Laurie London, Hugh Laurie (2011) and Elvis Presley (1960) among many others. 

In 1930, Marshall Bartholomew created his arrangement of the song.

Composer and conductor Morton Gould used the song as the basis for his 1941 composition for concert band, Jericho Rhapsody.

Ralph Flanagan adapted it under the title "Joshua". Ralph Flanagan and His Orchestra recorded the spiritual in New York City on March 1, 1950. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3724 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 9938 and IP 604. 

Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961)

Early published versions include some parts in dialect, such as "fit" for "fought". The lyrics allude to the biblical story of the Battle of Jericho, in which Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan (Joshua 6:15-21). However, like those of many other spirituals, the words may also be alluding to eventual escape from slavery – in the case of this song, "And the walls came tumblin' down." The lively melody and rhythm also provided energy and inspiration. 

Critic Robert Cummings wrote: "The jaunty, spirited theme hardly sounds like the product of the pre-Civil War era, and would not sound out of place in a ragtime or even jazz musical from the early 20th century. The closing portion of the tune, sung to the words quoted above, is its most memorable portion: the notes plunge emphatically and impart a glorious sense of collapse, of triumph."

Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho
Mahalia Jackson

Here is another gem from my VHS archives. Our gospel Queen Mahalia Jackson as she appeared in 1957 singing on the Nat King Cole show. Listen to that voice so pure and powerful.

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Mahalia Jackson

You'll Never Walk Alone

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Trouble of the World

Lyrics

Soon I will be done

With the troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Soon I will be done

Troubles of the world

I'm going home to live with God

No more weepin' and wailin' (x3)

I'm going home to live my Lord

Soon I will be done

With the troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Soon I will be done

Troubles of the world

I'm going home to live with my Lord

I want to see my mother (x3)

I'm going home to live with God

Soon I will be done

With the troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Troubles of the world

Soon I will be done

Troubles of the world

I'm going home to live with God

Comments:

• Shadow Play in the Woods:   If you ever want to know what an annointed voice sounds like... this is it.
• Demetrius Smith:  When you can feel the song in your soul and it begins to weep for the world and the misunderstanding of humanity.

Mahalia Jackson

Amazing Grace

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Mahalia Jackson
Trouble of The World

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Mahalia Jackson ♫ Elvis ♫ Barbara McNair

Mahalia Jackson
Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho

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Mahalia Jackson * Richard Daley * Martin Luther King Jr. * Ralph Abernathy

Mahalia Jackson * Richard Daley * Martin Luther King Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Fit_the_Battle_of_Jericho