Unreleased recordings
from “An Evening of Hymns and Spirituals”

From “An Evening of Hymns and Spirituals,” February 26, 1999 - Christ & St. Stephen’s Church, NYC

Music and Text - Spiritual, composer and author unknown
Arrangement by John W. Work

Chorus
O bye and bye, bye and bye
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load.
O bye and bye, bye and bye
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load.

I know my robe’s goin’ to fit me well,
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load.
I tried it on at the gates of hell
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load

Chorus

O Christians can’t you rise and tell.
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load.
That Jesus hath done all things well
I’m goin’ to lay down my heavy load

Chorus

Music and Arrangement - Joseph Philbrick Webster
Text - Sanford Fillmore Bennett

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Chorus
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Chorus

Music and Arrangement - Lucius Chapin
Text - Charles Wesley

Come, O thou Traveler unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see;
My company before is gone,
and I am left alone with Thee.
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

In vain Thou strugglest to get free,
I never will unloose my hold;
Art Thou the Man that died for me?
The secret of Thy love unfold;
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

‘Tis Love! ‘tis Love! Thou diedst for me!
I hear Thy whisper in my heart.

Music and Text - Spiritual, composer and author unknown
Arrangement by John W. Work

Chorus
Calvary, Calvary, Calvary, Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Surely He died on Calvary.

Ev’ry time I think about Jesus,
Ev’ry time I think about Jesus,
Ev’ry time I think about Jesus,
Surely He died on Calvary.

Chorus

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Surely He died on Calvary.

Chorus

Music and Text - Spiritual, composer and author unknown
Arrangement by R. Nathaniel Dett

Oh, Peter, go ring dem bells,
Peter, go ring dem bells,
Peter, go ring dem bells,
I heard from heaven today.

I wonder where my mother is gone,
I wonder where sister Mary’s gone,
I heard from heaven today.

Chorus
I heard from heaven today,
I heard from heaven today,
I thank God, and I thank you too,
I heard from heaven today.

Oh, Peter, go ring dem bells,
I heard from heaven today.

I wonder where brother Daniel’s gone,
He’s gone where Elijah has gone,
I heard from heaven today.

Chorus

Music and Text - Spiritual, composer and author unknown
Arrangement by J. Rosamond Johnson

Same train, same train,
Same train carry my mother,
Same train, same train,
Same train carry my mother,
Same train be back tomorrow,
Same train, same train.

Same train carry my sister,
Same train, same train,
Same train carry my sister,
Same train, same train,
Same train carry my sister,
Same train be back tomorrow,
Same train, same train.

Same train a-blowin’ at the station,
Same train, same train,
Same train a-blowin’ at the station,
Same train, same train,
Same train a-blowin’ at the station,
Same train be back tomorrow,
Same train, same train, same train.

Music and Arrangement - Credited to Z. Chambers (or Chambless) in the “Sacred Harp”
Text - “K” in Rippon’s Selection, 1787

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word,
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
Ye who unto Jesus for refuge have fled.

“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When thro’ the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

Music and Text - Traditional Spanish Devotional Song, composer and author unknown

Qué preciosas mañanitas,
Cuando el Niño Dios nació
Le decían los pastorcitos:
Niñito, y a amane ció.

Dawning fair, morning wonderful,
When the infant Christ was born:
Tidings brought by humble shepherds,
Child beloved, child adored.

Roll, Jordan, Roll
Spiritual, composer and author unknown

My brother sittin’ on de tree of life,
An’ he yearde when Joran roll;
Roll, Jordan, Roll, Jordan, Roll, Jordan, roll!

O, let no false nor spiteful word
Be found upon your tongue;
Roll, Jordan, Roll, Jordan, Roll, Jordan, roll!

Chorus
O march de angel march,
O march de angel march;
O my soul arise in Heaven, Lord,
For to yearde when Jordan roll.

Roll, Jerd’n, Roll
Spiritual, composer and author unknown, arrangement by William Appling

Chorus
Roll, Jerd’n, roll,
Roll, Jerd’n, roll,
I want to go to heaven when I die
To hear old Jerd’n roll

Oh, brother, you oughta been there,
Yes, my Lord,
A sittin’ in the kingdom,
Just to hear old Jerd’n roll.

Chorus

Oh, sister, you oughta been there,
Yes, my Lord,
A sittin’ in the kingdom,
Just to hear old Jerd’n roll.

Chorus