Deep River
The complete cycle was premiered by Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor, with pianist, Yelena Birayeva at Boston Metro Opera. It was first posted to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, 2021. To hear the spirituals, please click on the buttons below their texts:
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Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor
1. Deep river,/my home is over Jordan./Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground/Oh, don't you want to go
to that gospel feast/that promised land where all is peace?/Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground.
to that gospel feast/that promised land where all is peace?/Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground.
2. I've got a robe,/you've got a robe,/All of God's children got a robe./When I get to heaven goin' to put on my robe,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there; heaven, heaven,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven.
I've got a harp, you've got a harp,/all of God's children got a harp./When I get to heaven goin' to play my harp,
goin' to play all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there;/heaven, heaven,
goin' to play all over God's heaven.
I've got a crown, you've got a crown,/all of God's children got a crown./When I get to heaven goin' to put on my crown,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there;heaven, heaven,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven.
goin' to shout all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there; heaven, heaven,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven.
I've got a harp, you've got a harp,/all of God's children got a harp./When I get to heaven goin' to play my harp,
goin' to play all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there;/heaven, heaven,
goin' to play all over God's heaven.
I've got a crown, you've got a crown,/all of God's children got a crown./When I get to heaven goin' to put on my crown,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven, heaven, heaven./Ev'rybody talking 'bout heaven ain't goin' there;heaven, heaven,
goin' to shout all over God's heaven.
3. Now let me fly/Way down yonder in de middle of the field/Angel workin' at de chariot wheel/Not so partic'lar 'bout
workin' at de wheel/But I jes' wan-a see how de chariot feel/Now let me fly/Into Mount Zion, Lord.
workin' at de wheel/But I jes' wan-a see how de chariot feel/Now let me fly/Into Mount Zion, Lord.
4. Go Down Moses: When Israel was in Egypt land/Let my people go,/oppressed so hard they could not stand/Let my people go/
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land,/tell old Pharaoh/To let my people go/Thus spake The Lord, bold Moses said/Let my people go/If not I'll smite your first born dead/Let my people go/Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land/tell old Pharoh/ To Let my people go.
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land,/tell old Pharaoh/To let my people go/Thus spake The Lord, bold Moses said/Let my people go/If not I'll smite your first born dead/Let my people go/Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land/tell old Pharoh/ To Let my people go.
5. Swing low, sweet chariot/Coming for to carry me home/Swing low, sweet chariot/Coming for to carry he home /I looked over Jordan and what did I see/Coming for to carry he home/A band of angels coming after me/Coming for to carry me home.
6. Joshua fit the battle of Jericho/And the walls came tumbling down/Up to the walls of Jericho/They marched with spear in hand/Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried/'Cause the battle am in my hand./That morning, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho/And the walls came tumbling down
7. I m a poor wayfaring stranger/While traveling through this world of woe/Yet there's no sickness, toil, or danger/In that bright land to which I go/I'm going home to see my Father/I'm going there no more to roam/I'm only going over Jordan/I'm only going over home.
8. Rock-a-my Soul: Oh-a-rock-a-my soul/In the bosom of Abraham/When I went down in the valley to pray/Oh-rock-a-my soul/My soul got happy and I stayed all day/Oh rock-a-my soul/Oh rock-a-my soul/In the bosom of Abraham/Oh a I was a mourner jus' like you/Oh rock-a-my soul/ I mourned and mourned 'til I got through/Oh rock-a-my soul//In the bosom of Abraham.
9. Deep river,/my home is over Jordan./Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground/Oh, don't you want to go
to that gospel feast/that promised land where all is peace?/Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground.
to that gospel feast/that promised land where all is peace?/Deep river, Lord/I want to cross over into campground.