Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jerico

"Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jerico" is the second song of George Crumb's A Journey Beyond Time: American Songbook II (2003).

The audio recording provided features Thomas Hampson, baritone, and members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The recording is from a live performance at Alice Tully Hall (New York City) on April 29, 2011 and has been used with permission.

Date: 2003Composer: George CrumbSong Collection: A Journey Beyond Time: American Songbook II

Print vitals & song text

Text

Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jerico
Traditional African-American Spiritual

Refrain:
Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico, Jerico, Jerico
Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down.

You may talk about yo’ king ob Gideon
You may talk about yo’ man ob Saul
Dere’s none like good ole Joshua
At de battle ob Jerico

Refrain

Up to de walls ob Jerico
He marched with spear in han’
“Go blow dem ram horns”, Joshua cried,
“Kase de battle am in my han’.”

Refrain

Den de lam’ ram sheep begin to blow,
Trumpets begin to soun’
Joshua commanded de children to shout
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down
Dat mornin’

Refrain

Audio

Track:

    Sheet Music

    A Journey Beyond Time

    Composer(s): George Crumb

    Song(s): 1. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
    2. "Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jericho"
    3. "Steal Away"
    4. "Oh, a-Rock-a My Soul"
    5. The Pregnant Earth: A Psalm for Noontide (Instrumental Interlude)
    6. "Sit Down, Sister"
    7. "Nobody Knows de Trouble I See"
    8. "Go Down, Moses"
    9. "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"

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