Spirit o’ the Lord Done Fell on Me

“Spirit o’ the Lord Done Fell on Me” is a spiritual arrangement for voice and piano by Eva Jessye. The song is the second arrangement included in Jessye’s book My Spirituals (1927). In the song’s preface, Jessye describes how this song reminds her of Lil’ Head Johnson— the deacon of Macedonia —who was known for the small size of his head, but more perhaps more importantly for the fervency and frequency with which he prayed. Jessye writes, “A half hour is a short time for Lil’ Head Johnson to pray and some exhausted occupant of the Amen Corner will soon start a spiritual as a gentle hint that the prayer be terminated. Such a song is sure to be shortened, for Brother Johnson will thunder a belated “A-a-a-men” and slowly rising, swing into the rousing shout: Oh John! — — — Hallelujah— Oh John! Spirit o’ the Lord done fell on me.”

Date: 1927Composer: Eva JessyeText: SpiritualSong Collection: My Spirituals

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