Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list'ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast'ning rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land. From Saint Peter Relates an Incident by James Weldon Johnson. Copyright © 1917, 1921, 1935 James Weldon Johnson, renewed 1963 by Grace Nail Johnson. Used by permission of Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc. James Weldon Johnson Photo credit: Carl Van Vechten James Weldon Johnson, born in Florida in 1871, was a national organizer for the NAACP and an author of poetry and nonfiction. Perhaps best known for the song "Lift Every Voice and SIng," he also wrote several poetry collections and novels, often exploring racial identity and the African American folk tradition. About James Weldon Johnson Occasion Fourth of July Themes Ambition America For Children Gratitude History Identity Sign up for Poem-a-Day * indicates required Email Address * More by this poet The Creation And God stepped out on space, And he looked around and said: I'm lonely- I'll make me a world. And far as the eye of God could see Darkness covered everything, Blacker than a hundred midnights Down in a cypress swamp. Then God smiled, And the light broke, And the darkness rolled up on one side, And the light stood shining on the other, And God said: That's good! James Weldon Johnson 1927 Fifty Years (1863-1913) On the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation O brothers mine, today we stand Where half a century sweeps our ken. Since God, through Lincoln’s ready hand. Struck off our bonds and made us men. James Weldon Johnson 1922 Brothers See! There he stands; not brave, but with an air Of sullen stupor. Mark him well! Is he Not more like brute than man? Look in his eye! No light is there; none, save the glint that shines In the now glaring, and now shifting orbs Of some wild animal caught in the hunter’s trap. James Weldon Johnson 1922 Related Poems Still I Rise You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Still my favorite rendition on RU-vid.

For the algorithm.

One of the first I saw doing the gospel jazz thing. This is the pre Cory Henry, pre Quennel Gaskins and pre Glenn Gibson, etc days. I can't believe at this time this clip is as old as a teen graduating high school.

❤

Thanks for sharing Ricky!

I have loved this melody since growing up in the 70's. This is great !!

❤ thank you I wish it was longer. God bless you

This guy is the real deal!

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring ring with the harmonies of liberty Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies let it resound loud as the rolling sea

So beautiful cousin❤️🙏🏾

Ricky, your accompaniment is top tier. I've made a video playing along to your accompaniment on my RU-vid. Please check it out. I'm also planning to use to open a BHM program for the City today. Will Livestream at 6 pm EST on my page. Please check it out and send me your cash app!!!

I hope your still playing. This has always been one of my favorite piano pieces especially in gospel music…much love and respect.

wow bruh your videos are literally some of the first videos on youtube..this was 16yrs ago

oh your awesome and played it so well the traditional way love it!

Who wants another from God? If His YES is not Kingdom's resourses but just letters and words, then how to say YES to Him with knowing John 10:36?

I hear a lot of sister act in there...

ITS STILL HERE!! I used to watch this as a teen years ago.

GOOD RETRO!!!🔥🎵

Bro! Can you do a tutorial?!?!?!

Ima need the sheet music

This is awesome, which key were you in?

Any chance you would do a tutorial on this Brother? How about just what key you played it in?

4:36 that melody part he makes up genius love it

We need the Thomas Whitfield version

Thanks,man !

He is so good,what a talent.

This man is so good !!!

Phenomenal! Praise the Lord!

Has anybody heard of Calil West?

Was woundering if you did tutorials to this song in Ab for beginner to intermedate

tres joli

NICE, NICE TRADITIONAL . NICE PROGRESSIONS.

still bomb 2021

Spot on and well done!.

That was absolutely awesome!

Used in a saxophone arrangement of this, on my page with a shout-out. Ty!

Ricky’s rendition of “Glory to His Name” makes me want to sing and play along.

Love love love it!

I love your melodies.....You are great

Best cover of this piece that I've heard so far!

What type of keyboard are you playing on?

Nice

🙏🏽

Bro, I remember when you first posted this years back; I thought about and had to come back and glad I did doc!

Anointed 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾Playing

Could you post a tutorial?

Stunning. Want to share with my child, my grandchildren. Love the tempo, which at first seemed startlingly slow. The tempo you choose and what you do with it are perfect match. Could I purchase your chord changes?

Well done, young man!!

Wow, Wow, Wow!!! This song came to my spirit while I was getting dressed this morning (TX) and I began to sing it. Then looked it up on RU-vid and low and behold, look what I found! Absolutely wonderful rendition of this powerful hymn. What is also amazing is this young mans knowledge of this song at such a young age...Lol, unless God has preserved him so that he looks younger than he really is, Lol. God can certainly do that, Amen Lol. None the less, thank you for sharing the wonderful gift God has given you with the world, especially in this day and time. I encourage you to continue. In Jesus’ name.