Thank You Jesus (For My Journey) - Videos & Lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part I of a four part series which features a sampling of African American religious songs of thanks.

This post features renditions of the Spiritual "Thank You Jesus (for my journey)".

Part II of this series features a 1949 sound file & transcription of the Blues sounding Gospel song "I Thank You Jesus (Sure 'Nough I Do) by Marie Knight. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/marie-knight-i-thank-you-jesus-sure.html for that post.

Part III of this series features an arrangement of the Gospel song "Thank You Lord" ("I Just Want To Thank You Lord"). Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-just-want-to-thank-you-lord-video.html for that post.

Part IV of this series features the song "Thank You Lord (for all you've done for me). Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/walter-hawkins-singers-kim-burrell.html for that post.

The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED VIDEOS & LYRICS
Example #1:
James Cleveland and the Southern Ca Community Choir - Thank You Jesus For My Journey (Album 1975)



williamkinggospel, Uploaded on Dec 6, 2011

James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir
Thank You Jesus For My Journey
©1975 Savoy Records
-snip-
LYRICS (Partial transcription; to be completed)

Choir - Thank You Jesus for my journey.
Lead: Thank You Jesus for my journey
Choir- You brought me
Lead - You bought me
Thank You, Jesus for my journey.
You brought me
Oh You brought me
from ah mighty, ah mighty long way.

Lead: I believe we ought to say it one more time.
Thank You Jesus for my journey.
Choir: Thank You Jesus for my journey
Lead - You brought me
Choir - You bought me
Thank You, Jesus for my journey.
You brought me
Oh You brought me
from ah mighty, ah mighty long way.

Choir:
You brought me
You brought me
Lead So many, so many times when I couldn't see my way.
Oh oh I thank you tonight.
You told me when I needed you, you would

through the rain and the storm Lord knows you brought me.
I want to take this time to say
Thank you Jesus for my journey
from my sick bed
when I was down to my last dime.
[Lead continues ad libbing]
Choir & Lead: You bought me from a mighty long way.
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Example #2: Howard University Choir - "Thank You, Jesus"



mrstudent191, Uploaded on May 19, 2009

The Howard University Choir, conducted by J. Weldon Norris, D.M., performs Dr. Norris's arrangement of the spiritual "Thank You, Jesus." The solo is performed by junior Music Education major, Leon Clark, tenor. This performance was at Howard University's 141st Commencement, held May 9, 2009; the speaker was Gwen Ifill.
-snip-
LYRICS: Thank You Jesus (For My Journey)

Chorus:
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
You brought me from a long long way
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
[Oh] You brought me from a long long way.

Verse #1
(The soloist sings first line of the verse. The choir sings the second line. The soloist & choir sings third line. The verse is then repeated with that pattern)

Well, You brought me through great trials and tribulations.
Oh Lord
You brought me from a long long way.
Well, You brought me through great trials and tribulations.
Oh Lord
You brought me from a long long way.

Chorus

Verse #2
(Choir hums and select members of the choir echoes certain words while soloist sings)

Oh when I went down on the alter
and I fell down on my knees
and asked the Lord to help me
“Lord help me if you please!”.
He threw His arms around me.
My soul became steadfree.
And now I live with Jesus Christ
And my God I shall see.

Chorus
[Oh] Thank you Jesus etc.

Verse #3
(The soloist begins and the choir joins in singing this verse, with some humming and some echoing words.)

Oh well you brought me through great storms
and deep deep darkness
Oh You brought me from a long long way
well you brought me through great storms
and deep deep darkness
You brought me from a long long way
[repeat entire verse]

Chorus

Verse #4
(Choir hums and select members of the choir echoes certain words while soloist sings)

When I think of my old mother
The hurt she’s been through
The doctor came and told me
He done all he could do.
But I prayed to Doctor Jesus
And my prayers were not in vain.
He put His hands on mother’s brow.
And there was no more pain.

Chorus
[with choir elaborating]

[Oh] Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
You brought me from a long long way
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Oh yes You brought me
Yes you brought me
From a long long way.
-snip-
Transcription:
My transcription of this video includes performance instructions in parenthesis. The beginning words that are optional are given in brackets.

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Example #3: I Thank You Jesus



MetroSingers, Uploaded on Dec 18, 2007

MetroSingers, Hyattsville, MD
http://www.metrosingers.com
-snip-
Here's a comment from Marques Garrett, a viewer of this video in 2009:
"This is Robert Morris's arrangement."
-snip-
LYRICS (Partial Transcription)
-snip-
Chorus:
I Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus.
I thank you Lord.
[Well] You’ve brought me from a mighty,
a mighty long way.
I Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus.
I thank you Lord.
[Oh] You’ve brought me from a mighty,
a mighty long way,
a mighty long way.

Verse 1:
You’ve been my mother You’ve been my mother,
You’ve been my father You’ve been my father,
You’ve been my sister, my brother too;
[Oh], You’ve brought me from a mighty,
a mighty long way,
a mighty long way.

...You’ve been my keeper day by day...

Thank you Jesus
'Cause you brought me from a mighty
a mighty long way
You’ve brought me from a mighty long way.
Oh you brought me from a mighty long way
Thank you Jesus.
I thank you Lord.
-snip-
Any additions & Corrections of this transcription will be appreciated.

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Example #4: Pastor Smith Sings- Lord I Thank YOU



PastorDeweySmithJr, Uploaded on Mar 9, 2010

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!
~
Pastor Smith SINGING - LORD I THANK YOU
The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church
4650 Flat Shoals Parkway
Decatur, GA 30034
[more contact information is given in the uploader’s statement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZR1K-rzuvM&feature=related
-snip-
LYRICS: Lord I Thank You (also known as "Thank You Jesus" (for my journey)

Chorus: Lord I thank you
Lord I thank you
For my journey.
[Oh] You brought me
You brought me
From ah mighty long way
Ah mighty long way
Lord I thank you
Lord I thank you
For my journey.
[Well] You brought me
;Lord]You brought me
From a mighty long way
a mighty long way

[repeat chorus]

[Lord], You brought me over hills and mountains.
Lord, You brought me from ah mighty long way.
ah mighty long way.
[Lord], You brought me over hills and mountains.
[Lord], You brought me from ah mighty long way.
ah mighty long way.

chorus

[Yeah]I had to cry sometime
But You brought me
[Lord] You brought me from a mighty long way
I had to cry some time but You brought me
You brought me
From ah mighty long way
ah mighty long way.
I had to cry some time but You brought me
You brought me
From ah mighty long way
ah mighty long way

chorus

[ad lib comments & repeat previously given verses.]
-snip-
This transcription is by Azizi Powell from the video. The interjections in brackets are optional.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composer/s of this Spiritual/Gospel song. My thanks to the arrangers, vocalists, and musicians that are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the uploaders of this sound file and these videos.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.