In the 48th edition of Music Lifts, weโre uplifted by legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson performing, โThe Holy City.โ
Welcome to Music Lifts ๐ถ ๐, a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.ย Featured songs arenโt genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better โ be LIFTED to new heights!ย So, for the 48th edition of Music Lifts ๐ถ ๐ (2022), we highlight ๐ต โThe Holy Cityโ as performed by ๐ Mahalia Jackson.
โLast night I lay a-sleeping / There came a dream so fairโ legendary gospel singer ๐ Mahalia Jackson sings on ๐ต โThe Holy Cityโ, a religious Victorian ballad. Ah, there is nothing like a dream so fair! She continues singing on the highlight from her 1960 album, ๐ฟ The Power And The Glory (in the first verse), โI stood in old Jerusalem / Beside the temple there / I heard the children singing / And ever as they sung / Methought the voice of angels / From heavโn in answer ring.โ What poetic, faith-based lyrics! That perfectly describes โThe Holy City,โ which was penned in 1892 by ๐ผ โ Frederick E. Weatherly (text) and Michael Maybrick (music). Enhancing this extraordinary performance by Jackson is an accompanying orchestra and choir, conducted by ๐ Percy Faith.ย Faith, that is the keyword, isnโt it?
This inspirational record, which is perfect for anytime of the year, but truly hits home during Christmas and Easter, features three terrific verses.ย In the second, Jackson discusses how her dream changed, singing, โAs the shadow of the cross arose / Upon a lonely hill.โ In the third verse, after darkness seemed to have won, Jackson, โsaw the holy city beside the tideless sea / The light of God was on the streets /โฆ It was the new Jerusalem / That would not pass away.โ The New Jerusalem, of course, is Biblical โ see Ezekiel and, unsurprisingly, Revelation for more insight. โThe Holy Cityโ references this. ย The centerpiece of โThe Holy Cityโ the chorus.ย Here, Jackson is at her best, particularly the final iteration.
โJerusalem, Jerusalem
Hark how the angels sing
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!โ
All told, โThe Holy Cityโ is a gorgeous, powerful record. Many, many musicians have performed this gem.
๐ Mahalia Jackson โข ๐ฟ The Power And The Glory โข ๐ท Sony Music Entertainment โข ๐ 1960
Mahalia Jackson, โThe Holy Cityโ: Music Lifts ๐ถ ๐ No. 48 (2022) [๐ท: Arek Socha, Benjamin Balazs, Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Ketut Subiyanto, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Sony Music Entertainment]