Mahalia Jackson, “The Holy City” | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 48^th edition of Music Lifts, we’re uplifted by legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson performing, “The Holy City.”

Welcome to Music Lifts 🎶 🏋, 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.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 48^th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2022), we highlight 🎵 “The Holy City” as performed by 🎙 Mahalia Jackson.

“Last night I lay a-sleeping / There came a dream so fair” legendary gospel singer 🎙 Mahalia Jackson sings on 🎵 “The Holy City”, a religious Victorian ballad. Ah, there is nothing like a dream so fair! She continues singing on the highlight from her 1960 album, 💿 The Power And The Glory (in the first verse), “I stood in old Jerusalem / Beside the temple there / I heard the children singing / And ever as they sung / Methought the voice of angels / From heav’n in answer ring.” What poetic, faith-based lyrics! That perfectly describes “The Holy City,” which was penned in 1892 by 🎼 ✍ Frederick E. Weatherly (text) and Michael Maybrick (music). Enhancing this extraordinary performance by Jackson is an accompanying orchestra and choir, conducted by 🎙 Percy Faith.  Faith, that is the keyword, isn’t it?

This inspirational record, which is perfect for anytime of the year, but truly hits home during Christmas and Easter, features three terrific verses.  In the second, Jackson discusses how her dream changed, singing, “As the shadow of the cross arose / Upon a lonely hill.” In the third verse, after darkness seemed to have won, Jackson, “saw the holy city beside the tideless sea / The light of God was on the streets /… It was the new Jerusalem / That would not pass away.” The New Jerusalem, of course, is Biblical – see Ezekiel and, unsurprisingly, Revelation for more insight. “The Holy City” references this.  The centerpiece of “The Holy City” the chorus.  Here, Jackson is at her best, particularly the final iteration.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Hark how the angels sing

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna to your King!”

All told, “The Holy City” is a gorgeous, powerful record. Many, many musicians have performed this gem.

🎙 Mahalia Jackson • 💿 The Power And The Glory • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1960

Mahalia Jackson, “The Holy City”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 48 (2022) [📷: Arek Socha, Benjamin Balazs, Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Ketut Subiyanto, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Sony Music Entertainment]