Shirley Caesar, Hold My Mule | Music Lifts

In the 43^rd edition of Music Lifts (2025), we’re uplifted by gospel music legend Shirley Caesar performing “Hold My Mule.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring 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 43^rd edition of Music Lifts (2025), we highlight “Hold My Mule” as performed by Shirley Caesar.

Ooh-wee! That has to be some of the most infectious, unforgettable lyrics ever! Gospel artists are typically lower on the totem pole to go viral, yet our beloved Pastor Shirley Caesar did just that! Those #younameitchallenge lyrics hail from a live performance of her classic, “Hold My Mule” (more on that later). They are part of an elaborate sermon and story about praise. “Hold My Mule” is the fifth track from Caesar’s 1997 album, The Lord Will Make A Way.

Pastor Shirley preaches a sermon during the five minutes of “Hold My Mule,” accompanied by churchy, dramatic, gospelized music. The preacher chords are chording! The story that she tells has a positive message about giving thanks to God for all His blessings.  The sermon centers around Shouting John, who is 86 years old in The Lord Will Make A Way version (90 in the viral live performance).  The gist is, Shouting John becomes a member of a dead church that doesn’t believe in shouting. Say what?! After joining, he is filled with the spirit and ends up dancing and shouting. Meanwhile, the deacons try to suppress his praise. The deacons pay John a visit at home to confront him about his shouting and inform him that if he doesn’t stop, the church will put him out. John’s praise won’t be suppressed, as he tells them to put him out, and testifies to God’s goodness – his land, his children, etc. “‘If I can’t shout in your church’,” Caesar speaks from John’s perspective, “‘Hold my mule, I’m gon’ shout right now’.” That is powerful!

After speaking about embracing praising him, nearly five minutes into the nine-minute song, Caesar confirms her own unstoppable praise through singing. “I feel like praising, praising Him,” she sings, spiritedly, and continues, “Praise Him in the morning / Praise Him all day long / I feel like praising, praising Him.” Hallelujah! To those who don’t wish to praise, she tells ‘em, “Don’t hinder me.” Furthermore, she encourages us all, “Come on and praise the Lord while you have a chance.” Yes, the #younameitchallenge is fun, but what is even better and more meaningful is “Hold My Mule”, which makes it clear you should never suppress praise, and should praise Him every opportunity you have!

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Shirley Caesar » The Lord Will Make A Way » Word Entertainment » 1997

Shirley Caesar, Hold My Mule: Music Lifts No. 43 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Word Entertainment; BD Jewel, Dave H, Jean-Daniel Francoeur, Joshua Brown, Vansh Mehta from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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