Yolanda DeBerry, I Shall Wear a Crown | Sunday Refresh

On the 13^th edition of Sunday Refresh, we’re uplifted by Yolanda “Yoli” Deberry performing, “I Shall Wear a Crown (Soon as I Get Home).”

W

elcome to Sunday Refresh , a column that seeks to highlight inspirational songs to uplift the spirit.  These tracks that appear on Sunday Refresh may or may not be faith-based or religious; the goal is for them to make you feel better – refreshed.  So, for the X edition of Sunday Refresh, we highlight “I Shall Wear a Crown (Soon as I Get Home)” as performed by Yolanda “Yoli” DeBerry (vocals) and Scott O. Cumberbatch (piano).

“I shall wear a crown / I shall wear a crown / When it’s all over / When it’s all over.” The late, great Thomas Whitfield (1954 – 1992) penned a gospel classic with “Soon as I Get Home,” also referenced as “I Shall Wear a Crown (Soon as I Get Home).”  Listen for a few short moments to any recording of the song – not to be confused with an older, gospel standard, “I Shall Wear a Crown” – and you’ll feel the spiritual vibes. This is one of those records that’s built to hit you right in the soul. One particularly moving version of this popular classic arrived in 2019, courtesy of Yolanda DeBerry.  DeBerry performed “I Shall Wear a Crown” at a homegoing Service at First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.

I say it often on Sunday Refresh, but even if you’re not the most pious, Bible-thumping believer, you’ll be moved by the sheer spirit of this performance. DeBerry’s voice is anointed, period.  Her tone is angelic – celestial – her ad-libs prodigious and spot-on, and her overall command and assertiveness are impressive to the nth degree.  As DeBerry sings, you truly feel it – the authenticity is undeniable.  Some people merely ‘sing’ a song but Yolanda, well, she ‘SANGS’ this one. Furthering this near indescribable spiritual experience is the backing gospel choir, which both feed off and amplify Yoli’s lead.  The thing is, with such simple yet resonating lyrics, you can see why this number evokes such happiness.  While earthly living ceases with this song (“When it’s all over”), the protagonist has been a believer – a good and faithful servant – and will spend eternity in heaven. As a preacher might say, “Ain’t that good news?”

“I’m gonna put on my robe,
Tell the story how I made it over.
Soon as I get home.”

---

Yolanda “Yoli” DeBerry • “I Shall Wear a Crown (Soon as I Get Home)” • 2019 

Yolanda “Yoli” DeBerry, “I Shall Wear a Crown (Soon as I Get Home)”: Sunday Refresh No. 13 (2021) [: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Yolanda “Yoli” DeBerry & Scott O. Cumberbatch, Zac Durant on Unsplash]

---