Black Gospel music is a genre of gospel music with strong influences from African-American secular music. It has occasionally been called “black spirituals” to distinguish it from white gospel music, which was developed for use in predominantly white congregations. According to James D. Dormon in his book Sanctified Sounds: Black American Gospel Quartets and Their Audiences (1997), black gospel music tends to be more closely associated with church than is mainstream white gospel and may involve both religious and nonreligious material.
Black Gospel lyrics are usually heavily steeped in Christian doctrine and tradition. It is no secret that the first black gospel lyrics emerged out of America’s South, and specifically the landscape of southern black churches. These early 20th-century pioneers sought to translate the cadences and forms of black preaching and prayer into song, using rhythmic instruments such as the church bell, hand clapping, snare drums and foot stamping. As in most forms of music, there were two main schools or styles to emerge from these roots: the storefront-style churches and the more fundie (fundamentalist) denominations, which included members who lived in rural areas and small communities.
It’s time to praise God!
The Black Church has a long and proud history of using music to bring people together and lift them up. We believe that music has the power to heal, uplift, and inspire. That’s why we’ve created this new collection of songs that will bring you closer to God and your community.
We know you’ll love these new songs as much as we do, and we hope they’ll help you connect with others in your community through worship.
It’s time to praise God!
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list of black gospel praise and worship songs 2015, popular black gospel songs, and much more. Take the time to visit our catalog for prompt information on similar topics. You don’t want to miss this!
Black Gospel Praise And Worship Lyrics
Introduction
Praise and worship are integral parts of the gospel experience. When it’s done right, it transforms the atmosphere and causes the presence of God to be so real that you can actually feel it. In a black church, we are very serious about getting into the presence of God. We sing our hearts out, praise dance with all that we have in us, shout while lifting our hands and often jump up and down to show just how much we love Jesus! Personally, I have never experienced anything like this in a white church. I know they love Jesus too but their approach is different. To each his own. Here are some of my favorite praise and worship songs from black churches:
We Fall Down
We Fall Down, by the late and great Rev. Milton Brunson, is a song that should be sung at all Black churches. The lyrics speak of how God’s mercy falls on all of us, regardless of our past or present. It’s one of those songs that anyone can sing because it’s so easy to understand.
The first time I heard this song was in my youth choir at church when I was growing up in Houston, Texas. My mother took me there every Sunday morning and every Wednesday night for gospel services (back then they called them adult programs). This particular Sunday morning, I remember singing along with everyone else as we prayed and worshipped God together.
I Need You To Survive
“I Need You To Survive” is a song written by Kirk Franklin and recorded by him for his second album, The Nu Nation Project (1997). The album reached number twenty-five on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The lyrics of “I Need You To Survive” are about being saved from damnation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which is referred to as God’s grace. It also talks about how God’s love has no limits, even though we may have sinned against him many times before.
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Marvin Sapp sings this song, and it is a potent worship song. It’s one of his classics that has become an anthem for many churches and worshippers across the United States and around the world.
It means Jesus is all the world to me. He loves me and He cares for me. Everything I need is found in Him, in Jesus Christ!
You can find this song on YouTube, or you can watch it here: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=2rEq3zHcGjk
There Is No Way
“There Is No Way” is a song written by Michael Gungor, Michael Gungor, Chris Quilala and Chris Quilala. It was released on the album “Beautiful Things” in 2015. The track has become an anthem for those who are willing to take a stand against injustice and oppression through the use of music.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
- Lyrics: “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.”
- When was it written? The lyrics are from a poem by Thomas Chisholm from the 1800s.
- Who wrote it? Thomas Chisholm was an Irish preacher who emigrated to America and served in various churches throughout his life. He also wrote several books on theology and religious education. According to one source I found online, he received his education at universities in Ireland and Scotland before coming to the United States as part of a missionary effort by the Presbyterian Church (his poem used here was published in one of their journals). It’s unclear when exactly he wrote this poem but according to Wikipedia it appeared around 1859 (which means there were probably many other versions written beforehand—this one just happens to be famous). Also worth noting: Chisholm lived until 1888 so if you want more information about him, you’ll have plenty of time!
In The Sanctuary
The song is about being in the sanctuary, being in heaven with God, and being in His presence. The song is a praise to Him who created us. This song also has a strong meaning when it comes to praising Jesus Christ.
This song is about praising God because He is the creator of all things and we are His people who were created for Him and for His purposes alone. We should praise our Lord because He has done so much for us and there is no one else on earth like Him! This song reminds me that I should always be thanking God for who He is and what He has done for me personally!
Jesus I Love You
Jesus I Love You is a song that was written by Jessie Smith and recorded by the gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama. It was released in 1991 on their album of the same name.
The song features powerful lyrics that express a deep love for Jesus Christ as well as his mother, Mary. Several verses reference scripture from the New Testament, including John 3:16, 1 John 4:19, Matthew 28:6-7, Mark 16:15–18, Luke 24:30–31, and Romans 10:9–10.
Oh How I Love Jesus
The song “Oh How I Love Jesus” was originally written by William J. Kirkpatrick and first recorded by the Soul Stirrers in 1953, who performed it as a response to their preacher’s request for them to sing more songs about love. The lyrics were written by William J. Kirkpatrick, who also wrote many other gospel songs, including “I’m Gonna Sing” and “Stand By Me” (both popularized by Ben E. King). The song has been sung by many artists over the years including Mahalia Jackson and Elvis Presley, but arguably remains most popular among black churches, where it is often used at funerals or as an opening hymn during praise and worship services.
Put A Praise On It (ft. Isaac Carree)
One of the best examples of the intersection between gospel and hip-hop is Put a Praise on It, which was written by Smokie Norful and performed by him and Isaac Carree. In the song, Smokie sings about his love for God and how he has given him everything that he needs. He also praises God for giving him a strong family that will always be there for each other, no matter what happens in life.
While this song uses many traditional African American stylistic elements like call-and-response singing and strong percussion rhythms, it also incorporates more modern hip-hop sounds such as low bass lines from synthesizers or electric guitar chords played over drums (called “programming”). The lyrics are very positive, with lots of metaphors about praising God like saying “I’m going to tell you who I am / And where I came from / Just so You can see Your reflection in me / As I lift up my hands.”
So Much To Thank Him For
So Much To Thank Him For
This song was written by Carvin Winans and released in 1998. The lyrics are about the love of a mother, who is often underappreciated. It seems like there is always something to complain about when it comes to your parents or guardians, but this song shows us how much they have done for us, and how much we should appreciate them. This song reminds us of the lessons that our parents taught us, even if they weren’t always easy to swallow at the time. Carvin dedicated this song to his own mother during its performance for the 1998 Stellar Awards (a TV show).
Smokie Norful Medley (I Need You Now, Holy, Just to Be Close to You, No One Else & I Understand)
- Smokie Norful Medley (I Need You Now, Holy, Just to Be Close to You, No One Else & I Understand):
Released: 2001
The first four songs of this mix are all by Smokie Norful, a gospel singer who’s been around since the late ’90s. He is known for his soulful voice and smooth style of music that can really get you into the spirit of things. The last song is by another artist but its meaning still fits perfectly with the others on this playlist.
- Jesus Loves Me:
Released: 2002
This song is about how Jesus loves each one of us no matter what someone may have done in their past or present lives; he will always forgive us if we ask him to forgive us for our sins because he knows that sometimes people make mistakes and need forgiveness from God as well as from other people who they may have hurt through their actions or words before asking forgiveness themselves.
A Deeper Level (Live) (feat. Bishop Paul S. Morton & Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir)
The song was released in 2001 and is by Smokie Norful. It was released on the album A Deeper Level, which is a praise and worship album. The song is a praise and worship song recorded live, featuring Bishop Paul S. Morton and Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir.
These are some of the best gospel praise and worship songs from black churches.
I’ve gathered a list of the best gospel praise and worship songs from black churches for your listening pleasure. Click on the song titles to watch their videos!
- “I’m Gonna Win” by Donnie McClurkin
- “One Blood” by Fred Hammond
- “So Amazing” by Hezekiah Walker
List of Black Gospel Praise And Worship Songs
- “I Will Move on Up A Little Higher”
“The Queen of Gospel Mahalia Jackson’s first big hit, and one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time. It was also understood to be an early ‘Freedom Song’ in the African-American community.”
- “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
“Perhaps the best-known, most beloved of all gospel songs. Written by Thomas Dorsey after the loss of his wife and infant child, it is still sung today at virtually every African-American funeral service in the country.”
- “Oh Happy Day”
“This song by Edwin Hawkins was the first gospel song to be a hit single in the 1960s, and had a revolutionary combination of gospel choir, stirring chorus and a thoroughly modern beat.”
- “The Reason Why We Sing”
“Kirk Franklin did to the ‘80s and ‘90s what Hawkins did to the ‘60s and Andrae Crouch did to the ‘70s, combined straight-ahead gospel with the beat of the day, while paying tribute to the old gospel classic, ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow.’”
- “People Get Ready”
“This tune by Curtis Mayfield is not really a gospel song, but it was so compelling that it was adopted by both the Civil Rights Movement and the African-American church. There are a number of great versions, including the Chambers Brothers, the Blind Boys of Alabama and even Rod Stewart.”
- “We Shall Overcome”
“This is the ‘signature’ song of the Civil Rights Movement, an adaptation of an old gospel tune that has been honed by the fire and blood of a thousand movement events and is still sung by oppressed people around the world.”
- “Peace Be Still”
“This song by the Rev. James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, New Jersey, is the song and the arrangement that made young black people want to join mass choirs and sing. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, ‘Peace Be Still’ was the gospel anthem that the black church turned to.”
- “Through It All”
“Andrae Crouch and the Disciples forever changed gospel music, opening it up lyrically and musically. He was also a brilliant composer – you could just as easily substitute “My Tribute,” “The Blood,” “Soon and Very Soon” and any one of several other enduring classics here.”
- “Touch the Hem of His Garment”
“This song by the Soul Stirrers, featuring Sam Cooke, helped invent the hard-charging gospel quartet sound. The popularity of this song helped convince Cooke, the writer and featured singer, to launch a mainstream performing career.”
- “Mary, Don’t You Weep”
“The great old spirituals often make great gospel songs. This is one by the Caravans, featuring Inez Andrews, and is one of my personal favorites.”
- The next great gospel song
“We haven’t heard it yet. Few people still alive even know of its existence. But it could be in the next batch of long-lost gospel classics by a hitherto unknown gospel artist donated to the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project.”
Conclusion
I’m not sure about you, but there is nothing more inspirational to me than a great worship song. The smooth sounds of the bass guitar, the sweet melodies from the saxophone and flute, and the uplifting voices of a choir singing a beautiful hymn are music to my ears. It can be hard to find good gospel songs that aren’t just repetitions of old ones or bland pop songs with Christian lyrics slapped on top. Thankfully, many black churches have stepped up their game in recent years and started producing some awesome praise music that will make you want to dance all night long!