Mahalia Jackson- There is a Balm in Gilead

[melodyl52]

Oh, what a wonderful song. It truly ministered to tmy heart. Thank you for posting it. God bless you!

[pampam2love]

After the execution of Troy Davis, this was the only thing that could calm my heavy soul. God bless you. God keep us all.

[MrHeaven46]

I heard and I make this a populous qoute : Mahalia sang in a song that she was "going to live the life she sang about ". How many psalmists can say that today ? God will promote only those unheard ones who have a heart for Him and not those who come late and leave early when they have to minister [Jer. 23:3].And I can believe that in Mahalia's day , they truly loved and worked to minister and break down walls of racism by hitting (traveling ,excuse me)the road AND to eat .

[MrKITCHENTALK]

Mahalia slowed that song down like she was washer her dishes singing lol

[DaSourcespr06]

@MrKITCHENTALK yeah she did! Lol!

[gibfart]

Beautiful

[thugpal]

God shore used Mahalia for the glory of his work. what a voice there is no other like you Mahalia. hope to meet you some day. take your rest you are in a better place the troubles of this world.

[WHITEMOP]

THANK YOU JESUS.

[WHITEMOP]

Thank You JESUS.

[DbrynbettwsCF32]

Perfect harmony - heaven is truly blessed with her voice. God bless Mahalia. David.

[Msaem39]

thank you, Miss Mahalia, i think i can make it trough another day again by hearing this song, may you be safe in the hands of the Lord, pray for me

[leilalmv67]

Beautiful!



[MrJAZZMAN68]

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PIANIST AND ORGANIST IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS SONG AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH IS JUST AMAZING

[khalil4ulove]

THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST SPIRIT FILLED ALBUM/CD MAHALIA EVER MADE TO THE PUBLIC!!!!! SHE WAS SICK AND IN THE PROCESS OF DIVORCING HER SECOND HUSBAND: SIGMUND GALLOWAY.

I FELT MAHALIA ON THIS ALBUM SECOND TO "Great Gettin' UP Morning" Album.

[Brasspounder1]

OK, so I'm no Doctor of Philosophy, I'm just that guy on the street who sometimes, almost always, is fantastically in love,

[stinkeroos]

Did she use the same pianist each time? What was her name and did she do any recording of her own? I love the way she makes the piano sound like a harp sometimes.

[1joker88]

@stinkeroos

For about 20 years she used a lady named Mildred Falls. I don't think she ever did any solo work. But by this time in the mid-sixties she used a Eddie Robinson from Chicago (who is on piano here). Towards the end of her career it was with Gwen Lightner.

[bemaniac2]

listen to the jessye norman version. i think jessye should play her in a movie

[bkatayab]

Beautiful arrangements and vocals.  I miss her.

[combatvetlawstudent]

ptl!

[tanywaltz]

SDA stands for seventh-day Adventist-- a denomination of Christianity.

[grdnzrnic]

key of D on trumpet

[mkl62]

I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Last night (Apr. 1), I participated in a Lent service at a local Lutheran Church. The minister and I did a dialogue of the 2 thieves who were crucified with Jesus. We sang this as the closing hymn. It is #614 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Just thought I'd share.

[crazynance]

#475 in the SDA hymnal! Love it!

[mkl62]

What does SDA stand for?

[sheltv100]

@mkl62 Seventh-Day Adventist.

[Commonstrings]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! I listen to this often.  I just close my eyes and enjoy every note that is sung. It really feeds my soul. God Bless!

[CriticalListener]

Mahalia's magnificent voice and heartfelt delivery make listening to this song part of the holy balm healing our hearts.

[chelle099]

The balm in Gilead is a reference from the Old Testament, but the lyrics of this spiritual refer to the New Testament concept of salvation through Jesus Christ (YAHUSHUA, Our Redeemer).

The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (the Israeites who are known as African American today). In the Old Testament, the balm of Gilead is taken most directly from Jeremiah 8:22

[efparks01]

@chelle099

Wise woman, how do you know that African Americans are The Israelites and the other are counterfeit? My son and I have been researching this and unable to come to a conclusion. Help us if you can.

[flipandfall]

@chelle099 You better expound on that text!!! YES!!!! GLORY!!!!

[65and98]

WOW!

[DavidValkema]

I remember working in the Asbury College media center in the basement of the library when I went to school there. I happened to find a recording of the famous 1970 revival that spread throughout the world. A young girl got up to the microphone during a regularly scheduled testamony meeting and gave her testamony and sang this gospel song, leading to one of the world's famous spiritual revivals.

[PennTrafford]

Love this song. From Mahalia's concert on Easter Sunday, 1967, in Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. My favorite album of all time. Thank you for posting this.

[DaSourcespr06]

Thank you for that info, i was wondering when and where this was recorded!

[sheltv100]

@DaSourcespr06 Newport Jazz Festival, 1958.

[1joker88]

yeah this was her first really big concert after she'd gotten sick 3 years earlier, and even though you can tell she's a little winded (note mostly slow songs) she really puts her all into this whole concert.

[DaSourcespr06]

Thats Mahala for u..she will go on for Jesus no matter what!

[missmusiclover3]

@DaSourcespr06 oh i thought the clark sisters wrote it lol

[Billinindiana]

I agree with you. I love this concert. The Romans said it in Latin: ad astra per aspera. To the stars through adversity. If you understand the history of Mahalia and this concert, it all makes sense.

[khalil4ulove]

@PennTrafford This is perhaps the BEST album that Mahalia made for Columbia Records..... She was indeed quite sick; suffered heart attacks and in the process of divorcing her second husband. Mahalia took the pain and heartache of her current situation and wedded it successfully to this Easter Sunday performance worshiping Jesus Christ's very experience in Gethsemane. THINK ON THIS.....

[sheltv100]

@PennTrafford Correction, this live recording was made live at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958.

[PennTrafford]

@sheltv100 The picture above looks like it's from the late '50s but this recording is right off the LP and CD of the 1967 Lincoln Center performance -- I have original copies of both. She sang this right in the middle of the concert, after "Calvary" and just before "Come On Children Let's Sing".

[1joker88]

i LOVE that last verse so much!

[bobwho1986]

20 "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."

21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? (Jeremiah 8:20-22)

Is this verse - and by proxy this song - about sentimental religion, or should it cause one to reflect, repent, and reverence The Balm of Gilead, Jesus Lord and Messiah?

I love this song, too, BTW. Wow.

[1joker88]

This song is (I am most sure) about repenting and turning to Jesus who is the only One who can "save a sin-sick soul". Thank you for the scripture. Whenever I hear this song I always mean to find it, but have not.