Jessye Norman - The Holy City

Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Methought the voice of angels
From heav'n in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then methought my dream was chang'd,
The streets no longer rang,
Hush'd were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was chang'd;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!

Category:

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• Jessye
• Norman
• The
• Holy
• City

[MARIAEUGENIA447]

PLEASE- SIMBODY WRITE IN ENGLISH THE LETTERS OF THIS SONG - TNAHKS A LOT - mariaeugeniazpatabotero-

[lipera]

@MARIAEUGENIA447 the lyric is in the description of the video.

[4260laurel]

PRETTY BUT MUCH TOO HARD TO UNDERSTAND HER WORDS!!!!!!!

[lipera]

@4260laurel well I can understand every single word of this...

[jeriwho]

Many, many thanks for posting this! How incredibly beautiful.

[lipera]

@jeriwho you're welcome.

[undeuxtroisquatreish]

@SordidGuy - I'm with you. I' ve always loved her. She's also the only soprano I could ever listen to during Jackie Kennedy's funeral mass sing as many verses of Schubert's Ave Maria. I was captivated. This, too, made me cry and like you I don't do it often.

[kaydenpat]

I have this on CD.  Wonderful!

[startreker8591]

One of my father's favorite songs when I was growing up in my native land. He has a baritone tenor register. I knew I could find her rendition of this great song and indeed that really matches her greatness! I WILL LIMIT MY SOUL'S CAPACITY TO BE MOVED BY DEFINING MY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION THROUGH RELIGIOSITY!

[gratiaDei777]

@dis0guise In what way (theologically dubious)?

[pooh52]

Incredible! I nearly stood to applaud!

[happyangelnurse]

How beautiful! sing like Angels form heaven! Thank you very much for posting!!!

[dis0guise]

Theologically a little dubious, but absolutely a stunning performance.

[SordidGuy]

It takes a LOT to make me cry, but this did it BIG TIME!!! Best version I've ever heard (or will ever hear)!  THANK YOU Jessye (and thank you lipera for posting this)!!!

[intercomsec]

I truly believe that Stephen Adams must have had such a voice in mind when he wrote this.

[PorkIsHalal]

one word .... BEAUTIFUL