Lyr Req: Up Above My Head

Subject: Up Above My Head
From: Roy Klinsky (whatever)
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 03:04 AM

Gospel tune has chorus that begins something like this: Up above my head, I hear music in the air (or, there is music in the air) (or I've got muscilage in my hair), etc

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 03:56 AM

Hi, Roy,

I've heard a recording of a male group doing a great job on this song, but I can't remember who it was. Anybody have an idea?
The version I have is in the "Sing for Freedom" civil rights songbook from Sing Out! It's a call-and-response song, with the group singing each line after the leader.


UP OVER MY HEAD
(adaptation of gospel song by Betty Mae Fikes)

Up above my head [group repeat]
I see freedom in the air
Up above my head
I see freedom in the air
Up above my head
I see freedom in the air
And I really do believe, I said I really do believe, There's a God somewhere.


Up above my head
I hear praying in the air....

Up above my head
I hear singing in the air....

Up above my head
I hear music in the air

If my mother won't go, I'm gonna go anyhow....

If you can't go, let your children go....

If my brother can't go, don't let him hinder me....

Up above my heard, I see freedom in the air.....

The "Rise Up Singing" songbook has a couple of versions. One is about the same as the song I posted above. The simpler one is called "Over My Head," and it goes like this:

Over my head, there's [trouble] in the air (3x)
There must be a God somewhere.

[substitute weepin' singin' prayin' joy, freedom, music, etc.]

last verse: Over my head, there's victory in the air (3x)
I know there's a God somewhere.

Hope that helps.
-Joe Offer- ^^

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: Helen
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 05:35 AM

Didn't Odetta do a version of this song?

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: Helen
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 07:14 PM

Hi I finally remembered where I have this recording - it wasn't Odetta after all. It's on an amazing compilation of gospel music called "Straight Street". Unfortunately I only have it on a cassette (1986, Agape records).

The song "Up above my head, I hear music in the air" is performed by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight.

Helen

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: Jack
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 07:40 PM

You can also hear the Holmes Brothers do it on their CD

In the Spirit (on Rounder I think)

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: black walnut
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 02:42 PM

I heard a rendition of "Up Above My Head ... there is music in the air" by Ruby Johnson? Johnston? on CBC radio the other day. It was great. Does anyone have this version? Know where to acquire it?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 03:04 PM

I heard this sung on Saturday night by the Black East Preston Gospel Choir (Nova Scotia)- or East Preston Black Gospel Choir, I forget which - anyway, I came that close to being saved -

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 03:26 PM

I have a gospel compilation CD, the title of which is I Hear Music In The Air, and one track is the song Up Above My Head, by The Southern Sons. If you're interested, I'd be happy to burn it on a CD with some other stuff and send you a copy. PM with your mailing address if you are..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: black walnut
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 04:13 PM

Wow!
~d

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 05:23 PM

Listen to Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head at YouTube.

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 05:25 PM

As many styles as there are versions-- one of those great songs you just can't kill.

~S~

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:11 PM

Can't kill it? Now that's good news...

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:59 PM

No, it's safe in anyone's hands. Go for it! :~)

Uh-oh---- up above my head.... I think there's a bodhran in the air.... and I can't kill that either! :~)

~Susan

Subject: ADD: Up Above My Head
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 05:15 PM

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

Up above my head, there's [music] in the air.
Up above my head, there's [music] in the air.
Up above my head, there's [music] in the air.
And I really do believe, there's [[heaven]] somewhere.

Some verse options:

Tharpe version: All in my room, there's....

All in my home, there's....

All in my soul, there's....

All in my heart, there's....


Options for [bracketed] or [[double-bracketed]] words:

Tharpe version: [shaking]
[praying]
[singing]
[dreaming]
[dancing]
[guitars] (git-tars)
[banjoes]
[bodhrans]
[fiddles]
[angels]
[mama]
[papa]
[loved ones]
[promise]

Tharpe version: [[joy]]
[[freedom]]
[[tomorrow]]
[[love]]
[[justice]]


Endless possibilities.


I've even had Guinness in the air. How do I know? My hair got all wet.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 12:10 PM

As long as there's no pigeons...

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 05:21 PM

I've got a copy of this song on the CD "Deep Blue: The Rounder 25th Anniversary Blues. It's sung/played by the Holmes Brothers and the lyrics start with, "Up above my head, there's trouble in the air."

Great song!

Subject: RE: Up Above My Head
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 09:52 PM

Certainly is!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Up Above My Head
From: GUEST,Desiree
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:22 AM

When I was in high school we listened to a song which I thought was called 'straight street'
It was a LONG time ago but I remember liking it, I think the lyrics went something like:

"I had to move
(I had to move)
And I'm living on, straight street now"

There was several singers with different pitches, the way it was done reminds me of the crows in the disney movie Dumbo. Does anyone know where I can find the song or at least the lyrics? I'd be very grateful.
Thank you!