Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: GUEST,Carol Miller
Date: 23 Jan 17 - 04:53 PM

My Dad was in the Danny Hope Trio in Houston TX in the 50's. They recorded this song
I can't find the 45 anywhere in my parents things
Any suggestions on how to hopefully find this recording?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:18 AM

This One Starts with the choir singing
'Way Maker #x He Made A way for Me"

solo: When I was lost.....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 11:59 PM

does anyone have the lyrics to In Deep Waters afraid that I might drown ?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 12:16 PM

GUEST,Lloyd: If you want to ask about a different song than the one this thread is about, it's best to start a new thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Meeting Tonight on the old Campg
From: GUEST,Lloyd
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 01:45 AM

There is an old chorus I heard from back in the 50s at a tent meeting revival, Played by Organist David Davis with Rev. A A Allan.
I would like to know if there is music and lyrics for this song. As best I can remember some of the words sounded like:

There's goin to be a meeting tonight, Meeting tonight;
    There's going to be a meeting on the old camp grounds.
There's goin to be a meeting tonight, Meeting tonight;
    There's going to be a meeting on the old camp grounds.

There's goin to be singing tonight, singing tonight;
    There's going to be singing on the old Camp grounds.
                     etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 11:42 AM

Hi Wanda,

Do the words you have differ substantially from the video's linked above? What about the tune-- similar or a totally different piece?

Thanks,

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Jesus is a Way-Maker / ...Waymaker
From: GUEST,wanda m
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 11:17 AM

I have the words to this song. Use to sing it all the time in church. Don't have the music but know its tune.

Subject: RE: lyr/tune req: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Azizi
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 01:22 AM

Maybe that line I couldn't decipher is
"One day when my life was dark and drear"

-snip-

That's almost the same as the line given in GUEST,eric's post of 19 Oct 05 - 03:13 PM. And that line rhymes with the next line which I think I got right: "Jesus came and answered prayer". Although maybe that line is "Jesus came and He answered prayer".

I can definitely see some of the verses given in Guest eric's post and in other posts in this thread fitting in with the Angelic Singer's version of that song, and also with the Georgia Mass Choir's version.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the first part of the Georgia Mass Choir's rendition of this song [which isn't provided on YouTube as of this date] included more rhyming verses than the second part.

Subject: RE: lyr/tune req: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Azizi
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 01:02 AM

Compare the previous video of the Georgia Mass Choir with this "old school" Black Gospel video (with my transcription).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUV1xgVem9U&feature=PlayList&p=8D1052AA573272E9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=49
Margaret Allison and The Angelic Gospel Singers


JESUS IS A WAYMAKER

Soloist: Oh-ooo Jee-ee-sus
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker.
Soloist: Jee-ee-sus
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker.
Soloist: Jeesus
Is ah waymaker
Group: Jesus is a waymaker.
One day He made a way for me-ee-ee.
Soloist: Oh when my light was dim[?]
Group: when my light was dim ???
Soloist: He came
Group: Jesus came and He answered prayer
Soloist: One day
Group: One day
Soloist: He made ah way
Group: He made ah way
for me.   
Oooh
Soloist: Jeesus
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker
Soloist: Jeesus
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker
Soloist: Oooh-ooh Jeesus
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker
Soloist: I believe
Group: Jesus is ah waymaker
Soloist: Oh when my light was almost dim[?]
Group: when my light was almost dim
Soloist: He came
Group: Jesus came and He answered prayer.
Soloist: One day
Group: One day
Soloist: He made ah way
Group: He made ah way
for me.   
Group: One day [I ceased to shout ???]
In this old life of mine.
I prayed both night and day
that Jesus would make ah way.
One day He heard my prayer
and He answered then and there.
Soloist: One day
Group: One day
Soloist: He made ah way
Group: He made ah way
Soloist & Group: for me.
Choir: Oh Jesus
is a waymaker.
Jesus is a waymaker.
I'm ah witness.
One day He made ah way for me.
Soloist: When my light was almost dim [?]
Group: When my light was almost dim.
Soloist: Jesus came and He answered prayer.
Group: Jesus came and He answered prayer.
Soloist: Yea-ee-eh,
One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: I was sick, Lord,
one day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: I was hungry
one day.
Group: One day
Soloist: I was friendless
one day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day
Soloist: Oh! One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: One day.
Group: One day.
Soloist: He made ah way
Group and Soloist: Jesus made ah way for me.


[The song continues from beginning]

The group usually starts singing before the soloist is finish her -lines.

-snip-

Both songs have basically the same tune, but the Georgia Mass Choir version is more percussive than the Angelic Choir Singers one. And it seems to me to that the Angelic Choir version is more uptempo than the Georgia Mass Choir version.

I'm not a musician or a vocalist. Someone who is could probably explain the differences in these two versions better than I have.

There are other YouTube videos of this song but I haven't listened to them yet.

For what it's worth, the saying "Jesus is a waymaker" is familiar to me because it's often said in Black Baptist churches. However, I didn't know about this song before reading this thread and listening to these videos.

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Azizi
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 12:02 AM

The lyrics given thus far in this thread don't give a sense of the call & response way that this song is sung by African American gospel choirs.

Here's a transcription that I made from this YouTube video of
the Georgia Mass Choir 1989:


georgia mass choir jesus is a way maker pt2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgdYvrBtDNY&feature=related

[Note that this is part 2 of the song. Part 1 isn't given]

JESUS IS A WAY MAKER


Soloist: Tell you that Jesus
Group: Jesus.
Soloist: Jesus.
Group: Jesus.
Soloist: If you know Him
Let me see your han-and.
Group: Jesus.
Soloist: Let me see your han-and
If you known [my?] [that?] Jesus
Group: Jesus.
Soloist: Have you met Jesus?
Group: Jesus.
Soloist: Oh He's ah waymaker.
Group: Jesus
Soloist: Tell you 'bout Jesus.
Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Awww Jesus!
Group: Jesus!
Soloist: Awww Jesus!
Group: Jesus!
Soloist: Lemme hear you say Jesus!
Group: Jesus!
Soloist: Awww Jesus!
Group: Jesus!
Soloist: He's just a waymaker.
Group: He's a waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: He's a way maker.
Soloist: Oooh Jesus!
Just a waymaker.
Group: Just a waymaker.
Soloist: Jesus is a waymaker.
Group: Just a waymaker.
Soloist: Jesus is a waymaker.
Group: Just a waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Just ah waymaker.
Group: Just ah waymaker.
Soloist: Jesus! is a waymaker.
Group: He's ah waymaker.
Soloist: Jesus! is ah waymaker.
Group: He's ah waymaker.
Soloist: Can you say Jesus is ah waymaker?
Group: He's a waymaker.
Soloist: I'll tell you one day
He MADE a way for me.
Group: Made a way for me [sang while the soloist says MADE]
Soloist: When I was sick
couldn't get well.
He'll heal my body,
And now I'll can tell.
I'll tell you
Group [starts singing while soloist sang "you"]
He made ah way-a-a-a-a for me.*
Soloist: Yeah! He made
Group: He made ah way-a-a-a for me.
Soloist: He made
Group: He made ah way-a-a-a for me.

-snip-
Song "ends" but starts again with the same or similar words.
*The words "for me" are sung together in a clipped manner.

-snip-

Although I tried to be accurate, it's probable that this transcription doesn't replicate the exact number of times the choir sang the call & response lines. But the larger point is that gospel choirs rarely adhere strictly to any arrangement of a gospel song such as this. The soloist sings the lines and adds interjections such as "Well", "Oh", and "Yeah" as the Spirit moves him or her to do so and the song can go on and on, and stop, and start again because the soloist, and/or the choir, and/or the congregation and/or the pastor want to keep on singing.

**

Also, I want to call attention to the fact that the soloist
sometimes sang "a" (rhyming with "hay") but most of the time sang "ah". "Ah" is the way most African Americans pronounce the word "a"-at least it seems so to me.

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 07:58 PM

Sheet music here. (Author unknown.)

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 07:56 PM

General Camp Songs at Lightfoot

Google that. Slightly different version there. But, NO attributions.

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 05:19 PM

Guest POWE- source or performer?

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: GUEST,POWE,M
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 05:14 PM

Jesus is a way maker
jesus is a way maker
one day he made a way for me

Verse
One day the sun refused to shine
in this ole sinful life of mine
I prayed both night and day
that jesus would make away
one day he heard my cry
and he answered it BY and By
I'll tell the world

Chorus
jesus is a way maker
(I said Jesus)
Jesus is a waymaker
(and one day)
One day he made away
for me.

One day I'm gonna see his face
sit down in the presence of his grace
he gonna put is Loving arms around me
so Glad my Jesus save me
And I'll tell the world

Jesus is a way maker
(i know jesus)
Jesus is a waymaker
(and one day)
One day he made a way for me

(he made a way)             ( Feel free to ad lib )
Made a way jesus made a way
(he made a way)

Subject: RE: req/add: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 05 - 02:02 PM

"Q":
Thanks for the info. I'm sure different groups have sang the song differently throughout the years. I sent an emil to the Blackwoods. I doubt I'll here from them since they didn't respond to my last email. Just amazing this is such a popular song with quartets and no when seems to know anything about it.

Eric

Subject: RE: req/add: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 05:53 PM

There seem to have been several songs with similar titles.

The Lewis Family recorded "Jesus, the Waymaker." Music Sammy Lewis, 1949, Martin Morris Music. A white Bluegrass Gospel group, recording from early 1950s to present.

"The Angelic Gospel Singers were organized in 1944, an African-American gospel group. "Jesus is a Waymaker."

A Pentecostal website, "over 500 Pentecostal choruses," chorus 1024:
Jesus is the waymaker (3x)
One day he made a way.
Oh glory
When I was lost in sin
He came and took me in
One day he made a way for me.
No data. Seems to be related to the one posted by eric-abt.

Choruses

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From:
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 03:13 PM

WOW! These are some old post. I've been stumped for years as to why the wlyrics to this great song have not been posted to the web somewhere. What's more amazing is how many southern gospel groups still perform this song and still it does not appear anywhere. The poem above is not the correct lyrics to the song.

Here's what I know...

The words and music appeared in an old Blackwoods Brothers Quartet Songbook I used to own. The songbook was actually stolen from me while I was at Bible College in Springfield Mo. (go figure). I used to listen to an old 78RPM record of my Mom's that the song was on as a kid. I thought it was really a neat song. I'm 37 now. If I remember correctly, the songbook version actually had a verse that most people don't sing. I've emailed the Blackwood Brothers and never received a response from them. I'd love to get my hands back on that old songbook. it only had like 10 to 15 songs but they were all great songs. The Blackwoods released a CD a few years ago with the song on it. If anyone stumbles accross more info on this song let me know.

What I remember as the lyrics...

Jesus, He's the Waymaker
Jesus, He's the Waymaker
Jesus, He's the Waymaker
One day, He made a way for me

When my life was dark and drear
Jesus came and He answered my prayer
One day, He made a way for me

One day the sun refused to shine
Into this sinful life of mine
I prayed both night and day
That He would make a way

He said my child well done
Your race was hard but now it's run
One day, He made a way for me

Subject: Lyr Add: JESUS IS A WAYMAKER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 10:53 AM

I don't know if this is what you want, but...
Copied from http://www.entourages.com/barbs/Poetry.htm

JESUS IS A WAYMAKER

Jesus is a way maker,
He made a way for me,
Placed my feet on higher ground,
And set this captive free.

He loosed the chains of bondage
That held my troubled soul,
Fed me from the manna dish,
And took me into His fold.

He's no respector of person,
And he'll do the same for you,
Change your outlook on life,
Bring heaven into view.

Copyright ©June 12, 2000 Barbara Sanders. All rights reserved.
Copy only with permission.

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: masato sakurai
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 03:08 AM

I've never seen the words and music printed either, but the Angelic Gospel Singers sang it; their title being "Jesus Is a Way-maker" (with an indefinite article). Their record was released as Nashboro Single #675, and is now in The Best of The Angelic Gospel Singers (NASH 4509-2), CD released in 1995.

Subject: RE: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 06:39 PM

Didn't find printed lyrics, but there is an MP3 here. I didn't listen to it so I don't know if has the words.

Subject: Jesus is the Waymaker
From: GUEST,sharon
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 05:33 PM

Looking for words and tune to this chorus. Thanks for your help.