Lyr Add: When the Gates Swing Open

Subject: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 08:08 PM

WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN

Through this world we keep on toiling,
Toiling through the storm and rain,
Watching and patiently waiting,
Until the Saviour comes again.
Cho.
I am coming, Lord, trusting in thy word,
Keep me from the paths of sin, hide me in thy love,
Hide me in thy love, write my name above,
When the gates swing open, let me in.

Keep me fit for service,
Keep me up on every hand,
I've stood many a trial,
Some day I will understand.
Cho.
Teach me how to love my neighbor,
Teach me how to treat my friend,
Fill me with the Holy Spirit,
Keep me humble to the end.
Cho.
Tired of this load I'm carryin',
Tired of this world of sin,
Angels in Heaven beckon,
My weary soul to come in.
Cho.

Ed Jones, Boyd, AL. A Tindley hymn?
John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Click on Links at top of page and select Lomax Collection for notes and sound.
@religion @gospel @hymn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 09:03 AM

The Clara Ward version is on When the Gates Swing Open (HOB HBD-3507). Other recordings are by the Dixie Hummingbirds, Robert Anderson, Otis Clay, and The Soul Stirrers.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 08:16 PM

Apparently a Thomas Dorsey Hymn. I have it by the Dixie Hummingbirds on 'Precious Lord', the Columbia/Legacy collection of Dorsey songs (CK 57164). They sing more or less what is posted above, with the omission of the second last stanza. This track is accompanied and is almost a sprightly affair compared with the 'Birds' first recording of it in 1939 - indeed it was the very first recording by the group. It is a capella, austere, almost grim in style [66616-De 7645] and uses only the first stanza and chorus. Reissued on Document DOCD-5491 - a wonderful CD [Dixie Humingbirds 'Complete Recordings 1939-1947).

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 10:15 PM

I can't understand why Michael W. Harris doesn't mention this song in The Rise of Gospel Blues: The Music of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in the Urban Church (Oxford), and why it isn't included in Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey (Hal Leonard).
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 10:54 PM

Masato, that is odd. Tony Heilbut refers to it as being a Dorsey piece (The Gospel Sound' p 207) where he describes its being performed by a very young James Cleveland and Imogene Greene, thirteen and twelve respectively. Cleveland was a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago whose minister of music was Dorsey. Imogene Greene was a member of the choir. She was later to have hits with the Davis Sisters, the Caravans and the Gospel All Stars. The notes to the 'Precious Lord' Columbia/Legacy CD mentioned above were also by Heilbut.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 11:09 PM

Seems to have been much recorded, but couldn't find lyrics and only an indirect reference to Dorsey as the composer. I would like to get the Dixie Hummingbirds lyrics if anyone has it. Or Soul Stirrers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 01:52 AM

Dicho, as I said above the 'Birds' version differs only in minor respects from what you posted. It is difficult to reproduce because within each stanza and chorus various members of the group are singing different lines or parts of lines simultaneously. I have made no attempt to reproduce that, but the gist of their version is:

WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN

Through the years I keep on toiling
Toiling through the storm and the rain
Watchfully and patiently waiting
Until my Saviour comes again

Chorus: I am waiting, Lord, just trusting in thy word
Just keep me from the paths of sin, hide me in thy love
Hide me in thy love, write my name above
When the gates swing open, let me in

Keep me fit for service
Oh help me up on every hand
Lord, I have stood on many a trial
One day, Lord, I will understand

Chorus
I am praying, Lord …

I'm so tired of this load I am carryin'
Lord, I'm tired of this world of sin
I know the angels, help me Jesus, in the Kingdom beckon
Saying, 'Weary, weary soul come on in'

Chorus:
Oh I am coming Lord …

Source: Dixie Hummingbirds on Various Artists 'Precious Lord: Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey Columbia/Legacy CD CK 77164.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 05:11 PM

The above now indexed in the African-American Spirituals Permathread. If more lyrics (with titles other than the above) are added in this thread, please help us index them by posting the song title and thread URL to the Permathread. Thanks.

~Susan