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22 Oct 08 - 09:48 PM (#2473334) Subject: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Although my website Cocojams focuses on children's rhymes, it also has pages on other topics, including a page of YouTube links to {mostly} African American gospel & spiritual songs. That page may have been what promoted this information request this evening: "Looking for the words to an old Negro gospel song. God Specializes- in the song I know that it says "and He will do what no-other power holy ghost power can do." -Beverly C. Clark; 10/22/2008 -snip- I remember the song "God Specializes" from my childhood or youth in New Jersey {1950s,1960s} . But because I wasn't sure about all of the words to that song, I decided to an online search. As a result of that search, I found an interesting discussion on namethathymn.com God Specializes. Unlike most gospel songs that have a known composer, there are multiple & significantly different versions of "God Specializes" {also known as "Have You Any Rivers}. The words of the chorus appear to be more consistent than the words to the verses. But given that this song has a known composer-Oscar C. Eliason, why does it seem that the words of this gospel song been subjected to the folk process to the extent it has appeared to have been? It's also possible that the tune of this song might be different-though the tunes sung on three YouTube videos I watched were the same. A post on that name that hymn discussion forum sheds some light on why the words to this song are much less fixed than most gospel songs. The poster indicates that he is the son of Oscar Eliason, and shared that his father wrote and publicly shared the chorus to the song long before he wrote the verses. Eliason speculates that this may be the reason why "God Specializes" has so many significanly different versions. I'm starting this thread as a means of helping to preserve a link to & excepts of that name that hymn discussion of "God Specializes". I'm also starting this thread to provide an opportunity for Mudcat members/guests to also discuss this song. I've been working with Susan of DT to add some gospel songs to the Digitrad, and intend to include one or more versions of this song to that collection. And I have contacted Ms Clark and responded to her query on my website. In addition, I intend to let her know about this Mudcat thread. Furthermore, I will add links on this thread to YouTube videos of "God Specializes" {Have You Any Rivers}. I'm interested in knowing whether any Mudcat members/guests know the song "God Specializes", and if so, what version of the song you know. Thanks, in advance, for your participation on this thread. |
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22 Oct 08 - 09:53 PM (#2473341) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi For the folkloric record, here is the complete post to namethathymn.com God Specializes that was written by Vic Eliason: [Btw, the name of that discussion was "Got Any Rivers?] 20 Jul 2008 15:48 "Guest My father is Oscar C. Eliason. Dad wrote the chorus in 1929. He was dying of TB in a Minneapolis hospital and an elderly minister came by one evening and prayer was offered. The next day be began to improve and he continued to improve to such an extent that the Doctors admitted that something out of the ordinary had happened. As he was getting better he saw an adv. in the Minneapolis Star Tribune by a construction company that used the slogan. He changed the words to: Got any rivers you think are uncrossable Got any mountains you can't tunnel through God specializes in things thought impossible He does the things others cannot do. because it spread from mouth to mouth it became altered in many interesting ways. The story of how the verses were written in the later years is a very interesting one and anyone interested may contact me at [email address deleted] What a joy to know that this little chorus has touched and encouraged so many lives. God Bless you. Vic Eliason, Vice President VCY America Radio Network [phone number deleted]" |
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22 Oct 08 - 10:04 PM (#2473352) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Guest 19 Sep 2008 18:56 on that name that hymn forum provided this transcription of "God Specializes" as sung {on a YouTube video} by the very well respected gospel singer Dorinda Clark Cole: {posted as found on that website, with some typographical or spelling errors} "God Specializes" verse 1 Have you any rivers That you feel are uncrossable And have you, have you any mountains That you cannot tunnel through But God, oh, He specializes In things that are impossible And he will do what no other power, Holy Ghost power, power can do verse 2 Have you any afflictions That you feel are uncureable And the doctors, those old doctors Can't find a cure My God, yes, He specialize In things that are impossible And he will do what no other power, Wonder working power, power can do chorus Oh, God specializes God specializes Yes, God specializes God specializes And he will do what no other power No other power can do. -snip- Here is the hyperlink to a YouTube video of Dorinda Clark Cole's rendition of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xz_OPnuBYA |
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22 Oct 08 - 11:10 PM (#2473390) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Here is my transcription of this song as sung [on a YouTube video clip] by Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr. Note: I've put what I consider to be Pastor Smith's ad lib words in brackets "God Specializes" [Anybody know this one?} [Soloist only with piano, organ, & drums Have you any rivers That you think are incrossable Have you any mountains That you can't tunnel through [Any old saints in the house?} God specializes In things that seem impossible And He'll do What no other power, Holy Ghost power [I thought I had some old saints in here] can do {Heh Heh Heh, I remember my granny say...askin that question] Have you any afflictions [mmmm] That you think are incureable {anybody remember thate old folks singing that?] And the doctors, those old doctors Have done all they, they can do [Come on Come on Church. Anybody remember sayin] God, God specializes in healing in healing in healing in healing All kind of diseases And He'll do what no other power Holy Ghost power Holy Ghost power can do. [Now we done it contemporary. Can we do it old school? {Congregation-"Yes!"} I need somebody to help me say it.] Soloist-You know God Choir-God specializes Soloist-Specialize [Come on!] Choir-God specializes Soloist-God specialize Choir-God specializes Soloist-And He will do Choir-He will do Soloist-What no other power Choir-No other power Soloist-Holy Ghost power [Come On! I gotta get to this word. Come On!] But One more time. Someone help me say] Soloist-God Choir-God specializes Soloist-Specialize [Come on!] Choir-God specializes Soloist-[Somebody say] God specialize Choir-God specializes Soloist-If your sick in your body Choir-God Specializes Solist-God specializes Choir-God specializes Soloist-Trouble in your home Choir-God specializes [Anyone ever try it?] Soloist-God specialize Choir-God specializes Soloist-He'll make a way out of no way [Woo!] Choir-God specializes Soloist-He specializes [Ohh, God Specializes ] Choir-God specializes Soloist-And He'll do Choir- He will do Soloist-What no other power Choir-No other power Soloist & Choir-Holy Ghost Power Can do [My my my. Oh Yeah. God Bless You. God bless you] -snip- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK-mWlEFDuQ "God Specializes" {also known as "Have You Any Rivers} ** I may have missed some ad lib words, but after listening to this song a number of times, I think I've correctly transcribed the words. I really love this version. Btw: "old school" means the way that folks used to sing gospel "in the olden days". |
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23 Oct 08 - 07:46 AM (#2473580) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Here's another example of the song "God Specializes" from that same name that hymn forum whose link I posted earlier in this thread. The lyrics in this examples, including the last line of the first verse {or is that the chorus?} are remarkably different from the lyrics of the previously posted examples. God Specializes Got any rivers you think are un-crossable Got any mountains you can't tunnel through God specializes in things thought impossible If you'll let him have his way He'll make away for you Let go and let God have His wonderful way Let go and let God have His way Your sorrow will vanish You night turned to day Let go and let God have His way Let the Lord have His way In your life everyday There's no peace, there's no rest Till the Lord has you best Place your life in His hand Rest secure in His plans Let the Lord, let the Lord have His way Let the Lord have His way In your life everyday There's no peace, there's no rest Till the Lord has you best Place your life in His hand Rest secure in His plans Let the Lord, let the Lord have His way Place your life in His hand Rest secure in His plans Let the Lord, let the Lord have His way [posted by savedbygrace; 13 Jun 2008 04:40] ** This version is somewhat like the version that was shared by another person writing on that forum: Got any rivers you think are impossible? Got any mountains you can not tunnel thorough? God specialzes in things thought impossilbe And he can do what no other God can do. I learned this song about 50 years ago from my fourth grade school teacher. I believe it is just a chorus. We did put this with it Let go and let God have his wonderful way Let go and let God have his way. Your burdens He'll carry Your night, turn to day Let go and let God have His way. [Carolla; Posted: 01 Nov 2006 15:27] |
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23 Oct 08 - 08:00 AM (#2473592) Subject: Lyr Add: GOT ANY RIVERS (Oscar C. Eliason) From: Azizi For the record, here's another post from that name that hymn discussion that provides the words to what the poster alleges to be the verses that the song's composer wrote for "God Specializes". Note that this poster refers to this song as "Got Any River's [sic]" "To anyone interested- I found the verses to Got Any River's? Written by Oscar C. Eliason Copyright 1945 1. Be of good courage God spake unto Joshua, When o'er the river God pointed the way. Jordan uncrossable! things seemed impossible, Waters divide as they march and obey. CHORUS: Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible: He can do what no others can do 2. Battles to win! they would meet their obstacles, Jericho's walls, too, must fall to the ground. God never failed; He stood back of His promises, Walls had to crumble as the marched around. 3. God is the same and His word is dependable; He'll make a way through the waters for you. Life's situations by Him are amendable, Mountains and hills He will part for you too." [posted by dreamklaiber; 01 Jan 2007 07:00] -snip- [I reformatted this post for easier reading]
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23 Oct 08 - 08:15 AM (#2473615) Subject: Lyr Add: GOT ANY RIVERS (Oscar C. Eliason) From: Azizi Here's another online request for the song "God Specializes" {also known as "Got Any Rivers"; "Have You Any Rivers"} "I need the lyrics and sheet music for a song from back in the 50s written by Oscar Eliason. The title is (or at least the first line of the chorus):Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you cant tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible, and does the things others cannot do"... http://electronichymnalmessageboard.yuku.com/topic/370 Song written by Oscar Eliason (request posted by bingado; 01/21/08 09:00:56) -snip- Here is the only response that was posted to date: Got Any Rivers Be of good courage God spoke unto Joshua When o'er the river God pointed the way Jordan uncrossable, things seemed impossible Waters divide as they march and obey Chorus D G D Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? D E A Got any mountains you cant tunnel through? D G D God specialises in things thought impossible D A D And does the things that others cannot do. Battles to win they would meet with their obstacles Jericho's walls too must, fall to the ground God never failed He stood back of his promises Walls had to crumble as they marched around Chorus God is the same and His Word is dependable He'll make a way through the water's for you Life's situations by Him are amendable Mountains and Hills He will part for you too (posted by avilb; 01/28/08 21:29:47) http://electronichymnalmessageboard.yuku.com/topic/370 |
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23 Oct 08 - 09:03 AM (#2473654) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi You may recall that my interest in this song was sparked by a query from a visitor to my website http://www.cocojams.com/ {this hyperlink goes to the gospel/spiritual video links page; note: I don't have any videos on that website}. That visitor described "God Specializes" as an "old Negro gospel song".* In the brief online search that I've done, I haven't found any information about Oscar C. Eliason's race. Therefore I can't confirm that "God Specializes" is "an old Negro gospel song" if that phrase means that the song was composed by a Black person. Btw, there was a famous magician named Oscar Eliason who was White, But that is probably neither here nor there. * Since the 1970s, the referent "Negro", has been replaced with the formal referent "African American" and the informal referent and "Black" {although "Black" refers to a more people of color than African American does}. Also note that "Black" is also written as "black". Given the change in referents, for what it's worth, I refer to what were formerly known as "Negro spirituals" as "African American spirituals". |
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23 Oct 08 - 09:05 AM (#2473656) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi There doesn't appear to be any doubt that Oscar C. Eliason is the composer of "Got Any Rivers" {"God Specializes"}. See this index of religious songs & note that the only entry for that song is the "chorus": Got Any Rivers ©1945 Oscar C. Eliason (Renewal 1973 Singspiration Music) Got Any Rivers Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible He does the things that others cannot do http://www.christianeducational.org/pdf/Melodies_Of_The_Heart.pdf. |
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23 Oct 08 - 10:25 AM (#2473710) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Let me correct a sentence from one of my previous post to this thread: * Since the 1970s, the referent "Negro", has been replaced with the formal referent "African American" and the informal referent and "Black" {although "Black" refers to more people of color than African American does}. Also note that "Black" is often written as "black". ** If this song was composed by an Anglo-American, as I think it may have been, it serves as an example of how African Americans can take a song and transform its words, its lyrical pattern, and its tune into a song that better embodies our aesthetic preferences. Adding the spoken word in the form of interjections or statements to the congregation {call & response or otherwise} often help make that song more aesthetically pleasing to many African Americans. As a result, regardless of the race of its original composer, renditions of a song-either religous or secular-that has characteristics that meet African Ameican aesthetics could be said to be "African American gospel song". However, that statement is only true as long as "African American song" is understood to not only mean a song whose composer is Black, but also means a version of a song that may have originally been composed by a non-African American, but has been changed through the folk process to include lyrical characteristics that are generally ascribed to African American musical compositions. |
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12 Jan 09 - 11:12 PM (#2538570) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi For the "record" and for what it's worth, I called the number listed on that forum mentioned above for Vic Eliason, the son of the composer of the song God Specializes/Have You Any Rivers. The number was for a radio station. I was told that Mr. Eliason was on the air. I then left a telephone voice message identifying myself as a person who was interested in talking with him about his father's song "God Specializes"/"Have You Any Rivers". Unfortunately, I never received a return call from Mr. Eliason, and I never called him back. As far as I know, his contact information is still be listed on that public forum whose link is found in one of the previous posts on this thread. If anyone else wants to attempt to contact him, you could do so. |
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12 Jan 09 - 11:20 PM (#2538577) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi Here are links to two YouTube videos of classic renditions of this song. The first is listed under the name "God Specializes" Roberta Martin Singers- "God Specializes" The second is listed under the name "Have You Any Rivers" Have You Any Rivers"- Mahalia Jackson The Mahalia Jackson arrangement is much slower than the one by the Roberta Martin Singers. Thw Roberta Martin Singers arrangement is much closer to the arrangement sung by Dorinda Clark Cole and the arrangement sung by Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr. |
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12 Jan 09 - 11:57 PM (#2538596) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: Azizi There actually are two videotapes of Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr. and the choir & congregation singing "God Specializes". Here are the hyperlinks to that rendition of this song: Pastor E.Dewey Smith Jr. Sings God Specializes-Classic Hymn and God Specializes (Ending)- Pastor E.Dewey Smith Jr. ** In my opinion, Pastor Smith's rendition of this song could be one of many "textbook" examples of how an African American soloist can take a song and make it his or her own. For instance, Pastor Smith -combines talking with singing {including statements, questions to the congregation, exhorts the congregation to join in the singing, asks for testimonies from the congregations, and preaches while he sings} -uses the call & response pattern {the soloist/choir/congregation as well as the segment at the end of the song when the pastor's preaching alternates with his singing as he engages in his own call & response pattern} -adds lines from another gospel song to this song {Can't nobody do yah like Jesus/Can't nobody do yah like the Lord} -repeats phrases of the song at will -adds words to the song {for example, although African Americans usually add the phrase "Holy Ghost power" to the song [And He'll do what no other power-"Holy Ghost Power" will do"}, that phrase is not a part of the words that the song's composer wrote. -appears to end the song, but then continues singing {the song is open-ended; the length of the song isn't fixed. If the singing pastor {and sometimes if the choir} wants to continue singing, then they will until such time as the pastor moves the church service on} Also the congregation's/choir's "behaviour" should also be noted as a textbook example of African American gospel singing: -the congregation is exhorted to join in the singing, and some members of the congregation do so -some members of the congregation stand, others do not {those who stand do so because the song moves them so much [to use the words of an old African American spiritual "they can't sit down"} -the choir does not stand still {the choir and some members of the congregation move to the song} -some members of the congregation clap, some some people in the congregation/choir raise one or both hands above their head {to God} -some people show their emotions while listening to or singing the song ** It would be intersting to compare this rendition and the choir/congregation "behavior" with that of various non-Black churches, particularly White churches. However, so far I haven't been able to find any videos of White choirs/congregations singing this song. |
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08 Feb 09 - 10:32 AM (#2560833) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: GUEST |
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24 Feb 10 - 03:55 PM (#2849113) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: GUEST my uncle use to sing this song he's a baptist / pentecostal holiness preacher Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: PROPHET Here is my transcription of this song Note: I've put what I consider to be Pastor Smith's ad lib words in brackets "God Specializes" [Anybody know this one?} [Soloist only with piano, organ, & drums Have you any rivers That you think are incrossable Have you any mountains That you can't tunnel through [Any old saints in the house?} God specializes In things that seem impossible And He'll do What no other power, Holy Ghost power [I thought I had some old saints in here] can do {Heh Heh Heh, I remember my granny say...askin that question] Have you any afflictions [mmmm] That you think are incureable {anybody remember thate old folks singing that?] And the doctors, those old doctors Have done all they can do God - god specializes in healing in healing in healing in healing All kind of diseases And He'll do what no other power Talking about a Holy Ghost power can do. |
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25 Mar 11 - 12:00 PM (#3121342) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers) From: GUEST,Donaldw1 Please keep in mind Ms. Gloria Griffin who gospelized this song with the Roberta Martin Singers in the '50's. |
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04 Feb 12 - 11:41 PM (#3302369) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers) From: Azizi I just added a post on "God Specializes" to my pancocojams cultural blog http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/vintage-gospel-god-specializes-have-you.html That blog post includes 3 videos of "God Specializes" and 1 video of "Got Any Rivers". I presented those videos for their spiritual value, and also as a means of beginning an exploration of the differences between expected congregational "etiquette" in Black American churches and in White American churches. I also provided some history of how the chorus of those songs were composed. I now write "those songs" because, as Donaldw1 indicated in his comment on 25 Mar 11 - 12:00 PM, the "Got Any Rivers" song was "gospelized" in 1958 by Gloria Griffin of the renown African American Gospel group the Roberta Martin Singers. I think it's significant that African Americans sing "Have you any rivers" and not "Got any rivrs" which are the words that (White American) Oscar Eliason composed. And we usually use the title "God Specializes" for that song. That is the title that Gloria Griffin used for the song she copyrighted, and that is the chorus that gives so much spiritual power to that song. Viewer comments are welcome on my pancocojams blog. Best wishes, Azizi Powell |
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21 Aug 12 - 11:48 PM (#3393439) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers) From: GUEST,dorothy perkins, houston tx Thanks for the additional verse. I only remembered the Roberta Martin Singers version. |
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22 Aug 16 - 01:17 PM (#3806204) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers) From: keberoxu Patti LaBelle has disclosed, in interviews, that as a very young singer coming out of a gospel background, she chose "God Specializes" to sing in public. |
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29 Jan 20 - 11:08 AM (#4030987) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers) From: GUEST qwertyuiopasdfghjklm vcxzzxcvbnqawsderfgtyhjuikololoopopopopo |