Kirk Franklin, “When I Get There”
The sun will shine and
My heart shall sing and
One thought of you Jesus
What joy it brings
My soul can't wait to
To see your face
I'll bless your name Jesus
When I get there

You'll wipe tears
You’ll say well done and
You’ll hold me close and
Tell me I’m overcome and
You will exchange
Joy for my pain
And I’ll praise your name Jesus
When I get there

C’mon
Let’s go (Let’s go)
We’ll cry (We’ll Cry)
No I won’t (No I won’t)
We’re gonna be just like Jesus
When we get there

C’mon
Hold On (Hold On)
It won’t (It won’t)
Be long (Be long)
We’re gonna be just like Jesus
When we get there

No more feeling alone ( no more feeling alone) ( I’m never alone)
And all my fears will be gone (and all my fears will be gone) (I’m never alone)
You tell me it won’t be long ( you tell me it won’t be long) (It won’t be long)
When you call my name
We shall be changed

Clap your hands uh
Houston, clap your hands uh
Houston, clap your hands uh
Houston, clap your hands uh
All my people can you clap your hands, what
All my people can you clap your hands, what
Houston, clap your hands uh
Make some noise

We’re gonna be just like Jesus
When we get there

This song, by artist Kirk Franklin, depicts Jesus as a symbol of rebirth and renewal and someone whose life is to be imitated in heaven.  Franklin sings about the joys of seeing Jesus’ face as well the happiness that seeing his face would mean.  Jesus is also portrayed as a “friend” in this song, as someone that will “wipe ‘your’ tears” and tell you that you have done a good job.  This song definitely appeals to people that want to see Jesus as a comforter and someone that will take care of them and listen to their problems.   Parts of this song a definitely directed at people who have had bad experiences and who may be down on their luck because the song talks about people who are “feeling alone” and telling these people that there troubles are just about over. This song really emphasizes the spiritual aspect of Jesus.  

Josh Turner’s song “Me and God” depicts a relationship with God on a very personal level. This relationship can best be described as a friendship between the two. He talks about this friendship by saying “we’re like two peas in a pod” and “late at night talking it over, me and God” as well as “aint nobody gonna come between me and God.” Turner is referring to prayer time in this lyric, a very common message of Paul.

Turner also alludes to his Christian faith by viewing God as his father and a figure of divine power who rules the world.  Turner sings, “He’s my father…the beginning and the end, he rules the world with a staff and rod.” Turner is referring to Bible passages, Revelation 22:13, and Psalms 23 here. “One day we'll live together where the angels trod, Me and God,” he sings, another common theme of Revelation.

“Me and God” Lyrics by Josh Turner

There ain't nothing that can't be done by me and God
Ain't nobody gonna come between me and God
One day we'll live together where the angels trod
Me and God

Early in the morning talking it over, me and God
Late at night talking it over, me and God
You could say we're like two peas in a pod
Me and God

He's my Father, He's my friend
The beginning and the end
He rules the world with a staff and rod
We're a team, me and God
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/josh-turner-lyrics/me-and-god-lyrics.html)

I am weak and He is strong, me and God
He forgives me when I'm wrong, me and God
He's the one I lean on when life gets hard
Me and God

He's my Father, He's my friend
The beginning and the end
He rules the world with a staff and rod
We're a team, me and God

He rules the world with a staff and rod
We're a team, me and God
We're a team, me and God

Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam
Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam. 'Cause sunbeams are not made like me.
Don't expect me to cry for all the reasons you had to die. Don't ever ask your
love of me.

Don't expect me to cry.
Don't expect me to lie.
Don't expect me to die for thee.

Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam. 'Cause sunbeams are not made like me.
Don't expect me to cry for all the reasons you had to die. Don't ever ask your
love of me.

Don't expect me to cry.
Don't expect me to lie.
Don't expect me to die for thee.

Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam. 'Cause sunbeams are not made like me.
Don't expect me to cry for all the reasons you had to die. Don't ever ask your
love of me.

Don't expect me to cry.
Don't expect me to lie.
Don't expect me to die.
Don't expect me to cry.
Don't expect me to lie.
Don't expect me to die for thee.

They Hung Him On a Cross (by Leadbelly)
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross
For me

One day when I was lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me

They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill
For me

One day when I was lost
They hung him on a cross
They whooped him up the hill for me

He never said among them word
They never said among them word
They never said among them word
For me

One day when I was lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross
For me

They bit him in the side
They bit him in the side
They bit him in the side
For me

One day when I was lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me

He hung his head and died
He hung his head and died
He hung his head and died
For me

One day when I was lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross
For me

Josh Turner, "The Way He Was Raised"
Lyrics:He always wore those worn out flip-flops
Spent hours in his Daddy's workshop
he loved being on the water
Fishing with His friends
He always listened to the old folks
When they'd tell stories and crack jokes
Didn't talk back to his Mama
When she got onto Him

Oh, that's just the way He was raised
Had to finish all His chores 'fore He could go outside and play
they always went to church that's were he learned how to pray
And that's just the way He was raised

He grew His hair out when He got older
Grew it clear down to His shoulders
Started hanging with the outcasts
When He went off to town
Some called Him a troublemaker
Even some said a lawbreaker
No matter how they talked about Him
He never put nobody down

'Cause that's just the way He was raised
When people start to gossip, He'd just walk away
He always loved his neighbor no matter what they'd say
Oh, that's just the way He was raised

On a cross, on a hill
That longhaired boy was killed
All our sins washed away
When He walked out of that grave

Oh, that's just the way He was raised
there's no way we can measure
The sacrifice He made
He knew He had to die
For our debt to be paid
Oh, that's just the way He was raised

It took the hand of God to roll the stone away
And that's just the way He was raised
Yeah, that's just the way He was raised 

Though this song never mentions the name “Jesus” specifically, by the end of the song you can tell that the song is about him. The lyrics at the beginning make it sound as if the man in the song is just a normal, everyday guy who likes hanging out with friends and fishing. It emphasizes that he was raised in a way that led him to lead a good life. When he was younger he attended church and didn’t talk back to his mom. Then as he got older he would hang out with outcasts and love everybody despite the negative remarks they made about him. Then, in the last three stanzas, it becomes more clear that the man in question is Jesus. Instead of a normal guy, the song concludes with the man as a sufferer and savior when it says that by his death,“all our sins washed away.”

Dailey and Vincent- By the Mark
When I cross over
I will shout and sing
I will know my savior
By the mark where the
nails have been

CHORUS:

By the mark where the
nails have been
By the sign upon his precious skin
I will know my savior
when I come to him
By the mark where the
nails have been

A man of riches
May claim a crown of jewels
But the king of heaven
Can be told from the
prince of fools

CHORUS

On Cal- vary’s Mountain
Where they made him suffer so
All my sin was paid for
A long, long time ago

CHORUS

“Dailey and Vincent” is a bluegrass band that sings both regular bluegrass and gospel bluegrass.  The song By the Mark is a particular gospel song that has connected with many people and been one of the most popular songs the band has ever done.   By the Mark is simply as song about the nail scars (marks) on Jesus’ hands from when he was crucified and suffered on the cross.  The song begins by talking about how happy we will be when we cross over into heaven and recognize Jesus by the marks on his hands.  The song identifies Jesus as a man by referring in their lyrics to Jesus as him.  The song states that a rich man can be identified by his “crown of jewels,” while Jesus can be identified from the “prince of fools.”  This statement implies that Jesus was simply a human who walked amongst other individuals who were sinners.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his own life on the cross in order to pay for our sins.

Jesus
Jesus, help me find my proper place
Jesus, help me find my proper place
Help me in my weakness
'cos i'm falling out of grace
Jesus, Jesus

Motherless Children
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead
Wanderin' round from door to door
They don't have no place to go
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Some people say your sister will do when your mother's dead
Some people say your sister will do when your mother's dead
Some people say your sister will do
Soon as she marries, turn her back on you
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Some people say your auntie will do when your mother's dead
Some people say your auntie will do when your mother's dead
Some people say your auntie will do
Make a start, then prove untrue
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Your husband may do the best he can when your mother's dead
Your husband may do the best he can when your mother's dead
Your husband may do the best he can
but your husband don't understand
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Jesus will be a father to you when your mother's dead
Jesus will be a father to you when your mother's dead
Jesus will be a father to you
Pain and sorrow he'll lead you through
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead
Wanderin' round from door to door
They don't have no place to go
Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Motherless children have a hard time when their mother's dead

Solid Rock (by Bob Dylan)
Well, I'm hanging on to a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
And won't let go, and I can't let go, won't let go
And I can't let go, won't let go, and I can't let go no more.

For me He was chastised, for me He was hated
For me He was rejected by a world that He created
Nations are angry, coursed are some
People are expecting a false peace to come.

Well, I'm hanging on to a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
And won't let go, and I can't let go, won't let go
And I can't let go, won't let go, and I can't let go no more.

It's the ways of the flesh to war against the spirit
Twenty-four hours a day you can feel it and you can hear it
Using all the devices under the sun
And He never give up 'til the battle's lost or won.

Well, I'm hanging on to a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
And won't let go, and I can't let go, won't let go
And I can't let go, won't let go, and I can't let go no more.

Cold Jordan
Oh sinning is a gentilized journey, take Jesus as your daily guide
Though you may feel pure and saintly without Him walking by your side
And when you come to make your crossing at the end of the pilgrim's way
If you ever will meet your savior, you will surely meet him on that day

Now look at that cold Jordan, look at its deep water
Look at that wide river Oh heavy mighty billows roll
You better take Jesus with you, he's a true companion
Oh I'm sure without him that you never will make it home

That awful day of judgment is coming in the by and by
We'll see our Lord descending in the glory from on high
Oh, let us get in touch with Jesus and in the special love of God
And maybe ever get ready when he comes on Jordan's tide
Now look at that cold Jordan, look at its deep water
Look at that wide river Oh heavy mighty billows roll
You better take Jesus with you, he's a true companion
Oh I'm sure without him that you never will make it home

Now what you gonna do, Oh what you gonna say
Oh how you gonna feel when you come to the end of the way?