Born in Bessemer, Alabama, USA, he first appeared on stage at the age of four, then joined a children's gospel group at thirteen, soon obtaining his own radio show. He organized another group after his mother sent him to New York City following a racial incident; he continued singing after returning to attend the Snow Hill Institute in Snow Hill, Alabama, where he acquired the title "Professor" while teaching as a student.
He moved to Chicago in 1947, where he worked briefly with Roberta Martin and toured with Mahalia Jackson, then struck out on his own with his own group, the Bradford Singers, followed by another group, the Bradford Specials. He recorded his first hit record, "Too Close To Heaven" (1954), billed as Professor Alex Bradford and his singers, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc, then followed it with a number of other successes in the rest of the decade.
Artists such as Little Richard imitated Bradford's energetic style, ranging from a gravelly bass to a whooping falsetto, and his flamboyant stage presence. Ray Charles, for his part, not only borrowed some of Bradford's vocal mannerisms but based his Raelets on the Bradford Specials. His 1962 gospel song composition "Let the Lord Be Seen in Me", recorded for his One Step & Angel on Vacation album, was also recorded in 1964 by an emerging force in Jamaican music, Bob Marley & the Spiritual Sisters. Marley later adopted the Rastafarian faith, but along with his mother, at first he sung gospel in the local Shilo Apostolic Church.
In 1961, when his recording career was in decline, Bradford joined the cast of the off-Broadway show Black Nativity, based on the writings of Langston Hughes, which toured Europe in 1962. A member of the Alex Bradford Singers at that time was Madeline Bell, who settled in England after the show ended. Bradford appeared in Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, for which he won the Obie award, in 1972. He died in Newark, New Jersey, in 1978, as the musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God was in production.
If You See My Saviour
Alex Bradford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who was bound to cross Jordan's swelling tide
And I asked him if he would do me a favor
And kindly take this message to the other side
If you see my Savior tell Him that you saw me
Ah, and when you saw me I was on my way
When you reach that golden city think about me
Though you have to make this journey on without me
Oh, that's a debt that sooner or later must be paid
Well, you may see some old friends who may ask about me
Oh, tell them I am coming home someday
The lyrics to Alex Bradford's song "If You See My Savior" have a deeply spiritual and emotional meaning. The singer is standing by the bedside of their neighbor, who is about to pass away and cross over the Jordan River. The singer asks their neighbor to deliver a message to their Savior if and when they see Him on the other side. The message is a request for the Savior to remember the singer and to think of them when He reaches the golden city in heaven. The singer acknowledges that death is an inevitable part of life and that they will eventually have to make the journey to the afterlife, but they remain hopeful that they will someday make it home.
The song's lyrics reflect the time period in which it was written, namely the early 20th century, when African Americans were experiencing significant social and political changes. Bradford was a gospel singer who performed during the Civil Rights movement, and his music often reflected the experiences and emotions of the black community during that time. The song speaks to the deep religious faith of African Americans, many of whom found solace in gospel music.
The lyrics also convey a sense of community and a shared experience of loss, as the singer asks their neighbor to deliver a message to the Savior on behalf of others who have passed away or who will soon pass away. The song is a celebration of life and faith, despite the challenges and hardships faced by the African American community at that time.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by the bedside of a neighbor
I was by my neighbor's bed as they were about to pass over to the other side
Who was bound to cross Jordan's swelling tide
My neighbor was about to cross a metaphorical river, representing the journey into the afterlife
And I asked him if he would do me a favor
I requested a favor from my neighbor
And kindly take this message to the other side
I asked my neighbor to deliver a message for me to the afterlife
If you see my Savior tell Him that you saw me
If you see Jesus, please tell Him that you saw me
Ah, and when you saw me I was on my way
When you saw me, I was on my journey to the afterlife
When you reach that golden city think about me
When you arrive at the afterlife, remember me
And don't forget to tell the Savior what I said
Please tell Jesus the message I gave you
Though you have to make this journey on without me
Although you have to continue your journey without me by your side
Oh, that's a debt that sooner or later must be paid
This is an inevitable debt that everyone must eventually pay
Well, you may see some old friends who may ask about me
You might see some mutual acquaintances who may inquire about me
Oh, tell them I am coming home someday
Please let them know that I will be going home to the afterlife someday
Writer(s): Thomas A. Dorsey
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.