In March of 1965, Dr. C.J. Johnson recorded an original song, “I Want to Go… Read Full Bio ↴In March of 1965, Dr. C.J. Johnson recorded an original song, “I Want to Go Where Jesus Is,” for Savoy Records. Sung a cappella and with thunderous enthusiasm by a jubilant congregation, the sound was so raw and primitive that one might have assumed it was recorded forty years prior by Alan Lomax and came straight from the Library of Congress archives. The composition itself sounded as if it was from the pages of Kentucky Harmony. But sure enough, it was recorded at the same time as other Savoy gospel hits of the day, by artists such as Alex Bradford, the Caravans, the Roberta Martin Singers and James Cleveland.

A succession of singles and albums established Dr. C.J. Johnson as one of the country’s foremost hymnologists. His recordings were at once anachronistic and refreshing at a time when gospel music focused squarely on hard-singing leads and heavy instrumental backing. Dr. Johnson’s commitment to the old time sound – straight congregational singing with occasional slaps of the tambourine – earned him an invitation to sing at the White House on three separate occasions.

Begging for Ya
C.J. Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In my kitchen there's a lady on TV
Beneath the burning sun so far away
And her baby's eyes are staring straight at me
With all the innocence that seem to say

Check, what you gon' do to help me
Check, like the water jar my belly's empty
Check, what can you do to make it better

Check, gotta do something so I can tell him

Gotta message for my sista girls
Gotta message for my baby girls
Gotta send it, send it 'round the world
'Cause I got a message for ya

Gotta message for my brother man
That we gotta give it, give it all we can
Justa' spread the love of God around the land
'Cause gotta message for ya

There's little brother livin' down the street
Struggling to do the best he can
His mama gives him clothes and food to eat
But can't show him how to be a man

Check, whatcha' gonna do to reach 'em
Check, lookin' for someone to teach him
Check, an everyday kind of hero
Check, another way that we can let him know

Gotta message for my sista girls
Gotta message for my baby girls
Gotta send it, send it 'round the world
'Cause I got a message for ya

Gotta message for my brother man
That we gotta give it, give it all we can
Justa' spread the love of God around the land
'Cause gotta message for ya

Dios es amor
God is love

Overall Meaning

The opening verse of "Begging for Ya" by C.J Johnson describes a scene of a lady and her child on TV, under the "burning sun" and "so far away". The eyes of the baby stare out from the screen with "innocence" that seems to be begging for help. The subsequent lines make an appeal to the listener to recognize the suffering of those around us, and to ask themselves what they can do to alleviate the plight of others. The use of repetition of the word "check" reinforces the message and the urgency of action. This verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, which calls for a message to be spread about helping others.

The second verse continues the theme of needing to reach out to those in need. The focus here is on a young boy who is struggling to become a man, with a mother who is trying to do her best for him but cannot show him how to be a responsible and caring adult. Once again, the message is for us to take action and to look for ways in which we can help, be it by teaching, mentoring, or caring for those who are vulnerable.

The chorus emphasizes the message of spreading love and kindness, and the need to reach out to "sister girls" and "baby girls", to "brother men," and to anyone who needs love and support. The song's message is rooted in Christian beliefs, as seen in the final line which declares "God is love," but the sentiment of the lyrics extends beyond any religious boundary.

Line by Line Meaning

In my kitchen there's a lady on TV
I see a lady on TV in my kitchen

Beneath the burning sun so far away
She's far away from me, under the hot sun

And her baby's eyes are staring straight at me
The baby on TV is looking right at me

With all the innocence that seem to say
The baby's innocence is evident in its expression

Check, what you gon' do to help me
What are you going to do to help?

Check, like the water jar my belly's empty
I'm hungry like an empty water jar

Check, what can you do to make it better
What can you do to make things better?

Check, gotta do something so I can tell him
I need to do something so I can tell the baby

Gotta message for my sista girls
I have a message for my sisters

Gotta message for my baby girls
I have a message for my baby sisters

Gotta send it, send it 'round the world
I need to spread this message around the world