Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jessy sang and played his first song at the age of five. As a youngster he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he was heard and discovered by James Cleveland, who was one of the first artists to sing and record Jessy Dixon's compositions, "God Can Do Anything But Fail," and "My God Can Make A Way."
The organizers of the Newport Jazz Festival invited him to perform his new song, "The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling," at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1972. After the performance, Jessy and The Jessy Dixon Singers were requested to do four encores. Paul Simon, of Simon and Garfunkel, was in the audience and invited Jessy to share the stage with him as lead vocalist on TV's Saturday Night Live. Not only did they share that performance, Jessy soon found himself touring with Simon across the United States, France, Europe, Canada, Scandinavia, Israel, and Japan. Jessy's affiliation with Paul Simon lasted for eight years, during which time he recorded two albums, Live Rhymin (1974) and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), both of which sold a million copies.
Paul Simon says of his eight-year singing comrade: "Jessy has a rare and joyous musical gift. I have loved gospel music and during the years I have been associated with Jessy my appreciation of the gospel has grown."
Songwriter and producer, Andrae Crouch also recognized the magnitude of Jessy's talent, and produced Jessy Dixon's classic recording, "It's All Right Now."
Many of Jessy's award-winning compositions have been sung and recorded by such artists as Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Cher, Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, Danniebelle, Point Of Grace, Walter Hawkins, Randy Crawford, The Thompson Community Singers, James Cleveland, among others.
In 1993, Jessy Dixon composed "I Am Redeemed." It remained in the top ten gospel music charts for an unprecedented five years.
The years Jessy has spent writing, singing, and producing have enabled him to realize the abiding dream of demolishing the walls dividing cultural musical styles. A few years ago, Jessy found two allies who shared his dream. Bill and Gloria Gaither invited him to sing at a Homecoming video taping and provided him yet another opportunity to see his dream become a reality. "Christian music isn't just one style," says Bill Gaither, "It's a theology wrapped up in a lot of different styles..." Jessy has played an important role in the unifying quality of the Homecoming video series.
Jessy is now a favorite on the series, and has traveled all over the United States and abroad surprising gospel audiences with his stirring performances of "It's A Highway To Heaven," "Operator," "Leaving On My Mind," "Blood Bought Church," "The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling," "Lord Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary," and "I Am Redeemed."
In addition to his current involvement with the Homecoming videos and concerts, his own concert schedule includes concerts both in America and abroad. He tours Europe four to six months each year, and performs the hit Broadway show, "Black Nativity" with The Jessy Dixon Theater Group. Jessy is also an ordained minister with Calvary Ministries International of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The words printed in the International Herald Tribune summarize the Jessy Dixon experience: "No where else in the world will you find such a delightful, pure, and honest performance, ingeniously combining brilliant vocalizing and high energy excitement, as when you listen to Jessy Dixon. When your feet begin to tap with the beat, the desire to get up and dance becomes overwhelming, and maybe a tear comes to your eyes; that is when Jessy Dixon's performance has reached its pinnacle."
Leave It There
Jessy Dixon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
If your body suffers pain and your health you can't regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don't forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He'll go with you to the end—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
In Jessy Dixon’s “Leave It There,” the songwriter offers comfort and wise counsel to his listeners. The song is about the difficulties of life and how, when one cannot bear the weight of their burdens anymore, they can turn to God and leave everything in His hands. The first verse encourages listeners not to worry about the world’s material possessions, but to trust in God and all that is promised in His Word. The second verse relates to physical pain and sickness. Dixon reminds his audience that even in despair, Jesus will heal and save those who turn to Him. The third verse speaks of enemies and the struggles that come with facing them. Dixon urges his listeners not to forget that prayer is powerful and that God can help them find their way. The final verse addresses aging and the stress that comes with it. Dixon assures his audience that God will never leave them and will carry them through to the end.
The lyrics of this song are meant to offer hope and encouragement to those who feel lost or burdened in any way. It serves as a reminder that one can always rely on their faith and turn to God for help. The repetition of the chorus also serves as a reinforcement of this message. Dixon encourages listeners to take their burden to the Lord and leave it there, trusting in His plan and His ability to deliver them from whatever they may be struggling with.
Line by Line Meaning
If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
If the world takes away all of its riches and wealth from you,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
And you have to survive with very little resources,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—
Just recall how God takes care of even the smallest creatures, as it is written in the Bible,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Give your worries and problems to God and trust in Him to take care of them.
Leave it there, leave it there,
Repeat the chorus, emphasizing the importance of leaving your burden with God.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
If you have faith and never waver, God will certainly deliver you from your troubles,
If your body suffers pain and your health you can't regain,
If your physical body experiences discomfort and you're unable to recover your health,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
And you are on the verge of losing hope and falling into depression,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Jesus understands your suffering and has the power to rescue you and restore your health,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Give your worries and problems to God and trust in Him to take care of them.
When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
When your adversaries attack and you start to lose heart,
Don't forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
Remember that God in Heaven responds to your prayers,
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—
He will create a path for you and guide you securely through it,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Give your worries and problems to God and trust in Him to take care of them.
When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
When you're no longer young and the effects of aging are starting to appear,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
And you are weighed down by the cares and anxieties of life,
He will never leave you then, He'll go with you to the end—
God will never abandon you during this time, but will be with you until the very end.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Give your worries and problems to God and trust in Him to take care of them.
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Julia Kutzler
what a witness for HIM..this song is always uplifting and encouraging..we have a place to go in times of distress!
Jane Adams
Amen.. Amen.. never get tired of this precious song
jackson howell
Love the trememdous soul I hear in this song.
Jane Adams
Thank you brother Jessy Dixon... Thank you.. I am blessed all the time listening to your voice.. God keep you till we meet
JESUS LOVES HIS PEOPLE!
Remembering our wonderful Black Heritage! Thank God for Mother's influence on this precious life!
How grateful we are that the MAJOR burden...SIN rolls away when we receive Jesus! The way of transgression is hard, laden with condemnation!
Sandor Büchler
+Sister Pamela Jordan Thank you!
JoAnn Lupinacci
With all the burdens we face today, remind us Lord to Leave them There! Thank you Jesus!
Avis Swope
JESSY WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO GOD FOR YOUR LIFE
Jane Adams
Indeed.. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there ✋
Elle Pennell
Our dear Jessy Dixon. Gone to soon but we will never forget you. I spend many hours listening to you every day and someday we will meet again at the feet of our Savior. Love you always Jessy. RIP.