"I sing God's music because it makes me feel free," Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues."
Jackson grew up in the "Black Pearl" section of the Carrollton neighbourhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, and began singing in a Baptist church. In 1927 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she sang with The Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.
The Johnson Brothers broke up in the mid-1930s, and Jackson began her solo career, recording for Decca in 1937. The result, "God's Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares", was only a moderate success, but Jackson became a popular concert draw. She didn't record again untill 1946, when she signed with Apollo Records, releasing several singles that are now highly regarded, though sales were sluggish at the time. "Move On up a Little Higher" (1948) became a huge success, however, and stores could not stock enough of it to meet demand. Jackson rocketed to fame in the U.S. and soon afterwards in Europe. "I Can Put My Trust in Jesus" won a prize from the French Academy, and "Silent Night" was one of the best-selling singles in the history of Norway. She began a radio series on CBS and signed to Columbia Records in 1954. With her mainstream success came an inevitable backlash from gospel purists who felt she had watered down her sound for popular accessibility.
Jackson's career in the late 1950s and early 1960s continued to rise when she recorded with Percy Faith, and performed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. She also sang at the funeral of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr. The late 1960s saw a downturn in her popular success. She ended her career with a concert in Germany in 1971; when she returned, she made one of her final television appearances on The Flip Wilson Show.
Jackson died in Chicago on 27th January 1972 of heart failure and diabetes at the age of sixty. She was buried in Providence Memorial Park in Metairie, Louisiana. She was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1978.
Crying In The Chapel
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know the meaning of contentment now I'm happy with the Lord
Just a plain and simple chapel where humble people go to pray
I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger as I live from day to day
I've searched and I've searched but I couldn't find
No way on earth to gain peace of mind
Now I'm happy in the chapel where people are of one accord
You'll search and you'll search but you'll never find
No way on earth to gain peace of mind
Take your troubles in the chapel get down on your knees and pray
Then your burdens will be lighter and you'll surely find the way
(And you'll surely find the way)
Mahalia Jackson's song Crying in the Chapel is a powerful gospel ballad, with Ms. Jackson's soulful voice conveying the deep emotion and devotion of the lyrics. The song speaks about finding peace and contentment through faith, and invokes the image of a humble chapel where people come together to pray.
The first verse describes the singer's experience of crying in the chapel, but notes that the tears shed were tears of joy. This suggests that the singer has found solace and a sense of belonging in this place of worship. The song goes on to describe the chapel as a place of simplicity and humility, where people gather to 'sing and praise the Lord' in unison.
The second verse speaks about the struggles faced in life, and how the search for inner peace can feel futile. However, the chapel is presented as a sanctuary where one can go to find solace, and where prayers can lighten one's burdens.
The song ends with a reminder that peace of mind cannot be found on earth alone, and that one must seek spiritual guidance and strength to face life's challenges. The sentiment is one that is universal, regardless of one's religious or cultural background, as the yearning for comfort and hope is a shared human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
You saw me crying in the chapel the tears I shed were tears of joy
The chapel is a place where I can express my emotions and communicate with God. I shed tears of joy because I am grateful for His presence.
I know the meaning of contentment now I'm happy with the Lord
Being with the Lord brings me a sense of peace and happiness that I have never experienced before.
Just a plain and simple chapel where humble people go to pray
The chapel is not grand or fancy, but it is a sacred space where ordinary people come to pray and worship.
I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger as I live from day to day
I ask God to give me strength and endurance so that I can face life's challenges with grace and courage.
I've searched and I've searched but I couldn't find
No way on earth to gain peace of mind
Despite my best efforts, I could not find peace in worldly pursuits or material possessions.
Now I'm happy in the chapel where people are of one accord
The unity and harmony of the congregation in the chapel gives me a sense of belonging and community.
Yes we gather in the chapel just to sing and praise the Lord
We come together in the chapel to express our gratitude and love for God through music and worship.
Take your troubles in the chapel get down on your knees and pray
Then your burdens will be lighter and you'll surely find the way
(And you'll surely find the way)
The chapel is where you can bring your troubles and worries to God in prayer. Trust in Him and your burdens will be lifted and you will find the way forward in your life.
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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