"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.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grant it, Lord if you please
Daily walking close with Thee
Let it be, dear Lord; Lord, let it be
I am weak, but Thou are strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
In this world of toil and snares
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who but Thee my burden shares?
None but Thee, oh Lord, none but Thee
When my weary life is over
Pain and suffering are no more
Who will lead me safely o'er
Canaan's shore, that sweet Canaan's shore?
Mahalia Jackson's song "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" is a beautiful hymn that encapsulates the deep spiritual longing to be close to God. The first stanza of the song speaks to the desire for a closer relationship with God. The singer implores God to grant them the grace to walk with Him daily and to be ever closer. The second stanza acknowledges the human frailty and weakness, but thanks to Jesus, the singer can remain strong and free from wrongdoing. The singer is content to walk with the Lord for as long as possible.
The third stanza reveals the reality of life's struggles, trials, and tribulations. Even though the singer may falter and stumble, God is the only one who shares their burden. The song concludes with the fourth stanza, which points to the ultimate goal of every believer, to reach the heavenly Canaan's shore. The singer trusts that when their time on earth is over, God will lead them safely home to the sweet Canaan's shore. This song is a beautiful reminder for believers to stay connected to God and to rely fully on Him for strength and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a closer walk with Thee
I desire to have a more intimate relationship with You, dear Lord.
Grant it, Lord if you please
I request this wish to be granted to me if it pleases You, my Lord.
Daily walking close with Thee
Every day I want to be near You and walk with You, my dear Lord.
Let it be, dear Lord; Lord, let it be
I humbly ask that You allow me to have this closer walk with You, my dear Lord.
I am weak, but Thou art strong
I acknowledge that I am weak, but I know that You, my Lord, are strong.
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
Please, Jesus, protect me from doing anything wrong and lead me towards righteousness.
I'll be satisfied as long
As long as I am close to You, my dear Lord, I will be content.
As I can walk, dear Lord, close with Thee
The only thing I ask of You, dear Lord, is to allow me to walk closely with You.
In this world of toil and snares
This world is full of hardships and obstacles.
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
If I stumble or fail, Lord, does anyone else care or understand?
Who but Thee my burden shares?
Only You, my Lord, fully understand and carry my burdens with me.
None but Thee, oh Lord, none but Thee
There is no one else who can share my burdens with me besides You, my Lord.
When my weary life is over
When I am tired and my life comes to an end,
Pain and suffering are no more
When all the pain and suffering is gone,
Who will lead me safely o'er
Who will guide me safely across
Canaan's shore, that sweet Canaan's shore?
to the promised land, the sweet promised land of Canaan.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MILTON BATISTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jalebjaba1487
It doesn’t matter what her hair’s like , she’s the Queen of Gospel hands down . Rip .❤️
@aprilbrowncantstoppraising
Indeed♥️
@clydes2425
Amen ♥️♥️♥️
@Scratchingforcash
Well said ❤️
@ludlowcreary2885
The greatest gospel singer of all time.
@londabeyah9706
God 👀 HEART SPIRIT ENERGY SPEAKIBG CALLING WORSHIPPING PRAISING BELIEVING TRUSTING HIM 🙌 🙏
@joelleson3313
This song reaches right down into your soul and pulls you up. Two great Americans that we'll never see the likes of again.
@ladbol521
Right ! We thank God for making us unique. We have millions each of whom has an in-built trait distinguishing each one from another!
@ardettephillips3247
❤Amen
@ardettephillips3247
My mom's favorite song