Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospe… Read Full Bio ↴Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States". She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers.
"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.

Walk With Me
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics

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Jesus is with me
Oh yes, when I need the most
Jesus is with me
Oh Lord, when I need the most

When I go to my extreme
Follow my work and babe it seems
Then the Jesus steps

Steps right in
Oh when I need the most

Jesus is with me
Oh yeah, when I need the most
Jesus is with me
Oh yes, when I need the most

Lord when I go to my extreme
All of my work in vein it seems
Then my Jesus steps
Steps right in
Lord, when I need the most

When we're tired, seen more than I can bare
When I'm about to fall 'neath the weight of cast
Jesus will help me
when I need the most
When the need low and the money is gone
And when 'Im seen most hopeless
Then my Jesus steps, steps right on
Lord, when I need the most

Jesus is with me
Oh Lord, when I need the most

Jesus is with me
Oh Lord, when I need the most

Yes when I go to my extreme
Follow my work and babe it seems
Then the Jesus steps
Steps right in
Yeah when I need the most

Oh Jesus is with me
Oh Lord, when I need the most
Oh Jesus is with me
So glad, when I need the most

When I go to my extreme
Follow my work and babe it seems
Oh my Jesus steps

Steps right in
Yeah when I need most

Overall Meaning

Mahalia Jackson's song "Jesus Is With Me" is a gospel hymn that conveys a message of gratitude and faith. The song is about the singer’s belief that Jesus is always with her, especially when she needs him the most. She feels his presence comforting her in difficult situations and giving her strength to carry on. The repetition of the phrase "when I need the most" reinforces the idea that Jesus is the constant source of support and love, no matter what life brings.

The lyrics reflect the struggles of everyday life, where the singer talks about going to her extreme and following her work in vain. She has seen more than she can bear, and she is about to collapse under the weight of her burdens. But just when she is about to give up, Jesus steps in and helps her through the difficulties. The song emphasizes that Jesus is there for her in every situation, whether it is during times of joy or sorrow.

Overall, "Jesus Is With Me" expresses a sense of hope and the strength that comes from faith. It offers a message of reassurance and comfort for those who are struggling with challenges in their lives. The song reminds us that we are not alone, and that Jesus is always with us, providing us with the help and support we need to overcome any obstacles in our path.

Line by Line Meaning

Jesus is with me
I believe that Jesus is always by my side

Oh yes, when I need the most
Especially in my moments of greatest need

Oh Lord, when I need the most
I call on the Lord in my times of desperation

When I go to my extreme
When I reach the absolute limits of my capacity

Follow my work and babe it seems
Despite my best efforts, nothing seems to be going my way

Then the Jesus steps
At that moment, I feel Jesus coming to my aid

Steps right in
He intervenes in my life and takes control

Oh yeah, when I need the most
Once again, in the moments of my greatest need

Lord when I go to my extreme
When I am pushed to my absolute limit

All of my work in vein it seems
Despite all of my hard work, I am still struggling

When we're tired, seen more than I can bare
When I am exhausted and cannot take any more