Pastor Shirley has recorded over forty albums since the 60s exploring her gift and spreading messages of faith. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2, and Born to Sing: Mama 3. Her credits also include a series of commercials for MCI Communications and several awards for her recordings. She has been awarded 11 Grammy Awards, 13 Stellar Awards, 18 Doves, 3 RIAA gold certifications, an Essence Award, McDonald's Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Achievement Award, SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Pastor Shirley has made several notable appearances including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH-1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department.
She has blessed so many around the world and will remain an example.
Heaven
Shirley Caesar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I? m going to my home on high, Heaven
To a city called Heaven
I? m going there
(Repeat)
Where the streets are paved with gold
And the half has never been toldVerse1:
See the Lord doesn? t want
Any man to perish
He? s so kind
Take advantage of your time
Well it won? t be long
We? ll be going home, over to Heaven
Choir: To a city called Heaven
I? m going there
Repeat Chorus
Verse2:
John said he saw a new Heaven
And he saw a brand new earth
Prepared all God? s children
So prepare to meet the Lord
Nothing but the pure in heart
Shall see God, over in Heaven
To a city called Heaven
I? m going there
Repeat Chorus
Vamp:
I? m going there (8x)Love over there
Joy over there
(4x)
I? m going there (8x)
To a city called Heaven,
I? m going there
The lyrics of Shirley Caesar's "Heaven" paint a picture of the believers' journey to the promised land after life on earth. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, anticipating the future arrival of the Lord to signal the believers' transition to their "home on high" in Heaven. The lyrics describe the city of Heaven as a place where there are streets paved with gold, and where the inexplicable beauty of life will unravel, as "the half has never been told." The song's message encourages listeners to seek out the Lord while they have time on earth, as life is short, and the promised land awaits.
The message in "Heaven" speaks to Christians about the importance of holding firm to their faith as there is a guarantee for them on the other side of life's struggles. The song encourages believers to think of the afterlife as a place where there is no sin, sorrow or pain, as John's visions in the Bible described the new earth and heavens.
Furthermore, the song expresses that Heaven is a place for those who possess a pure heart as the pure in heart shall see God. Shirley Caesar, through the song, encourages believers not only to focus on the physical reward but also to aim towards a life of purity.
Line by Line Meaning
When the Lord shall crack the sky
When the second coming of Jesus occurs
I? m going to my home on high, Heaven
I will be going to Heaven, my eternal home above
To a city called Heaven
To the utopian city of Heaven
I? m going there
I am excitedly looking forward to going there
Where the streets are paved with gold
Where the city's streets are made of pure gold
And the half has never been told
And the beauty of the place cannot be fully described or fathomed
See the Lord doesn? t want
The Lord does not wish for any man to perish
Any man to perish
He wishes for every person to follow the path of righteousness and be saved instead of being lost
He? s so kind
The Lord is merciful and benevolent
Take advantage of your time
Take the opportunity today to do good in the eyes of the Lord
Well it won? t be long
It will not be long before the day of judgment arrives
We? ll be going home, over to Heaven
We will be going to Heaven, our true home, after departing from this earthly life
John said he saw a new Heaven
The Apostle John saw a new and different Heaven in his vision
And he saw a brand new earth
John also saw a renewed and pristine earth in his vision
Prepared all God? s children
The new Heaven and earth had been set up for the sake of God's children who had lived a life of righteousness on earth
So prepare to meet the Lord
Be ready to face the Lord with open arms when the time comes
Nothing but the pure in heart
Only persons with pure motives and virtuousness in their hearts
Shall see God, over in Heaven
Will have the honour of meeting and seeing God in Heaven
I? m going there (8x)
I am repeatedly expressing my excitement to go to Heaven
Love over there
The abundance of love in Heaven
Joy over there
The unending happiness in Heaven
To a city called Heaven,
To the city of Heaven
I? m going there
I will be there soon
Writer(s): Mathis Michael Edward
Contributed by Gavin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ON-ck9eo
The Grammys said this won’t be allowed if Whitney wasn’t a part of it. So she came specially for this Gospel segment. Amazing performance by all the women. Phenomenal
@nicthommi
It was her roots and I will always love her for regularly reminding people
@AIKAN1974
nippy dissed the grammys the previous year because she was not nominated for 'preachers' wife' soundtrack in the gospel category. to make up for the snub, they gave her own gospel segment. it was like 15 mins long. they tore that place up
@detricksenaygales2974
and this was the 1st and the LAST time Grammy aired Gospel Live !! Mama was Whitney’s God Mother!! Gospel has never been aired LIVE since this performance!! 😢😢😢
@Realviews603
@@AIKAN1974This grammy performance was February 1996. The preacher's wife wasn't released until November 1996.
@mradkins2011
Whitney stepped right into full worship at the end...Sunday morning praise break worship lol
@saivery2803
mradkins2011 I swea...them musicians was onnit too lol.
@jesusislord1john196
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness ❤️
@juliaa9139
@@jesusislord1john196 yesssss amen 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️
@kl.8992
Love when the musicians are on point lol