Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American g… Read Full Bio ↴Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American gospel musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (as leader of the Edwin Hawkins Singers) was probably best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list. The Edwin Hawkins Singers made a second foray into the charts exactly one year later, backing folk singer Melanie on "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)".

At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson, he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, which included almost fifty members. This ensemble recorded its first album Let Us Go into the House of the Lord at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California privately (on the Century 70 custom label), hoping to sell 500 copies. "Oh Happy Day" was just one of the eight songs on the album. (The soloists in the album were Elaine Kelly, Margarette Branch, Dorothy Combs Morrison, Tramaine Davis (Hawkins), Reuben Franklin, Donald Cashmere, Betty Watson, and Ruth Lyons.)

When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started playing "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Combs Morrison, the subsequently released single (on the newly created Pavilion label distributed by Buddah) rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. No. 4, UK No. 2, No. 2 on the Irish Singles Chart, and No. 1 on the German Singles Charts in 1969. It then became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Hawkins' arrangement of the song was eventually covered by The Four Seasons on their 1970 album Half & Half.

Their second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was the 1970 Melanie single "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," on which the label listed the performers as Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. The song peaked at No. 6 in the U.S. In the 1992 movie Leap of Faith, Hawkins is the choir master for the gospel songs.

Hawkins died on January 15, 2018, at the age of 74.

I'm Going Through
The Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'I'm Going Through' by these artists:

Bill & Gloria Gaither I'm going back to old Kentucky There to see my Linda…
Bishop G.E. Patterson What up Uce? I be goin' through all kinda shit I can't…
Bishop G.E. Patterson & Congregation What up Uce? I be goin' through all kinda shit I can't…
Dr. Charles G. Hayes & The Cosmopolitan Warriors Reason Where did you go? You said you wouldn't leave But the…
Dr. Charles Hayes and The Cosmopolitan Warriors I walk up in the spot like I own it Came…
Rev. C. L. Franklin Life can be so hard And there are people who will…
Rev. Clay Evans I bet you wondered how I knew About your plans to…
Rev. Johnny L. 'Hurricane' Jones I bet you wondered how I knew About your plans to…
Rev. Johnny L. Jones And I am telling you I'm not going You're the best…

Rev. Reginald Finley I bet you wondered how I knew About your plans to…
Rev. Reginald Finley Pastor Gordon A. Humphrey Jr. & Bishop Wy I bet you wondered how I knew About your plans to…
Vanessa Bell Armstrong I'm going through I'm going through I'm going through I'm go…
Walter Hawkins and the Family When I left old Kentucky Linda kissed me and she cried I…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Edwin Hawkins Singers:

Happy day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Jesus Jesus lover of my soul Let me to Thy bosom fly While…
Jesus, Lover of My Soul Jesus, Lover of my soul Jesus, I will never let you…
Lay Down Lay down, lay down, let it all down Let your white…
Lord Don't Move That Mountain Now Lord don't move my mountain But give me the strength…
O Happy Day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
O-o-h Child Ooh child Things are gonna get easier Ooh child Things'll ge…
Oh Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Ooh Child Ooh child Things are gonna get easier Ooh child Things'll ge…

Precious Memories Precious memories, How they linger How they ever flood my…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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Comments from YouTube:

@hulksmash3496

4y↑7

Red hook summer got me here

@rochellarounds2243

5y↑14

Baritones! Thanks Edwin Hawkins. You gave us 60s children a real treat!

@Lolo1130

13y↑57

They were TEENAGERS when they recorded this and with what? 1 piano, 1 drum set, and 1 bass! No dubbing, recorded in the church - just spirit filled kids under the direction of one of the world's greatest gospel writer/arranger/director/musicians. Amazing then, and amazing now!

@PAPAMOZO

6y↑4

Agreed! It's lost but for YouTube.

@gaffezmary2703

P

00a

@ladynfsoffice

4y↑2

Love your comments especially about Dr. Edwin Reuben Hawkins! Love and Blessings 🍃🌹🍃🎹🍃🌹🍃

@ellaalston3237

Bringing back wonderful memories....and we were teenagers ,young adult combination choir.❤️🙏😊

@seafjay

3y↑7

The harmony and the pitch in this is amazing.

@isaacescamilla6386

5y↑5

I had the privilege to play organ and piano for one of his workshops, and it changed my view of music for ever!

@vijaypush

5y↑1

You are a luncking man

@channelthree9424

3y↑3

My sister had this album back in the day. I still remember it so vividly. It was a great album with great songs. Even though I was a kid in elementary school, I absolutely loved this album.

@monicahope3615

3y↑1

In 1970, I was a founding member of the Bronx-based Edenwald Community Choir, under the direction of the late Darryl Douglass. I remember singing this song either that year or the next year. I'm not sure. But I have always kept this song in my mind because I LOVED singing it! I LOVE YouTube and thank whoever posted this!

@marshallcoleman8061

3y↑1

Awesome song, I haven't heard this song in years. Our choir in Ohio use to sing this song in the 60s. Edwin and Walter Hawkins are gifted geniuses. Powerful anointing.

@MonaSallie

13y↑15

When I was a little girl this choir came to our church, I remember thinking I have never heard anything like this, They were selling their 45... This was the song on that 45. I have since met Edwin and sang a solo on one of his cd release. it's amazing how things come Full Circle!

@rochellarounds2243

7y↑5

Once upon a time when choirs had real Baritone and Bass men voices! Yesteryear is missed greatly...

@ishaa5948

6y↑9

This is the B side of "Oh Happy Day". 😍 This song changed my way of thinking. Thank u Hawkins family 🙏

@vijaypush

3y↑1

Ho me also

@mildredpierce4506

3y↑1

It’s been so long since I’ve heard this song. I think I may have still been a teenager if not younger. I have always loved this song.

@Notthegreekgod1982

12y↑20

This Song was so well used in Spike Lee Red Hook Summer. Uplifting, Sad, and haunting at the same time.

@nilesstark

Oh yes it was. The Blood!

@vijaypush

13y↑13

I was a small boy olso, and i liked this song so, and now always ! It make my hart happy so, when it play in my house this song, i hope a world of love, and i fly higher and higher. Thanks to you, friend in love, to like it whis and the same JOIE that me, so far away my french country ! Thanks God to give us so love. I think you hanser my bad english !! That God was good and sweet to you Pierre

@terrynickens1421

3y↑1

thank you Thank you for sharing this ! Finally found it! We song this at our Church when I was around 10 years old. always thought our choir was the only choir that song it this way! I just found this on YouTube recently. Wow !

@rosemariejackson3975

9y↑26

We had the 45 rpm Oh Happy Day and I flipped it over and fell in love with this song. I was a preteen in the 60's then. Found the best songs on the B side.

@vanrssawise5804

7y↑6

Me too! I too found the best songs on the B side!

@bianchikat

3y↑2

me too! love this song so much..

@vijaypush

3y↑1

Ho yes the side B is the best !+++

@debdessaso

7y↑6

Would you believe that this song was written by the famous Methodist preacher Charles Wesley in 1798? Wesley was being chased by people who disagreed with his teachings and found refuge in a farmhouse where God, through the farmer's wife, protected him until the mob dispersed. While hiding out, Wesley wrote this hymn. God is good!!!!

@sharonross8192

7y↑2

AMEN Yes, HE IS!!!

@davidmolina7543

5y↑1

All the time...

@carlaforde1433

5y↑1

GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD.

@vijaypush

Ho yes !

@davidbrock6841

5y↑2

I had little interest in gospel music until I found Dorothy Coombes-Morrison's voice. Now, some 50 years later, still stuns me :)

@joycematthews6568

Beautiful Song! I can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost. This is so amazing. Glory Allelulia! Thank you Jesus!🙏🏼 ❤🙏🏽

@vijaypush

That God was good and sweet to you ! The voice of black men and women are so near Jesus and God, that i can go higher and higher near God when i listen them !!! 🥰

@nancytyler103

4y↑1

This brings back the best memories of beautiful anointed gospel music. I remember when the Hawkins Family Singers were criticized endlessly. They had permed hair, their Afros were too big, they were gay, their music was too worldly. It’s not appropriate to say Jesus is your lover. It sounds like you want to fornicate with Jesus. I’m so very glad my mother told her children that nobody, pastor, bishop or candlestick maker, was going to tell her who she could or couldn’t listen to.

@lblack1961

14y↑4

Thank you for posting this. The first album the Edwin Hawkins Singers came out with marks a very important time in my life...the album was playing when my baby brother came home from the hospital. So whenever I hear a song from the album, I think of my little brother (who is now 42 :-)

@paulgreen6921

Dem chern sho knew dey stuff. Suave, bold, vivacious, gorgeous, beautiful, cutting-edge expansive golden good! PWG

@TheHatGuy1500

3y↑1

This brings back so many nostalgic memories

@ndansome

10y↑17

So many things going on in this exquisite composition: the 'modern gospel' segueing to the haunting 'spiritual' round building to that spectacular crescendo.I don't know of a gospel song rendition that is as powerful as this one.Thanks for posting it!

@carlaforde1433

Growing up with this album, hearing my mom play it over and over...I didn't mind it then. It's been decades. I've been playing this song over and over. It's SOOOO good and beautiful.

@vanrssawise5804

I got goosebumps when I heard this song. I still have the 45!

@evrydaypeople

12y↑4

Beautiful song. Agree with the comment on the excellent use of this song in red hook summer. it was perfectly used in the movie.

@hthesmith7915

9y↑12

Beautiful. The piano soars.

@monicarwells2

7y↑9

Rest in love peace and harmony Edwin Hawkins! Red Hook Summer brought me here. Leave it up to SPIKE to put together something so plain yet so loud and genius! That was indeed a deep scene when they played this song. If you haven’t seen Red Hook Summer you should watch it it’s funny and a little sad. It’s on demand on U-verse and amazon! Actually it’s on here it’s the next video up lol the entire movie is on here ok bye

@SpeegBJ

13y↑2

Always, and Everafter......Amen for this beauty!

@lesterstanley8416

9y↑1

Loved this song for Years...Jesus is a lover of my soul makes me feel so much better than any other love I ever had because he first me, he is amazing and merciful my all in all my soul cries thank u thank u for all u did and do for me Lord please continue...

@vijaypush

I love it me also so much !… Regards from France to you

@caliporche7896

11y↑10

my mother used to play this at home when I was a kid...memory's big time.

@ishaa5948

6y↑1

🙏💖

@carlaforde1433

5y↑2

Ditto. Praise God for great moms!

@vijaypush

So sweet mother ! Than God keep her soul for ever

@vijaypush

vijaypush
il y a 9 ans
I was a small boy also, and i liked this song so, and now always ! It make my hart happy so, when it play in my house this song, i hope a world of love, and i fly higher and higher.
Thanks to you, friend in love, to like it and the same JOIE that me, so far away my french country ! Thanks God give us so love. I think you and forgive my bad english !!
That God was good and sweet for you
Pierre

@starrcompany3275

3y↑1

For some reason I think this song ended up in a lot of black American homes👍🏿💜🌹 because my mom also played this when I was 9yo

@tanyapeterson667

7y↑1

amen jesus is the lover of my soul thank you jesus! rip edwin hawkins!

@vijaypush

So sweet Jésus !

@blueblue1891

13y↑3

Lovely song. Hallelujah!

@pridefulebony3905

Baby they sang this song 🔥🔥🔥

@vijaypush

That God was good and sweet to all you 🥰

@DivaG38

5y↑2

Love this version

@flxnhrd

11y↑29

Needed to find this song after viewing Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer"....Very power scene with this song as a back drop.

@lifestraight

11y↑6

Same here!! That film made me look this up as well!

@LadyJay114

11y↑3

Me three!

@BeautelligentDiva79

8y↑3

Me four!! The movie is a good one overall, but this song is why I watch it. My favorite part is when the sopranos sing Jeeeessuuuuussss is the lover of my sooouuuulllllll.

@flxnhrd

8y↑2

Mine as well!

@williedynamyte

8y↑3

Here I am thinking i was the only person who was hooked in by this song. Spike lee films seem to do this to me.

3 More Replies...

@gregorygordon8747

6y↑1

I'm a lover of JESUS and GOD SOUL.

@davelars6767

10y↑1

Kevin...that CD from the 90s it pure soul!.....THEIR BEST!...smoking band!!

@vivlala

7y↑1

My favorite. Sleep in peace Edwin Hawkins.

@kevinbouknight1308

10y↑4

I have always loved this song. They did a reunion album back in the late ' 90 and only did a snippet of this song. Thank you for posting the original.

@vijaypush

10y↑2

I hope that God will be god for you. Thinks from France

@WilfridAgboton

8y↑3

feeling the spirit,here!wow!

@soulbrother34

12y↑7

A Few of the choir members at that time were teenagers, the rest of the were in their early to mid-20's...

@starrcompany3275

Really? Wow

@starrcompany3275

6y↑6

When I was a little boy I would always put the needle back 3:49👍🏿like where did that come from.

@columbiaexposition

6y↑2

Have Mercy!!!!

@countblainer

12y↑2

Amazing!

@MultiMoi57

13y↑2

c'est puissant !

@montgomb3

10y↑1

Lorraine Street Church of God in Christ use to sing this song back in the 80's. I was a teenager and one of the tenors saying "Jesus is the lover of my soul".

@loreneammonds2268

Yesss!!!

@recpeace3

13y↑10

Isn't this amazing...no mixing..no gimmicks..just straight singing..I sang this back in the 70s...great sound...of course back then the older folks thought it was horrible...funny

@starrcompany3275

6y↑1

Wonder why they would laugh at this? It's freaking GREAT! Are you serious?

@carlaforde1433

5y↑1

This music was downright innovative for Christian music in the 60's. It was good then and I REALLY love and appreciate it now.

@nancytyler8900

They said the same thing about Andre Crouch, Rance Allen and even Mahalia Jackson. Now they’re considered some of the greatest pioneers in Gospel music.

@larrywilson8687

8y↑7

This was the other side of Oh Happy Day.

@terrellepps9548

7y↑5

Using the right song with right scene is the hallmark of a great director. Spike Lee is that!!!!!

@buckize68

14y↑1

This is one of my favorite hymns! I have searched for this for years. Thank you so much for posting, vijaypush. :-)

@vijaypush

One of my favorite also

@keanoyyf

12y

i know right i was listening to this way before that but i heard it it was used when he got beat up in the church i was creepy how they used it good movie by the way ..... love this song praise god amen

@joelaulusa3774

9y↑1

Fantastic (Y)

@michelleross7102

10y↑2

jesus has my soul!! for good!!

@oldskoolzeta

11y↑1

yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!!

@JReneeTF

11y↑2

CLASSIC!!!!

@dabrain7045

Amen

@colni03

14y↑1

Quel plaisir de te retrouver Pierre, comment va le Sud Ouest , en plein frimas , je suppose, comme nous autres?et merci pour ce chant qui réveillerait le plus timoré d'entre nous.

@vijaypush

10 ans déjà ! Que de musiques depuis ! Je vous en souhaite de magnifiques !

@gloriacoleman8597

I have the sheet music but I'm missing several pages. Can anyone help me replace the missing pages? Thanks in advance.

@PrettyFawn

12y

PLEASE Write the lyrics, PLEASE! I need the lyrics.

@carlaforde1433

Google: Jesus lover of my soul hymn lyrics. This song features the 1st and 4th verses.

@dabrain7045

Amen

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More Versions

I'm Going ThroughThe Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'I'm Going Through' by these artists:

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Edwin Hawkins Singers:

@hulksmash3496

@rochellarounds2243

@Lolo1130

@PAPAMOZO

@gaffezmary2703

@ladynfsoffice

@ellaalston3237

@seafjay

@isaacescamilla6386

@vijaypush

@channelthree9424

@monicahope3615

@marshallcoleman8061

@MonaSallie

@rochellarounds2243

@ishaa5948

@vijaypush

@mildredpierce4506

@Notthegreekgod1982

@nilesstark

@vijaypush

@terrynickens1421

@rosemariejackson3975

@vanrssawise5804

@bianchikat

@vijaypush

@debdessaso

@sharonross8192

@davidmolina7543

@carlaforde1433

@vijaypush

@davidbrock6841

@joycematthews6568

@vijaypush

@nancytyler103

@lblack1961

@paulgreen6921

@TheHatGuy1500

@ndansome

@carlaforde1433

@vanrssawise5804

@evrydaypeople

@hthesmith7915

@monicarwells2

@SpeegBJ

@lesterstanley8416

@vijaypush

@caliporche7896

@ishaa5948

@carlaforde1433

@vijaypush

@vijaypush

@starrcompany3275

@tanyapeterson667

@vijaypush

@blueblue1891

@pridefulebony3905

@vijaypush

@DivaG38

@flxnhrd

@lifestraight

@LadyJay114

@BeautelligentDiva79

@flxnhrd

@williedynamyte

@gregorygordon8747

@davelars6767

@vivlala

@kevinbouknight1308

@vijaypush

@WilfridAgboton

@soulbrother34

@starrcompany3275

@starrcompany3275

@columbiaexposition

@countblainer

@MultiMoi57

I'm Going Through
The Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics