Move on Up a Little Higher, Pt. 1
Ascending to Eternal Glory: Mahalia Jackson's Spiritual Journey
Lyrics
One of these mornings
Anticipation of a future morning
Soon one morning
Expectation of a morning in the near future
I'm gonna lay down my cross
Expressing the desire to let go of life's burdens
Get me a crown
A metaphor for receiving spiritual reward or honor
Soon one evening
Repetition emphasizing the timing of the anticipated event
Late in the evening
-Late in the evening
-I'm going home to live on high
Expressing the longing to go to a higher spiritual place
Soon as my feet strike Zion
Aspiration to reach Zion, a symbolic place of spiritual significance
Lay down my heavy burdens
Intention to release burdens and challenges
Put on my robe in Glory
Symbolic action of putting on a robe of glory, indicating spiritual transformation
Goin' home one day and tell my story
Anticipation of sharing a personal testimony
I been climbing over hills and mountains
Metaphorical journey overcoming challenges
Gonna drink from the Christian fountain
Symbolic act of receiving spiritual nourishment
You know all of God's sons and daughters that morning
Belief in the healing power of spiritual water for all believers
Will be drinking that old healing water
-And we gonna live on forever
Expectation of eternal life in glory
We gonna live on forever
-We gonna live on up in Glory after while
-I'm goin' out sight-seeing in Beulah
Expressing a desire for spiritual exploration without fatigue
March all around God's alter
-Gonna walk and never get tired
-Gonna fly, Lord, and never falter
-I'm gonna move up a little higher
Desire to meet various biblical figures and loved ones in a higher realm
Gonna meet old man Daniel
-I'm gonna move up a little higher
-Gonna meet the Hebrew children
-I'm gonna move up a little higher
-Gonna meet Paul and Silas
-I'm gonna move on up a little higher
-Gonna meet my friends and kindred
-I'm gonna move on up a little higher
-Gonna meet my loving mother
-I'm gonna move on up a little higher
-Gonna meet that Lily of the Valley
-I'm gonna feast with the Rose of Sharon
-It will be always howdy howdy
Anticipation of eternal joy and continuous greetings
It will be always howdy howdy
-It will be always howdy howdy
-And never goodbye
Expression of eternal connection, no goodbyes
Oh, will you be there early one morning?
Questioning others about their presence in the spiritual journey
Will you be there somewhere 'round God's alter?
-Will you be there, oh, when the angels shall call God's roll?
-God knows I'll be waiting, hmm
-Yes, I'll be watching somewhere 'round God's alter
-Well, I'll be waiting, oh, at the beautiful, yes, golden gates
-Well, well, soon as my feet strike Zion
Reiteration of spiritual themes and the healing power of water
Gonna lay down my heavy burdens
-Gonna put on my robe in Glory
-I'm going home one day, tell my story
-I been climbing over hills and mountains
-I'm gonna drink from the Christian fountain
-You know all God's sons and daughters that mornin'
-Will drink that old healing water
-Meet me there early one morning
Invitation to meet in the spiritual realm when angels call God's roll
Meet me there somewhere 'round the alter
-Meet me there, oh, when the angels shall call God's roll
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