1946

I’ll Reach to Heaven

Composed by Margaret Bonds

Text by Spiritual

Five Creek-Freedman Spirituals Song Collection

"I'll Reach to Heaven" is the second song in the cycle Five Creek-Freedman Spirituals, composed by Margaret Bonds.

Audio

“I’ll Reach to Heaven” (from “Fire Creek-Freedman Spirituals”)

Jayme Alilaw, soprano; Lorna Griffitt, piano3:55

Margaret Bonds

Composer

Spiritual

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

University of California, Irvine, Winifred Smith Hall

Location

This recording was part of a 5:30pm concert ("A Salute to Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)") on Saturday, October 15, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

Text

King Jesus will be mine
I’m mos’ done working with crosses,
King Jesus will be mine
I’ll reach to heaven bye an’ bye;

The moon run down in a purple stream,
The sun refused to shine,
And all the stars disappeared,
King Jesus will be mine.

King Jesus will be mine
I’m mos’ done working with crosses,
King Jesus will be mine
I’ll reach to heaven bye an’ bye;

I wish I was in heav’n
To see my mother when she entered,
My mother wore a long white robe,
Outshined the glittering sun,
Outshined the glittering sun.

I’m mos’ done working with crosses,
Outshined the glittering sun,
I’ll reach to heaven bye an’ bye.

My knee bone’s a-achin’
My side’s a-rackin’ wid a pain,
I really believe I’m a child of God
And heaven is my aim,
And heaven is my aim,

I’m mos’ done working with crosses
And heaven is my aim,
I’ll reach to heaven bye an’ bye.

Related Information

African Diaspora Music Project

africandiasporamusicproject.org/song/margaret-bonds/ill-reach-heaven

Sheet Music

Rediscovering Margaret Bonds: Art Songs, Spirituals, Musical Theater and Popular Songs

Margaret Bonds

Buy via Classical Vocal Reprints