This song is Public Domain: Copyright expired.
VIDEO AND Vocals/Instrumentals COPYRIGHT (c) 2019
by CHARLES ELMER SZABO, BMI with exclusive permission for this “SZABO MUSIC” YouTube channel to use The Holy City is a religious Victorian ballad dating from 1892, with music by Michael Maybrick writing under the alias Stephen Adams, with lyrics by Frederic Weatherly.
The song is recorded in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Review in 1911 as having been sung by an opera singer awaiting trial for fraud in his cell while a group of men arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct were before the judge. The men were said to have dropped to their knees as the song began ‘Last night I lay a-sleeping, There came a dream so fair.’, the lyrics contrasting with their previous night’s drunkenness. The song’s conclusion resulted in the judge dismissing the men without punishment, each having learned a lesson from the song.[1]
The song is mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysses, published 1918-1920.[2] It gained renewed popularity when it was sung by Jeanette MacDonald in the 1936 hit film San Francisco.[3][4] The melody formed the basis of a Spiritual titled Hosanna, which in turn was the basis for the opening of Duke Ellington’s “Black and Tan Fantasy” In the 1970’s it was also translated into Afrikaans and sung by South African baritone Gé Kirsten under the title ‘Jerusalem’. That version is still popular in South Africa today.
Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!
And then me thought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!
And once again the scene was changed;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o’er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!
VIDEO AND Piano/vocal PERFORMANCE COPYRIGHT (c) 2018
by CHARLES ELMER SZABO, BMI
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