Piano Demo
0:00
Hymnal Number
238Resource Type:
Keys included:
Eb
About this Hymn
By the time this spiritual emerged in print through the work of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, based in Nashville, it was widely known across the country, with variants appearing soon after in Chicago, Georgia, Virginia, and elsewhere. It poses the question of what it must have been like to be present at the foot of the cross or when the stone was rolled away. We know the accounts, but who can truly fathom them?
Lyrics
Verse 1
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Verse 2
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Verse 3
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Verse 4
Were you there when he rose up from the grave? Were you there when he rose up from the grave? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Verse 2
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Verse 3
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Verse 4
Were you there when he rose up from the grave? Were you there when he rose up from the grave? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Spiritual, Fisk Jubilee Singers et al., 1892–1901
Music: Fisk Jubilee Singers, 1892, rev. 1902
Music: Fisk Jubilee Singers, 1892, rev. 1902