Standing in the Need of Prayer

Representative Text

1 Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer;
Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer.

Refrain:
It's me, it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer.

2 Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer;
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer. [Refrain]

3 Not my father, not my mother, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer;
Not my father, not my mother, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer. [Refrain]

4 Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer;
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it's me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer. [Refrain]

Source: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: an African American ecumenical hymnal #147

Notes

Like 264, "Standing in the Need" is an African American spiritual, and, like many folk songs, its origin is unknown. Both text and tune became well known after their publication in The Book of American Negro Spirituals (1925), compiled by James Weldon Johnson and his brother,]. Rosamond Johnson.

Using hyperbole, or exaggerating to make a point, the text brings a very specific message: "I need prayer!" Obviously all the other persons mentioned in the text need prayer as well-yet the text stresses the individual's need for prayer. Such an under¬standing of this text permits its use in corporate worship-in which we all realize that each of us needs prayer just as much as all of us need prayer. The text emphasizes personal responsibility within a larger context of community.

Liturgical Use:
As a call to prayer, this song should be part of a time of sung and spoken and silent prayers-for forgiveness, of course, but also for healing, for gratitude, for more fervent faith, and so on.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Tune

[Not my brother, nor my sister]

STANDING is a call-and-response tune; the Psalter Hymnal has marked clearly the solo lead parts and the congregational-response parts, which are to be sung in harmony. Since most African American spirituals were originally sung unaccompanied, have the choir or even the congregation hum the accompani…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #6313
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #265
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Small Church Music #1554
  • PDF Score (PDF)
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #57
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

Instances

Instances (1 - 32 of 32)
TextPage Scan

African American Heritage Hymnal #441

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #365

Text

Chalice Hymnal #579

Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #493

Community of Christ Sings #208

Text

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #838

TextPage Scan

Gather Comprehensive #579

Text

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #411

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #493

TextPage Scan

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #516

Text

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #177

TextPage Scan

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #147

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #265

Text

Singing Our Faith #228

Singing the Faith #523

Audio

Small Church Music #1554

TextPage Scan

Songs for Life #46

Text

Songs of Zion #110

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #416

The Covenant Hymnal #388

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #6313

Text

The New Century Hymnal #519

TextPage Scan

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #496

TextAudio

The United Methodist Hymnal #352

TextPage Scan

This Far By Faith #240

TextPage Scan

Total Praise #458

TextScoreAudio

With Heart and Voice #57

Text

Wonder, Love, and Praise #797

Text

Worship in Song #167

TextPage Scan

Yes, Lord! #310

Text

Zion still Sings #149

찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #326

Include 11 pre-1979 instances
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