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The second verse quoted below ("If you can't...") is also found in some versions of another well-known spiritual "(Walk That) Lonesome Valley". "Wandering verses", as they are often called, are quite common in the camp meeting and revival context, and were already found in by 1800 in the
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The first appearance of the spiritual in something close to its current form is uncertain. A version of the refrain can be found in
Washington Glass's 1854 hymn "The Sinner's Cure", (see link below) where it is in 7s.6s.7s.6s rather than the
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hymn. The second verse of the spiritual also appears in versions of another spiritual, "(Walk That) Lonesome Valley", illustrating the common practice of shared verses in camp meetings and revivals.
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dating back to at least the 19th century. Its refrain appears in
Washington Glass's 1854 hymn "The Sinner's Cure", although the hymn is substantially based on an earlier work by
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of today's refrain. Glass attributed this hymn to himself, but like several of the hymns so attributed, it is substantially the work of another. He attached to one of
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151:: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my people?" (Another allusion can also be found in
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143:. The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (and sinners in general). In the Old Testament, the balm of
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Neco … Go up to Gilead and get balm, O Virgin
Daughter of Egypt, but you multiply remedies in vain; here is no healing for you" – see also
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87:. In the Old Testament, the balm of Gilead is a healing compound, symbolizing spiritual medicine for Israel and sinners.
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has an unattributed song "Balm in Gilead" with a similar chorus, but verses drawn from a
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The similarities in the refrain make it likely that it was written for Newton's verse.
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An early version of the chorus: "The Sinner's Cure" by
Washington Glass in
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There is no mention of the balm of Gilead in Newton's poem, but it begins:
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A Collection of Hymns and
Spiritual Songs Selected from Various Authors
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The 1973 edition of the 1925 7-shape
Primitive Baptist songbook
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African-American community, as shown by
Richard Allen's 1801
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I, Eye, Aye: Live at the
Montreux Jazz Festival, 1972
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253:A version of the song was recorded by the singer
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573:Hymnal website with lyrics to this spiritual.
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240:hymn, "Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee".
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16:Traditional African American spiritual
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71:The "balm in Gilead" references the
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602:African-American cultural history
612:African-American spiritual songs
540:"Balm of Gilead", a song by the
394:If you cannot preach like Peter,
400:You can tell the love of Jesus,
327:You can tell the love of Jesus,
321:If you cannot sing like angels,
205:There's power enough in heaven,
449:A Billy Graham Crusade In Song
419:And if you lack for knowledge,
324:If you can’t preach like Paul,
302:Some times I feel discouraged,
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397:If you cannot pray like Paul,
375:Sometimes I feel discouraged,
83:concept of salvation through
416:'Cause Jesus is your friend,
413:Don't ever feel discouraged,
378:And think my work’s in vain,
305:And think my work’s in vain,
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22:"There Is a Balm in Gilead"
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512:on the 1998 TV soundtrack
366:To heal the sin-sick soul.
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356:To make the wounded whole;
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283:To make the wounded whole;
222:There is but one Physician
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422:He'll not refuse to lend.
288:There is a balm in Gilead
278:There is a balm in Gilead
225:Can cure a sin–sick soul.
219:Till Jesus made me whole!
216:How lost was my condition
124:, but the lyrics of this
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501:on her 1997 debut album
403:And say He died for all.
381:But then the Holy Spirit
330:And say He died for all.
308:But then the Holy Spirit
208:To cure a sin-sick soul.
199:There is balm in Gilead,
149:Jeremiah chapter 8 v. 22
490:Sweet Honey in the Rock
384:Revives my soul again.
311:Revives my soul again.
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544:on their 2019 album
542:Sunday Service Choir
534:on their 2004 album
492:on their 1995 album
431:Recordings include:
514:Africans in America
454:Rahsaan Roland Kirk
445:George Beverly Shea
172:Jeremiah chapter 22
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597:19th-century songs
521:on his 2003 album
499:Karen Clark Sheard
483:on her 1990 album
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465:on her 1978 album
456:on his 1972 album
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340:Alternative lyrics
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190:John Newton
132:concept of
100:Nina Simone
66:John Newton
591:Categories
553:Jeanne Lee
440:Spirituals
427:Recordings
156:chapter 46
532:Eric Bibb
528:Leon Bibb
523:Sanctuary
467:Baltimore
260:Baltimore
134:salvation
126:spiritual
105:Baltimore
62:spiritual
47:Spiritual
408:(Chorus)
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153:Jeremiah
136:through
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582:, 1854.
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168:Pharaoh
112:History
34:Written
617:Gilead
145:Gilead
141:Christ
561:Blasé
138:Jesus
116:The "
43:Genre
530:and
176:v. 6
162:and
160:v. 2
28:Song
555:on
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