Ezekiel Saw the Wheel

"Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" is an African American spiritual arranged by William L. Dawson.^[1][2]

"Ezekiel Saw the Wheel"
Song
Written	William L. Dawson

It has been recorded by such artists as Woody Guthrie, Louis Armstrong, Paul Robeson, John Lee Hooker, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Tillers, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, The Charioteers, Gold City and George Beverly Shea. The song recounts the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel's divine vision, described at the start of the eponymous book.

Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961).

Lyrics

Ezekiel saw the wheels;

Way in the middle of the air.

Ezekiel saw the wheels;

Way in the middle of the air.

Chorus

And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lord;

And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;

In the wheel in the wheel good Lord;

Way in the middle of the air.

Who's that yonder dressed in white?

Way in the middle of the air.

It must be the children of the Israelites:

Way in the middle of the air.

Chorus

And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lord;

And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;

In the wheel in the wheel in the wheel good Lord;

Way in the middle of the air.

Who's that yonder dressed in red?

Way in the middle of the air.

It must be the children that Moses led:

Way in the middle of the air.

Ezekiel saw the wheel;

Way up in the middle of the air.

Now Ezekiel saw the wheel in a wheel;

Way in the middle of the air.

Who's that yonder dressed in black?

Way in the middle of the air.

It must be the children running' back:

Way in the middle of the air.

Chorus

And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lord;

And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;

In the wheel in the wheel in the wheel good Lord;

Way in the middle of the air,

Way in the middle of the air.

See also

• Christian child's prayer § Spirituals

References

1. McLaughlin, Wayman B. (1963). "Symbolism and Mysticism in the Spirituals". Phylon. 24 (1): 69–77. doi:10.2307/274227. ISSN 0031-8906. JSTOR 274227.
2. Tatasciore, Enrico, 1982- (2006). ""'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel...', Voce giunta con le folaghe" : frammenti di una riflessione sulla memoria". Italianistica (in Italian) (2). doi:10.1400/57441.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

• Words and midi music