HIGHER  GROUND

Time signature:  3/4
Tempo: ~65  bpm.
Lyrics:  Jonathan Oatman, Jr.
​Music:  Charles H. Gabriel
Heads Up:  Ignore the "bar-lines", and play this
                    BA2 Unit 1 selection as a (treble) melody.
Accordion Notation
​Beat symbol =  dot ( . ) or equivalent
Inside row (low):  Buttons 2 - 5 (plus o3*)

Verse 1 (of 3)

"2    "2    "3   |   ;4   "4   "3*   "3     |   ;o3*
I’m pres-sing     on   the  up - ward     way, 

 "3*      "3     "o3*   |   ;2     "3   "4   "3   |   ;3*
New heights  I’m       gain - ing  ev - 'ry      day;  

  "2   "2    "3   |   ;4  "4   "3*    "3    |    ;o3*
Still pray- ing      as    I    on - ward    bound,   

   "3*     "3   "o3*  |   "2   "3     .4     .3*   |    ;3  
“Lord,  plant  my       feet  on  high - er     ground.” 

​
Chorus:

  "2    "3   "4   |   ;5   "5   "4*   "4   |    ;4*  
Lord,  lift  me     up,  and  let   me     stand  

"2    "2*  "3*   |   ;4*    "4*      "4   "3*    |   ;4 
By  faith  on        Ca - naan’s   ta - ble  -  land;   

"5   "5    "4   |     ;3      "4   "3*   "3    |    ;o3*  
 A  high - er      plane  than   I    have     found,  

  "3*     "3    "o3*  |   "2   "3    .4     .3*   |    ;3  
Lord,  plant    my      feet  on  high - er      ground.       

Embedded youTube VIDEOS
These youTube vides cover a wide range of interpretations and tempos.  Some agree with the rhythmic patterns in the notation above, and some do not.  
Key:  A
​
Tempo:  ~50 bpm

Group:  Ipoh Church of Christ

​Posted by: Ipoh church of Christ
Key:  D

Tempo:  ~65 bpm

Singer:  Claire Holley

​Posted by:  beanscot
Key:  G

Tempo:  ~80 bpm

Pianist:   Andrew Remillard

​Posted by:  Andrew Remillard
Key:  A

Tempo: ~80 bpm
​
​Group:  Norm Stimson's Gospel
​             Bluegrass Jam

Posted by:  Daniel T. Cooke
Key: E
​
Tempo:  ~80 bpm

Group:  ?

Posted by: Erdenebat
​                               Uugantuya

Beautifully played and sung (in Mongolian).
​
Key: A?

Tempo:  ~60 bpm.

Singer:  Richard Harold

Posted by: Rumble Community
​                  Baptist Church
Keys:  G from time 0 to 1:53
           Bb from time 1:53 to end

Tempo:  ~50 bpm.

Singer: Cliff Richard

Posted by:  joy516

Cliff sings verse 2, verse 4, then chorus, followed by verse 1 and chorus (repeated).
Key:  G

Tempo:  ~55 bpm

Singer:  Shelly Cay

Posted by:  Jonesville Church
                   of God Universal.
​​
Key:  F

Tempo:  ~60 bpm

Saxophone Player:  ?

Posted by: ?

저 높은 곳을 향하여 (색소폰: 이석중)
Key:  Eb
​
Tempo:  ~60 bpm

Singer:  Jung Bae Lee (Korean-American)

Posted by:  ?

​Beautifully sung.
Key:  Ab 

Tempo:  ~70 bpm

Singer:  neckrew Su

​Posted by:  Sugyong Kang

                   (in Khmer)
BACKGROUND  Materials, Information & Links
​Lyrics:
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Chorus:   Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
                By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
                A higher plane than I have found,
                Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
Background Links:
Charles H. Gabriel (1856 - 1932) was a writer of gospel songs and a composer of gospel tunes; he is said, according to wikipedia, to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 . Click HERE for more information.

Jonathan Oatman Jr. (1856 - 1922) composed the lyrics for more than 3000 hymns.   Click HERE for additional biographical information.