36 Best Gospel Songs, from Precious Lord to Never Would Have Made It

What is the most famous gospel song?

"Precious Lord, Take My Hand", written by Thomas A. Dorsey, is often called the most famous gospel song, and Mahalia Jackson's recordings made it a classic. "Oh Happy Day" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers became a worldwide pop hit in 1969, and "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp is the modern favorite.

Traditional spirituals

1. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", traditional: one of the best-known spirituals.
2. "Wade in the Water", traditional: a spiritual often linked to stories of the Underground Railroad.
3. "Down by the Riverside", traditional: a joyful song of peace.
4. "This Little Light of Mine", traditional: sung by every generation.
5. "Go Tell It on the Mountain", traditional: the Christmas spiritual.
6. "Amazing Grace", Aretha Franklin: from her 1972 live gospel album recorded in a Los Angeles church.

Classic gospel songs

7. "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", Mahalia Jackson: Thomas A. Dorsey wrote it after losing his wife and son.
8. "Move On Up a Little Higher", Mahalia Jackson: a 1947 recording that sold over a million copies.
9. "How I Got Over", Mahalia Jackson: a song of triumph through hard times.
10. "Peace in the Valley", Elvis Presley: another Dorsey classic.
11. "Uncloudy Day", The Staple Singers: Mavis Staples' voice at its earliest.
12. "I'll Take You There", The Staple Singers: gospel meets soul.
13. "Oh Happy Day", Edwin Hawkins Singers: a choir recording that became a pop hit.
14. "Mary, Don't You Weep", Aretha Franklin: a highlight of her Amazing Grace album.
15. "Through It All", Andraé Crouch: a song of trust through hard seasons.
16. "Soon and Very Soon", Andraé Crouch: a joyful song about heaven.
17. "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)", Andraé Crouch: a choir favorite.

Contemporary gospel songs

18. "Why We Sing", Kirk Franklin: the song that made him famous.
19. "Stomp", Kirk Franklin: gospel meets funk.
20. "I Smile", Kirk Franklin: joyful and upbeat.
21. "Love Theory", Kirk Franklin: a modern song about God's love.
22. "Total Praise", Richard Smallwood: a choir anthem sung around the world.
23. "Open My Heart", Yolanda Adams: a quiet prayer.
24. "Shackles (Praise You)", Mary Mary: a crossover hit.
25. "God in Me", Mary Mary: an upbeat anthem.
26. "Encourage Yourself", Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers: a song for hard days.
27. "Never Would Have Made It", Marvin Sapp: written after his father died.
28. "Take Me to the King", Tamela Mann: a powerful ballad.
29. "I Need You to Survive", Hezekiah Walker: about the church family.
30. "Every Praise", Hezekiah Walker: a modern praise anthem.
31. "Break Every Chain", Tasha Cobbs Leonard: a prayer for freedom.
32. "Intentional", Travis Greene: trusting that God is working.
33. "Way Maker", Sinach: a song sung in churches worldwide.
34. "Hold My Mule", Shirley Caesar: a song that went viral decades after its release.
35. "Order My Steps", GMWA Women of Worship: a prayer for guidance.
36. "Jesus Is Love", Commodores: a gospel-flavored soul classic.

The roots of gospel music

Gospel grew out of spirituals sung by enslaved people, church hymns and the blues. In the 1930s, Thomas A. Dorsey, often called the father of gospel music, combined them into a new sound for Black churches in Chicago. Mahalia Jackson carried it around the world, and later artists like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and The Staple Singers brought gospel's power into soul and pop.

Gospel songs for a funeral or homegoing

In many Black churches, a funeral is called a homegoing, a celebration as well as a goodbye. "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", "Soon and Very Soon" and "I'll Fly Away" are favorites. Mahalia Jackson sang "Precious Lord" at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at his request. See our Christian and gospel funeral songs for more.

Gospel songs for church and choir

For a choir, "Total Praise", "My Tribute" and "Oh Happy Day" are the classics, and "Every Praise" and "I Need You to Survive" get the whole congregation involved. See our songs about God for more worship songs.

Gospel for hard times

When life is hard, "Never Would Have Made It", "Encourage Yourself" and "Through It All" have carried people through grief, illness and loss. For more songs of faith in difficult seasons, see our songs about prayer. Many of these songs were written by artists in the middle of their own grief, which is why they feel so honest.

Gospel songs for Black History Month

Spirituals and gospel songs are at the heart of Black history in America. For a school assembly or church service, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the Water" and "Precious Lord" honor that legacy. See our Black History Month songs for more.

A song of faith for someone you love

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