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Joshua Fit the Battle – Elvis Presley – 1960

About The Song

“Joshua Fit the Battle” is a gospel song recorded by Elvis Presley in 1960 for his album “His Hand in Mine.” The song draws inspiration from the biblical story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, infusing the narrative with Presley’s signature vocal style and gospel influences.

Five Facts:

  1. Biblical Inspiration: “Joshua Fit the Battle” is based on the biblical story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho as recounted in the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament. The song portrays the walls of Jericho falling after Joshua’s followers march around the city, blowing trumpets, and shouting.
  2. Gospel Album Inclusion: The song is featured on Elvis Presley’s gospel album, “His Hand in Mine,” released in 1960. The album marked Presley’s earnest exploration of gospel music and showcased his ability to convey spiritual themes through his vocal performances.
  3. Traditional Gospel Roots: “Joshua Fit the Battle” is a traditional gospel composition that has been recorded by various artists over the years. Elvis Presley’s rendition adds a distinctive touch, blending traditional gospel elements with his unique vocal style.
  4. Recording Location: The album, including the recording of “Joshua Fit the Battle,” was produced at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. This studio played a significant role in many of Presley’s recordings, offering high-quality sound production.
  5. Chart Performance: “His Hand in Mine,” the album containing “Joshua Fit the Battle,” performed well on the charts. It reached the number 13 position on the Billboard Top LPs chart, contributing to the success of Elvis Presley’s venture into gospel music and showcasing the enduring appeal of his diverse musical repertoire.

Video

Lyrics

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Good morning sister Mary
Good morning brother John
Well I want to stop and talk with you
want to tell you how I come along

I know you’ve heard about Joshua
He was the son of Nun
He never stopped his work until
Until the work was done

God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your men of Saul
There’s none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
‘Cause the battle is in my hands

God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your king of Saul
There none like Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

They tell me, great God that Joshua’s spear
Was well nigh twelve feet long
And upon his hip was a double edged sword
And his mouth was a gospel horn

Yet bold and brave he stood
Salvation in his hand
Go blow them ram horns Joshua cried
‘Cause the devil can’t do you no harm

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
‘Cause the battle is in my hands

Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
The trumpets began to sound
Old Joshua shouted glory
And the walls came tumblin’ down

God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Down, down, down, down, down
Tumblin’ down