Elvis Presley - "Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho"

Unquestionably the best version of this classic. Many of us forget that Gospel music was very important to Elvis. There is no way your feet won't be tapping!

From Wikipedia:

The song is believed to have been composed by slaves in the first half of the nineteenth century. Early published versions include some parts in dialect, such as "fit" for "fought".

The lyrics allude to the biblical story of the Battle of Jericho, in which Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan (Joshua 6:15-21). However, like those of many other spirituals, the words had a hidden meaning alluding to eventual escape from slavery - in the case of this song, "And the walls came tumblin' down." The lively melody and rhythm also provided energy and inspiration. Critic Robert Cummings wrote: "The jaunty, spirited theme hardly sounds like the product of the pre-Civil War era, and would not sound out of place in a ragtime or even jazz musical from the early twentieth century. The closing portion of the tune, sung to the words quoted above, is its most memorable portion: the notes plunge emphatically and impart a glorious sense of collapse, of triumph."

Joshua Fit the Battle

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

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

Good morning sister Mary
Good morning brother John
Well I wanna stop and talk with you
And 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 around Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle around 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 around Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle around Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about the 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

God knows that
Joshua fit the battle around 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 come tumblin' down

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

Down, down, down, down, down
Tumblin' down