Lyrics
Lay your head in the winduh, Jesus
Lay your head in the winduh, Lord
Lay your head in the winduh, Jesus
Can't you hear this sinner
Turn me around, turn me around
Turn me around
(Ain't gonna let) Turn me around
Keep on a-walkin'
Keep on a-talkin'
Gotta build a brand new world
(Ain't gonna let nobody) Turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
(Oh no, never gonna let nobody) Turn me around
Keep on a-walkin' (I gotta keep on, keep walking)
Keep on a-talkin' (Gotta build a brand new world)
Gotta build a brand new world
(Oh, can't you hear the lambs) You hear the lambs a-cryin'
(Oh, Lord, Lord, won't you hear the lambs a-cryin') You hear the lambs a-cryin'
(Hey now, Lord, now oh Lord, oh) You hear the lambs a-cryin'
(Shepherd, won't you feed my) Oh Shepherd feeda my sheep
(Sit down servant) I can't sit down
(Sit down servant) I can't sit down
(Sit down servant) I can't sit down
My soul so happy that I can't sit down
When I think of how good He's been to me (oh no)
I just can't keep my seat (I can't keep my seat)
He's given me grace I don't deserve (oh no)
And I sho' don't deserve his mercy (yeah)
Looking back over my life (My life)
There's lots of trouble I found
But he picked me up, washed me clean
Made me whole (whole)
(Now you better sit down now) Down, down, Ya betta' sit down, down
(Nuh uh, I just can't sit down!) Ya betta' sit down, down
(Sho no not) Ya betta' sit down, down
Ya betta' sit
Servant so happy eternal peace he's found
Soul so happy I can't sit down
Sit down servant, can't sit down
Sit down servant, can't sit down
(Repeat with stepouts)
My soul is so happy that I can't sit down
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Spiritual Medley joins several spiritual traditions into a sequence of prayer, perseverance, pastoral care, and joyful testimony. The opening plea asks Jesus to hear a sinner, while the next section refuses to be turned around from walking, speaking, and helping to build a renewed world. A call for the Shepherd to feed the sheep then leads into exuberant praise from a servant whose soul is too happy to remain seated.
Across these sections, hardship is neither hidden nor allowed to silence faith. The testimony looks back on trouble and credits God with lifting, cleansing, and restoring the singer through undeserved grace and mercy. The shepherd imagery has a clear biblical parallel in the risen Christ command to Peter to feed His sheep, while the refusal to abandon faithful work recalls the call to remain steadfast. The medley ends in joy grounded in what God has done, holding together lament, endurance, service, and gratitude in the communal language associated with spirituals.
Related Scripture
- John 21:16-17 Jesus commands Peter to feed His sheep, directly matching the medley shepherd refrain.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 The call to remain steadfast fits the repeated refusal to be turned around from faithful work.
- Psalm 30:11-12 The psalm connects divine deliverance with irrepressible praise and thanksgiving.