Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air,
There must be a God somewhere.

Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air,
There must be a God somewhere.

And when I’m alone, 
(I hear music in the air.)
And when I’m afraid,
(I hear music in the air.)
I hear music, 
I hear music in the air.

Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air,
There must be a God somewhere.

And when it’s dark,
(I hear music in the air.)
And when I’m weary,
(I hear music in the air.)
I hear music,
I hear music in the air.

Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air, 
Over my head I hear music in the air,
There must be a God somewhere.

There must be a God,
Must be a god,
Must be a god somewhere.

The African American spiritual Over My Head dates from the nineteenth century and is of unknown authorship. First recorded in 1941 (as Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air) by The Southern Sons, a vocal group formed by William Langford of the Golden Gate Quartet. The best-known version may be the 1947 recording by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight. Civil rights leader Bernice Johnson Reagon changed the traditional words of the song in 1961, to “Over my head / I see freedom in the air...”. The traditional spiritual is a mix of hopeful lyrics about the future, despite current afflictions. This setting brings new life to the traditional melody leading to its final section to create a full-throated celebration of life.