Original Broadway Cast of Violet
Raise Me Up
[CHOIR]
I'm on my way, oh I am on my way

[PREACHER, spoken]
Are you on, or are you in the way?

[CHOIR]
On my way, I am on my way

[PREACHER, spoken]
I say, are you on, or are you in the way?

[CHOIR]
On my way, oh I am on my way
Raise me up, Lord
Won't you raise me up and on my way

[PREACHER, spoken]
Because if you're in the way you better get out of the way tonight. How would you like it, friends, if the Lord were to raise you up tonight?

[CHOIR]
Raise me up, Lord
Won't you raise me

[PREACHER, spoken]
Maybe you feel distant, maybe you feel far from God tonight. But he hasn't moved. He's the same place he ever was. Now if you haven't heard him, maybe you haven't been listening. If you haven't seen him, maybe your eyes have been closed. Don't worry, if you don't want him, he ain't coming. But if you want him –
[CHOIR]
Oh, if you want him

[PREACHER, spoken]
If you need him –

[CHOIR]
Oh, if you need him

[PREACHER, spoken]
Why not let him raise you up?

[CHOIR]
Lord, won't you raise me up and on my way

[PREACHER, spoken]
Let him fold you to his bosom, like a favorite angel!

[LULA]
Oh, on my way, I am glory bound
Raise me up, oh

[LULA & CHOIR]
Raise me up right off the ground[LULA]
Oh, give me the wings
Of an angel
I'll fly away
I wannna fly like an angel
I'll fly to you[CHOIR]
Raise up, raise up
Raise up, raise up
I'll fly away
I'll fly away[PREACHER, spoken]
How many are ready to be healed this afternoon? Raise your hands if you're ready. 
[LULA]
Won't you

[LULA & CHOIR]
Raise up!

[PREACHER, spoken]
When medical science fails you. When all the clinics, the hospitals, and the infirmaries in the world turn you away. 

[LULA & CHOIR]
What do you do?

[PREACHER, spoken]
What do you do, when even the family doctor shakes his head?

[LULA & CHOIR]
Raise up!

[PREACHER, spoken]
And says, "I'm sorry, I've done everything I can."

[LULA & CHOIR]
Raise up!

[PREACHER, spoken]
And says, "there's not a pill in the world can help you now." Well, I know one doctor you can surely depend on. 
[LULA]
What is his name?

[PREACHER, spoken]
His name isn't John Hopkins. Oh no. His name isn't Ben Casey. 

[CHOIR]
His name is Jesus

[LULA]
His name is Jesus

[PREACHER, spoken]
If you believe in Jesus, raise your hands! Hallelujah! Now there's a woman right by my side that God has called on to sing his Biblical, scriptural music; what's your name again, sister?

[LULA, spoken]
Lula Buffngton. 

[PREACHER, spoken]
That's right, Lula. You go ahead and make it a prayer now. 

[LULA, spoken]
Amen, pastor. 

(sung)
When my thoughts are troubled, and my spirits are low
When my urges sicken, and my sins amaze me

[PREACHER, spoken]
Hmm, that's nice. 

[LULA]
I can depend on you, my Lord

[PREACHER, spoken]
Hallelujah![LULA]
Because I know, I know, I know
You will…

Raise me
He will
Raise me
You will raise me
Higher
He will

 
 
Lift me up
Higher, Lord
Lift me up
I'm on my way

 
I wanna fly like an angel
On my way
I'll fly to you
I am on my way 
 
 
[CHOIR]
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me
You will raise me

Raise me up
Raise me up
Raise me up
Raise me up
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way[PREACHER, spoken]
Praise the Lord. Jesus wants to heal you, to comfort you, to make you prosperous and normal. He is a bone-healer, a fever-breaker, a cancer-ender, a tumor-disappearer. Who here believes Jesus has the power to heal? Raise your hands if you believe. 

[CHOIR]
Raise up your hands if you believe

[PREACHER, spoken]
What's happened? Is this a woman who could not walk? You never know who the spirit's gonna move. Let's say it's a woman, in a wheelchair a moment ago, and Virgil's gonna bring her onto the stage. You see what's happened? She could not walk, and now she's dancing! Engineer, I might start speaking in tongues at this point, if the rapture hits. You just keep that spotlight on me, whatever happens. Now I'm gonna go to the Bible and open it, like I'm gonna read from it. Before we call it a night in this glorious chapel, I believe every cane will be broken, I believe every wheelchair will be abandoned, I believe every stretcher will be overturned! And here is where I'll introduce the volunteer choir, from…Virgil?

[VIRGIL, spoken]
Philadelphia, sir. 

[PREACHER, spoken]
From the City of Brotherly Love. Now y'all get ready. This is where y'all start singin' again. [CHOIR]
Raise me up
Oh raise me
Raise me up
 
 
Raise me up
Oh raise me
Raise me up
 
 
Won't you raise me
Won't you raise me up
Won't you raise me
Raise me 
 
 
[LULA]
Oh won't you raise me
 
 
 
Oh won't you raise me up
Higher
Yes, Lord[PREACHER, spoken]
Oh, that's right. Raise yourselves up off your seats! My Bible says, shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Raise yourself up! Look at what my Lord's doing before I start laying hands on people! Imagine what he's going to do after I start! Glory![LULA]
He places me onto solid ground
Oh he lifts me up, he'll turn your life around

He's a healer, he's a counselor
Let him do for you like he did for me

Oh, he woke me up this morning and started me on my way
If you know what I'm sayin', say yeah!

[CHOIR]
Yeah!

[LULA]
Yeah!

[CHOIR]
Yeah!

[LULA]
Yeah!

[CHOIR]
And on…

[LULA]
Oh, I know some of you came here today to forget about your worries
Let 'em roll down the River Jordan…

[CHOIR]
My…

[LULA]
He's wonderful, he's marvelous
He did it for me, and he'll do it for you, and you…

Oh, dear God
I'm on my way

[CHOIR]
Way!

[LULA]
Yes! Yes! Yes, Lord!