It's Me, Oh Lord, Standing in Need of Prayer

It’s Me, Oh Lord, Standing in Need of Prayer by Ruth Starr Rose is named after an African American spiritual by the same title, sometimes shortened to “Standing in Need of Prayer” and, in some instances, “It’s Me, Oh Lord”. The spiritual emphasizes the importance of prayer, especially for oneself. The lyrics make it clear that the singer is asking for God’s guidance for themselves rather than a typical prayer request for others:

“It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.”

Religion played an important part of life at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. General Samuel C. Armstrong put emphasis on not only learning a trade and educating the mind, but also on living as a morally sound person; in other words, “training the hand, head and heart.” Sundays included religious services in the morning, followed by Bible classes in the afternoon, and religious lectures or a prayer meeting in the evening. Prayer itself was important and was included twice a day as part of the daily schedule of student life, with family prayers at 6:30 am and evening prayers just over 12 hours later at 6:45 pm.