No. 1 of Two Uncommon spirituals
Voicing: SATB, a cappella with soprano solo
Arranger: william Bradley Roberts
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've seen" is a lesser-known, nonetheless authentic, African American spiritual. The unknown folk singer who wrote the original song describes the "trouble" of a hard life, but finds relief from suffering and conflict in prayer. This anthem may be sung as a set with "This Little Light of Mine" or independently, and is from a set of two, collectively called "Two Uncommon Spirituals." Both are authentic African American spirituals but with completely different tunes than those commonly associated with the texts, and can be performed together or separetely. The powerful message of this spiritual is that prayer brings triumph out of suffering.