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Country Blues => Country Blues Lyrics => Topic started by: Blind Rev. Grapefruit Peter on March 07, 2005, 11:35:21 PM
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Hi
I'm looking for the lyrics for Blind Willie Johnson and You're Gonna need Somebody on your bond. I haven't been able to convert it to mp3, since my converter says something abour a codecs? Anyway, it's a classic, which Donovan Leitch did a version of, with a completely changed lyrics. This version I have tried to copy is from "Complete Recordings" disc 1. I think I more or less have it alle but, there are some blanks in the first verse.
Thanks for any help
Peter
https://youtu.be/T0xhQMd9xJ4
You gonna need somebody on your bond
You gonna need somebody on your bond
Cause it's way after midnight
When death comes creeping in the room
You'll gonna need somebody on your bond
I heard the voice of Jesus saying
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Down the way with--------
Answer for my prayers
You gonna need somebody on your bond
You gonna need somebody on your bond
Cause it's way after midnight
When death comes creeping in the room
You'll gonna need somebody on your bond
When I were a gambler
Nobody would go my bond
Fell on my knees and begin to pray
Cause Jesus will go your bond
You gonna need somebody on your bond
You gonna need somebody on your bond
Cause it's way after midnight
When death comes creeping in the room
You'll gonna need somebody on your bond
I came to Jesus
like I'm weary wounded and sad
Found in him a resting place
Now he's made me glad
Now I got somebody on your bond
Now I got somebody on your bond
Cause it's way after midnight
When death comes creeping in the room
Now I got somebody on your bond
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Hi Peter. Great tune.
The missing parts in verse 1 are real hard to hear. I'll have to listen more.
I hear "when death comes slipping in your room". Also possibly "way past midnight".
Also "When you was a gambler" and "Fell on your knees".
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Hi Uncle Bud
I tend to agree with you. You could be right. I remember listen to When you was a gambler, so I guessed I just switched you with I. Sometimes the grammar, even to a dane, is very weak. But the general idea is still there. 1 verse is a mystery.
I was a little suprised that so few of his lyrics were posted on the web. The most published version is with Donovan (which I incidently grew up with, not knowing what I heard).
As I realized was, that Donovan used a of of the old blues songs, and made them clean, giving them new lyrics and a touch of 1968 :-). When I grew into this blues thing, I was very suprised to see king Donovan hippie all over. The lord works mysterious way. It was also Donovan who introduced me to Keep on Truckin'
best
peter
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Hi, Peter:
I had some time on my hands today, so I've spent a couple of hours analyzing this.? There are actually two versions of You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond on the Columbia Legacy version of Complete Vol 2 - track one is Matrix 149594-1 recorded Dec 1929, while track 16 is Matrix 150316-2 recorded April 1930.? Track 1 has bottleneck accompaniment, while track 16 has standard accompaniment.? And the words on track 16 seem a little clearer to me.
Anyway, in my analysis, I slowed down relevant sections of both recordings, while retaining the same pitch.? In addition to the following lyrics, I will also attach the four sound clips from each version so you and others can hear the same files I listened to.? Note that if I have lyrics in parentheses, separated by a slash, the first word / phrase is what I "heard", the one after the slash is what I think it really is [for example, (I hear this / and think it's really this) ].
Matrix 149594-1, December 11, 1929
Well, you're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord it's a way past midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need, ah, somebody on your bond
I heard the voice of Jesus saying
God told me I'd rest
Found the way with one light out
Halo for my prayers
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord it's a way past midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
When you was a gambler
Nobody would go your bond
Fell on your knees and (begin/began) to pray
Cause Jesus should go your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord it's a way past midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
I came (the day that Babal was / that day to Babylon)
Weary, wounded, sad
Found that Hell made a resting place
They have made me glad
If I've got somebody on my bond
Lord I've got somebody on my bond
Now it's a way past midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
Now I've got somebody on my bond.
Matrix 150316-2, April 20 1930
Well, you're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Now (there's a way and / dead away at) midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
I heard the voice of Jesus saying
God told me (had/ I'd) rest
Found the way with one light (out/on)
Halo for my prayers
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Now (there's a way and / dead away at) midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
When you was a gambler
'Body would go your bond
Fell on your knees and began to pray
Cause Jesus should go your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Now (there's a way and / dead away at) midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
I came the day that Babylon
Weary, wounded, sad
Found that Hell made a resting place
They have made me glad
Lord I've got somebody on my bond
Lord I've got somebody on my bond
Now (there's a way and / dead away at) midnight
When death comes slippin' in the room
Yes I've got somebody on my bond.
Hope this helps.
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Hi, again.
Forgot to mention that Buffy Sainte-Marie also did a nice version of this song on her first album, Many A Mile. Also a nice version of Bukka White's Fixin' To Die on the same album.
Anyway, I've got Buffy's songbook, which shows her translation of two sections as:
"Now dead away at midnight when the death come slippin' in the room" in the chorus, and
" 'Cause Jesus gonna go your bond" in the last line of the 3rd verse. Buffy only sang 2 verses, and the first really isn't in Blind Willie's version, although it has some similarity to Blind Willie's third verse:
I Thought my friends were better than God,
Foolish Mary said.
Now I'm bound in Hell for a resting place.
They have made me bad.
Also, I noticed you said you couldn't create an mp3 file -- if you need one for some reason other than posting here, I can certainly e-mail you one. Also, if you need an mp3 copy posted here, let me know and I'll be happy to do that, too.
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I'll have to listen to this when I get home to refresh my memory, but this verse:
I came the day that Babylon
Weary, wounded, sad
Found that Hell made a resting place
They have made me glad
is actually:
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, cold and sad
Found in Him a resting place
It have made me glad.
Chris
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Wow, thank you all.
Regarding the mp3 file. I have it as a wave file, and my converting program said there's an error. But I can still play it (and Ihave the record).
Thanks again
peter
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I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, cold and sad
Found in Him a resting place
It have made me glad.
Hi, Chris.? That's very similar to Peter's original interpretation of:
? ?I came to Jesus
? ?like I'm weary wounded and sad
? ?Found in him a resting place
? ?Now he's made me glad
particularly if you move "like I'm" from the start of the second line to the end of the first:
? ?I came to Jesus like I'm
? ?weary wounded and sad
? ?Found in him a resting place
? ?Now he's made me glad
So I suspect that you're both closer than I am on this verse.? Unfortunately, even trying to hear "Jesus ... I am", "cold and" and "in him", I just don't hear those words.? I still here "day" and "Babylon", "wounded" and "Hell".? That's why its great to have multiple sets of ears listening to these songs.
Of course, the problem is that everyone is making best guesses.? Blind Willie hasn't been around to confirm.
I remember hearing a story in the 60s about one of the re-discovered artists who shook his head and laughed softly at the consensus lyrics for one of his pre-war songs, then proceeded to correct about every other word.? Never knew if the story was true, and haven't remember the artist or song in question for years, but it makes me think every time I try to understand lyrics.
Just for fun, I searched the internet, and here is a totaly different interpretation of the same verse (found at http://www.guitarseminars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003483.html) -- it appears twice on that page -- once with this song alone, and once with a number of other Blind Willie lyrics:
? ?It came the day that sad was
? ?Wearied, wounded side,
? ?Bounds that held me left this place.
? ?They have made me glad.
Harry's Blues Lyrics has a number of Blind Willie songs, but not this one (http://blueslyrics.tripod.com/artistswithsongs/blind_willie_johnson_1.htm).
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Having listened to this today -- here's the two verses that seem to be the most trouble, with words BWJ doesn't sing in parentheses:
I heard the voice of Jesus say
(Come) Unto me and rest
Found me weary, (I) want to lie down
Head upon my breast.
I came to Jesus as I was
Weary-boned and sad
Found in Him a resting place,
He have made me glad.
The first verse's first line is parodied in the Jim Jackson minstrel show song "I Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop" -- I heard the voice of a pork chop say, come unto me and rest. Johnson doesn't enunciate very well, but I'm pretty sure of these.
Chris
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Can someone decipher all the words in BWJ's, "When the War was On"? Really. My hearing has faded and I really like this song a lot. It could/should be considered a root of Rock 'n Roll, IMHO.
https://youtu.be/vrH7DvZBA6E
aTdHvAaNnKcSe
/\/\arshall
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Hi all,
I won't say that I have all the lyrics, but here goes. I've been listening to Blind Willie a lot lately. I really like the way he has Uncle Sam talking in these lyrics. Follow the thread to see how the transcription of this version was put together
CHORUS: Willie: Everybody, well. Angeline: when the war was on (3)
Together: Well, they register everybody when the war was on
Well, in just about a few years, some months ago
The 'nited States gov'ment voted for war
Sam, he called the men from the East and the West
"Get ready, boys, we got to do our best."
CHORUS
Well, umm, President Wilson, sitting on his throne
Making laws for-a everyone
Didn't call the black man, lay by the white
GUITAR FINISHES VERSE
CHORUS
Price on the letter, begin to raise
Gettin' no better, 'bout the same old thing
8 cents on the dollar, ride the train
Rates gettin' cheaper, take a ride again
CHORUS
Yes, you measure your boiler, measure your wheat
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week
Folks didn't like it, they blamed Uncle Sam
"I've got to save the sugar for the boys in France."
CHORUS
Well, the boys whupped the Germans, home at last
Would have brought the Kaiser but he run too fast
Couldn't blame the Kaiser for a-leavin' the land
Uncle Sam, he had the play to scare almost any man
CHORUS
Tax gettin' heavy, have to pay
Hep {sic} the boys over across the sea
Mud and water up to their knees
Faced the Kaiser for-a you and me.
CHORUS
Edited 9/5 to pick up correction from a2tom
Edited 9/6 to pick up corrections from a2tom and rpg51
Edited 9/7 to pick up corrections from banjo chris
Edited 9/7 to pick up corrections from Alexei McDonald and banjo chris
All best,
Johnm
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Wow, great job John. "they wonder why" doesn't seem right to me. I hear "the white" at the end of the line (in contrast to "black man"). Can't quite get the whole phrase - "label the white?" "labor the white?" Those don't make sense but are phonetically closer to what I hear.
Minor point, but I'd wager its "the Kaiser but HE run too fast" (surely you aren't suggesting our boys ran back home prematurely!). Actually, later in that verse I am not sure "to pay" makes sense. I'm hearing "Sam he had the play to scare almost any man". (maybe not "play", but he had something scary... planes?)
tom
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Thanks so much for the help, Tom. I agree that "they wonder why" is not right. What I had written down after that, that makes no sense, but is very close to your phonetic suggestions for the line is "lay by the wine". I also agree that it should be "he" rather than "they" who "run too fast". I will make that change and keep trying to peck away at those couple of hard to hear places.
All best,
Johnm
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I hear "Ain't gettin cheaper, take a ride again" in the third verse, maybe???
Great tune.
Anyone have a tab?
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Nice job guys!
It doesn't make much sense, but I hear "leave out the white" for the last part of the third line, second verse. [I thought it might be "then he called the black man, leave out the white" (so preferential treatment for whites), but it does sound like "didn't call the black man" for the first part....]
For the tough line in the fifth verse, could it be something like "Sammy had to stay to scare almost any man" (so contrasting the Kaiser, who fled, to Uncle Sam who stayed)?
Also, is everybody quite sure about the last line in the chorus... "They register everybody when the war was on?" I was thinking it might be "They ravished everybody..." (although it sounds like they sing ravished with a 'd' sound instead of a 'v' sound...)
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Hi all,
Thanks rpg51 for the suggestion, I think you're right and have made the change. Also, Tom, after more listening I think your suggestion "had the play to scare almost any man" is right, and have put that in as well.
I would be amazed if anyone has tabbed this song out, but you certainly don't need TAB to figure it out, rpg51. Get your guitar in Vestapol at open D, capo at the first fret, fine tune to Willie and pick it up. Everything lives at the open fifth string, second fret fifth string, open fourth string, second fret fourth string and rolled into fourth fret of the fourth string. The rest is strumming open strings, except for the conclusion of the second verse where he uses the guitar to end the verse. I reckon you'll find those notes easy enough. Good luck with this.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi Doug,
Your post came in while I was posting. I definitely think it is "register" in the chorus. "Ravish" makes no sense and the lyrics to this song are more along the lines of reportage than Willie Johnson's typical religious concerns. I think in the second verse, the conclusion of that line may be,
Didn't call the black man, laid by the white
I don't know my history of World War I well enough to know whether conscription of black soldiers was something that occurred concurrent with the first drafting of soldiers, or whether it was a later decision to draft black soldiers as well. If this was the case, the line would make sense, with President Wilson "laying by" a stockpile of white conscriptees, and only later deciding to draft black soldiers as well. I will make that change pending a better solution.
All best,
Johnm
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"Ravish" makes no sense and the lyrics to this song are more along the lines of reportage than Willie Johnson's typical religious concerns.
Quite right. The word I was thinking of was "ravaged everybody", not "ravished everybody". Oops! ^-^ I was thinking the song had a lot to do with the destructiveness of the war on the general population.... but registered makes sense too...
Doug
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Just a note for those who may be interested:
Willie Johnson recorded "When The War Was On" On December 11, 1929. William and Versey Smith recorded a version of this song, as "Everybody Help The Boys Come Home" in May of 1927. The Smith's version had the same melody, the same final line of the chorus, and several of the same verses (including the ones beginning "President Wilson sitting on his throne" and "Price on the lettuce began to rise"). Sorry to not quote more of the lyrics, but they're much more indecipherable than Johnson's.
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Sorry to not quote more of the lyrics, but they're much more indecipherable than Johnson's.
not words you hear very often!
tom
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I love this song, not the least for the puzzle it presents. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Price on the lettuce, began to raise
Gettin' no better, 'bout the same old thing
8 cents on the dollar, ride the train
T'ain't gettin' cheaper, take a ride again
Should be
Price on the letter, begin to raise (although he says 'race')
Gettin' no better but the same old thing
Eight cents on the dollar, ride the train,
Rates gettin' cheaper, take a ride again
There was a postal rate increase from 2 to 3 cents for a letter to help pay for the war beginning 11/2/17.
Half a pound of sugar for a person to eat
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week
Half the boys over across the sea
Stood in water up to their knees
Help (pronounced he'p) the boys over across the sea
Mud and water up to their knees
In the chorus, I've always heard a "D" in that mystery word, and thought he could be mispronouncing "readied" so it comes out like "readiest" -- and I hear "Everybody, well..."
Here also is my best effort at deciphering William and Versey Smith's "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" -- I'll rest my ears and try again in a day or so, but what I have I think is pretty accurate. Versey Smith's bleating comes at just the wrong moments.
Everybody help the boys come home
Everybody help the boys come home
Everybody help the boys come home
Do your best everybody when the war was on
Secretary writing just as fast as he can
Trying to get the news all over the land
Three cents on a letter we had to pay
??? on a pork chop ????
Eight cents on the dollar just to ride the train
Helpin' the gov'ment outta mighty strain
Taxes heavy but we must pay
Helpin the boys over 'cross the sea
In the muddy water up to their knee
Facin' the Kaiser for you and me
repeat 2nd verse
Kaiser seen he didn't have no friends
(last word of this very-hard-to-understand verse is "submarine")
President Wilson was on his throne
Makin' laws for everyone
Raisin' the rich and he raisin' the poor
Raisin' every tax on everybody's door
President of England, King of France
Meetin' the Kaiser now face to face
All we wanted was ???
We got to go to Germany just to settle [the game?]
Maybe someone can help fill in these gaps, too
Chris
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Thanks so much for the help, Chris, the suggestions you made are excellent. I've made the changes. That is really great hearing. I also thought Willie might be saying "Everybody well", but to sing such a nothing line three times would be very odd, nothing about it justifies the emphasis. I still feel like I hear "register" pretty clearly, you can hear them rushing to get it in, there's barely enough rhythmic space.
I also love this song, but I think it is amazing it was recorded even once--it must be one of the unlikeliest candidates for being covered in the history of recorded music, especially so long after the events of which it speaks. I still have to remind myself sometimes that these were all commercial recordings.
All best,
Johnm
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I can't hear "barley" ; it sounds more like "boiler" to me. I've always thought that BWJ is singing "Didn't take the black man, leave out the white", and "United States government voted for war", but these things are really not clear to me.
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Great job on the "Everybody Help The Boys Come Home", Chris.
I think the second line of the second verse starts "Two cents on a pork chop". That seems pretty clear the second time William sings that verse. Unfortunately, Versey steps all over the second half of the line both times it's sung.
For the fifth verse, I hear:
Kaiser seen he didn't have no friends
???
??? what I mean
went to sea in his submarine
And for the last verse:
President of England, King of France
Meetin' the Kaiser now face to face
All we wanted was ??? chance
We got to go to Germany just to settle the game
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Thanks dj for your suggestions -- I went back and listened and I think I filled in all but one of the gaps. I'll post the whole thing again:
Everybody help the boys come home
Everybody help the boys come home
Everybody help the boys come home
Do your best everybody when the war was on
Secretary writing just as fast as he can
Trying to get the news all over the land
Three cents on a letter we had to pay
Two cents on a pork chop come to pass
Eight cents on the dollar just to ride the train
Helpin' the gov'ment outta mighty strain
Taxes heavy but we must pay
Helpin the boys over 'cross the sea
In the muddy water up to their knee
Facin' the Kaiser for you and me
repeat 2nd verse
Kaiser seen he didn't have no friends
Come all the world just on the job
Runnin' to England's just what I mean
Went to sea in this submarine
President Wilson was on his throne
Makin' laws for everyone
Raisin' the rich and he raisin' the poor
Raisin' every tax on everybody's door
President of England, King of France
Meetin' the Kaiser now face to face
All we wanted was a ? of a chance
We got to go to Germany just to settle the game
John -- I went back with one of those slowdown programs and I agree that it is "register" in the chorus, which makes the most sense too. Still sounds like "Everybody well" to me, though. Also listening on that he's definitely saying "lay by the white." Also, as Alexei pointed out, it sounds like he's singing "measure your boiler." This would make sense if he's referring to fuel conservation.
Hope somebody can fill in that missing word in the last verse of "Everybody."
Chris
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Hi all,
I'm kind of late getting here today. Thanks Alexei, for your suggestions. I agree, it is "gov'ment" in the first verse and "boiler" later on. I always thought it sound like "boiler" but couldn't make any sense of it. I am going to go with your hearing of "Everybody, well," for the chorus, Chris. It sounds closer to the sound Willie makes, and I think it also makes sense--three times, "Everybody, well, when the war was on" and the listener is saying "Everybody what?". The tag line pays off. Thanks so much to everyone for your help and suggestions. It's great to see the song go from a place of phonetic plausibility to something that both sounds closer to what is being sung and makes better sense. You people are just cool.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi Chris,
I am hearing something different in verse 5 of "Everybody"
Now, Kaiser seen he didn't have no friends
Come all the way, starts over the side
Runnin' to England's just what I mean
Went to sea in this submarine
See what you think.
All best,
Johnm
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John --
I still hear "world" instead of "way" -- it could be "the side" at the end. It would make sense if he means that all the world was on one side against the Kaiser.
My ears are tired -- I'll listen again tomorrow and go back and change it -- I'm sure "the side" is right. It would be a lot easier to understand if Versey were actually singing intelligible words as well. I wonder if there's any folksong collections with a version of this song somewhere; the two recorded versions are different enough that Johnson didn't learn it from the recording.
Chris
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Oh well, fwiw, here's my 5 cents worth which is taken from Guido Van Rijn's 1997 book Roosevelt Blues together with the his observations:
Accompanying themselves on guitar and tambourine, William and Versey Smith made four Chicago recordings in 1927. Their songs may derive from printed lyrics, although no source for their song "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" has been found so far. Black gospel singer William Smith was quite cynical about the white world leaders. To him Woodrow Wilson was a king sitting on a throne and making laws. When a version of this song, called "When the War Was On ' was recorded by Blind Willie Johnson two years later, the same image was used to level harsher, though self-censored, criticism against the president:
chorus: Everybody, well, when the war was on, (3x)
Well, they registered everybody, when the war was on.
Well, it's just about a few years, and some months ago,
United States come and voted for war.
Sammy called the men from the East and the West:
"Get ready boys, we got to do our best."
Well, President Wilson, sittin' on his throne,
Makin' laws for everyone.
Didn't call the black man, to lay by the white,
[guitar replaces words].
Price on the letter, began to raise,
Gettin' no better, but the same old thing.
Eight cents on the dollar, ride the train,
Freight's gettin' cheaper, take a ride again.
Yes, you measure your boiler, measure your wheat,
Half a pound of sugar per person a week. Folks didn't like it,
they blamed Uncle Sam,
Have got to save the sugar for the boys in France.
Well, boys whupped the Germans, home at last,
Would have brought the kaiser, but he run too fast.
Couldn't blame the kaiser for a-leavin' the land,
Uncle Sammy had the greatest share of muscle and man.
Tax gettin' heavy, have to pay,
Help the boys, over across the sea.
Mud and water up to their knees,
Faced the kaiser for you and me.
"President Wilson, sittin' on his throne, makin' laws for everyone, didn't call the black man to lay by the white" Johnson sang, perhaps not daring to finish his phrase. One could criticize the kaiser without risking a lynching, but not the president of the United States. Black men and white men were sent to Europe, but the segregation Wilson defended in the United States was even more strictly adhered to on the battlefields of Belgium and France. In a secret memorandum General Pershing made it clear to the French army command that the Negro was regarded as an inferior human being whose vices (especially rape) were a constant menace.
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I got out one of my Library of Congress LPs tonight to post a Hezekiah Jenkins song, and I'll be damned if there isn't a transcription of "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" in the same liner notes. It's pretty wildly inaccurate, except for two places, and I'll ask everyone's opinion on these.
They have
"Two cents on a postal card going first class"
I think after seeing this the line is probably "Two cents on a post card come to pass" -- I had "pork chop" but this makes more sense.
and in the second to last line of the song
"All he wanted was a prodigal's chance"
not so sure about this one but it's an intriguing suggestion
Take a listen and let me know what y'all think.
Chris
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Hello Everyone,
I had just stopped through looking for lyrics and noticed this thread. If you don't mind, I'd like to give my take on how I hear this tune.
Well, umm, President Wilson, sitting on the throne
Looked kinda lost 'fore everyone
Didn't call the black man, maybe that's why
GUITAR FINISHES VERSE
Everything else is pretty much as I see it written here to my ears. Quite honestly, the changes I have may not seem anywhere close to right, but its what I've always heard.
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I know I'm resurrecting an old topic. but I just got back my copy of Paul Oliver's Songsters & Saints and noticed that he transcribed the Smith Version of "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" on p. 226, and he gives the same info that banjochris mentioned in his last post...
"Two cents on a postal card going first class"
and in the second to last line of the song
"All he wanted was a prodigal's chance"
Oliver also gives talks about the Johnson version, and gives "Didn't call the black men, called their wives, .... " for the line that we talked about earlier in this thread. (I don't hear this, especially the "called", but I thought it was an interesting suggestion.)
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A link to historical postal card rates: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1e1_postcard.html
Note the note that explains the different between a postcard and a postal card:
As working definitions, a "postcard" is considered to be a privately prepared card, generally with a picture or image on one side and sold by a stationer, while a "postal card" is one issued by, and sold over the counter of a post office.
Not something I'd known, thinking it was just a linguistic variation.
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I am teaching an honors course at University of Texas at Austin on "The History of Song (and Poetry) As Social Criticism." We are now on the general theme of war, so the lyrics to Blind Wilie Johnson's World War I classic were important. This discussion here was really informative. As a token of gratitude I offer a few small corrections or additional support for ideas already floated.
First and foremost, I really do think the main part still in question is to be taken as follows:
Yes, you measure your BARLEY, measure your wheat,
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week. Folks didn't like it,
they blamed Uncle Sam,
Have got to save the sugar for the boys in France.
His pattern, first of all, is to break each stanza into two two-line parts with a common theme. In the preceding stanza, the second two-line part has the 'travel' theme of 'train, freight, ride'. This one opens with the theme of basic edibles: 'barley, wheat, sugar'. Barley and wheat are the prime cereal crops and are found in common as ration grains going all the way back to Sumerian, Akkadian and Mycenaean Greek texts, where the working women (virtual slaves) get barley, while gods and elites get wheat.
His pronunciation is 'distinctive', but if you listen to the way he pronounces the 'a' in the 'ar' of 'sugar', you will perhaps be convinced that he is rounding his mouth a bit in anticipation of the 'r', which gives it a sound closer to the rounded 'o', as in 'boat' than to the open 'ah' of 'father' as WE mostly pronounce 'shu-gahr'. Likewise, the '-ley' he distinguishes, i.e., pronounces differently, from the simple 'y' of 'Sammy', pronouncing it rapidly as 'eh-ya'. So the whole word comes out sounding more like 'bore-lie' than our common pronunciations of 'bahr-lee'.
There are some other changes I propose. I think this now is as close to right as anything I know. But I stand to be corrected.
CHORUS: Everybody, well, when the war was on, (3x)
Well, they registered everybody, when the war was on.
Well, it's just about a few years, and some months ago,
United States come and voted for war.
Sammy called the men from the East and the West:
"Get ready boys, we got to do our best."
CHORUS
Well, President Wilson, sittin' on his throne,
Makin' laws for everyone.
Didn't call the black man, to lay by the white,
[guitar replaces words].
CHORUS
Price on the letter, gettin' to raise,
Gettin' no better, but the same old thing.
Eight cents on the dollar, ride the train,
Freight's gettin' cheaper, take a ride again.
CHORUS
Yes, you measure your BARLEY, measure your wheat,
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week. Folks didn't like it,
they blamed Uncle Sam,
Have got to save the sugar for the boys in France.
CHORUS
Well, boys whupped the Germans, home at last,
Would have brought the kaiser, but he run too fast.
Couldn't blame the kaiser for a-leavin' the land,
Uncle Sammy had the greatest share of muscle and man.
CHORUS
Tax gettin' heavy, have to pay,
Help the boys, over across the sea.
Mud and water up to their knees,
Faced the kaiser for you and me.
CHORUS
MANY SINCERE THANKS.
FOR SOME WRITINGS PERHAPS OF INTEREST, SEE:
http://www.utexas.edu/research/pasp/publications/dylan/dylana.html (http://www.utexas.edu/research/pasp/publications/dylan/dylana.html)
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Welcome to WeenieCampbell Tom and thanks for the lyrics input.
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A few suggestions, tpalaima, in capitals, using your version. My WOULD HELP in the chorus is a tentative try, while I think your BARLEY is wrong, even though it would make sense. I've put BOILER, but think it is something like 'measure your B??? AND measure your wheat' (that is, a one syllable word). 'Didn't call the black man, LEAVE OUT the white', I take to mean both were called.
CHORUS: Everybody, WOULD HELP, when the war was on, (3x)
Well, they registered everybody, when the war was on.
Well, it's just about a few years, and some months ago,
United States CONGRESS voted for war.
SAM, HE called the men from the East and the West:
"Get ready boys, WE'VE got to do our best."
CHORUS
Well, President Wilson, sittin' on his throne,
Makin' laws for everyone.
Didn't call the black man, LEAVE OUT the white,
[guitar replaces words].
CHORUS
Price on A letter, BEGIN to raise,
Gettin' no better, but the same old thing.
Eight cents on the dollar, JUST TO ride the train,
RATES gettin' cheaper, take a ride again.
CHORUS
FIRST, you measure your BOILER???, measure your wheat,
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week.
Folks didn't like it, they blamed Uncle Sam,
"I'VE got to save the sugar for the boys in France."
CHORUS
Well, boys whupped the Germans, home at last,
Would have brought the kaiser, but he run too fast.
Couldn't blame the kaiser for a-leavin' the land,
Uncle SAM, HE HAD TO SAVE THE SKIN OF A MOST EVIL MAN.
CHORUS
Tax gettin' heavy, have to pay,
HELPED the boys over across the sea.
Mud and water up to their knees,
Faced the kaiser for you and me.
CHORUS
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THANKS!!!
We are going to listen to this list of war songs next Tuesday and I'll set the class to try to figure out the remaining parts that are still open to interpretation between my variants of what I took to be the consensus and yours here given.
I still think barley and wheat and sugar go together so naturally and all are measured that 'boiler', while what in classical texts we call the lectio difficilior, i.e., the harder interpretation and therefore the one to be preferred, is too hard for me to accept.
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I figure I'll add a version of this, too, since I'm hearing some important lines differently from dingwall. Couple of notes -- I think John's eloquent explanation of why "Everybody, well" makes sense further back in this thread is plenty said about that. I'm sure "boiler" is right, and there was coal rationing going on -- I believe "boiler" refers to people being unable to heat their homes, something we don't think about much today. (And of course, according to the story, Johnson's death was later brought about by not having proper heat in his home.) I hear "United States COME AND voted for war" very clearly in the first verse; I accept that it could be "Sam, he" instead of "Sammy" in the first verse, but it sounds like "Sammy" to me, and a more derogatory reference to Uncle Sam is completely in keeping with the character of the song. Uncle Sam certainly has a negative aspect in the verse about the Kaiser. The "to lay by the white" line I think was well explained in the quote Bunker Hill posted farther back.
Chris
Everybody well, when the war was on (3x)
Well, they register everybody when the war was on.
Well it's just about a few years, and some months ago
United States come and voted for war
Sammy called the men from the East and West,
"Get ready boys, we've got to do our best."
CHORUS
Well, President Wilson, sittin' on the throne,
Makin' laws for everyone,
Didn't call the black man to lay by the white,
[guitar finishes verse]
CHORUS
Price on the letter, (be)gin to raise,
Gettin' no better but the same old thing,
Eight cents on the dollar, ride the train,
Rates gettin' cheaper take a ride again.
CHORUS
Yes, you measure your boiler, measure your wheat,
Half a pound of sugar for a person a week.
Folks didn't like it, they blamed Uncle Sam,
"I've got to save the sugar for the boys in France."
CHORUS
Well, boys whupped the Germans, home at last,
Woulda brought the Kaiser but he run too fast,
Couldn't blame the Kaiser for leavin' the land,
Uncle Sam he had the face to scare most any man.
CHORUS
Tax gettin' heavy, have to pay,
Help the boys over 'cross the sea,
Mud and water up to their knee,
Face the Kaiser for you and me.
CHORUS
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...while what in classical texts we call the lectio difficilior, i.e., the harder interpretation and therefore the one to be preferred...
The reasoning being that later editors or commentators, who did not clearly understand the original meaning which to them had become obscure, "corrected" the text (or glossed the word or phrase in question) with something that was easier to understand. Another reason given for correcting the text is that the text had become corrupt in the process of transmission.
In this case, however, we have access to the original text in the form of a recording. It sure sounds like "boiler" to me, but is "boiler" the word that BWJ had in mind when he sang it? And if it was, what did it mean in this context?
It is possible that there was a local usage that we just do not know about (yet). Language is always in a process of change, both in its lexicon and syntax. Words and their usages sometimes drop out of the vernacular. I think that we should leave this one open. Let us know what your students think.
Argumentation is ultimately reason giving, and thus the easiest person to convince (or fool) is oneself, so it is wise not to believe everything that we think--at least not with 100% certainty.
Edited to add: Chris posted while I was writing this. Coal or fuel rationing is a possible explanation--good thinking, Chris. My great aunts in N.E. Pennsylvania were using coal for heat and for the cookstove into the late sixties. They had a small propane kitchen stove, but never used it.
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It sure sounds like "boiler" to me, but is "boiler" the word that BWJ had in mind when he sang it? And if it was, what did it mean in this context?
Potato? Just a thought. In keeping with the food theme of the rest of the verse.
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It sure sounds like "boiler" to me, but is "boiler" the word that BWJ had in mind when he sang it? And if it was, what did it mean in this context?
Potato? Just a thought. In keeping with the food theme of the rest of the verse.
It might also refer to "boiler" onions, which I hadn't thought of until you mentioned potatoes as a possibility. Good thinking, Bob!
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The closing line of the 1st verse is a little obscure to my ears... Sounds like "And I found that sacred doubt" but it doesn't seem to make much sense so I'm not sure... Any suggestions? (May I also add that Willie B. Harris sang solo on this number and she had the voice of an angel IMO)
https://youtu.be/M9bDFxKs4Ro
last night I went to the meeting
Just to hear them sing and shout
But there I got salvation
???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????
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I believe it's "And I found their secrets out."
Chris
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Hi Roi,
I agree with you--this is a really beautiful song and rendition of the song. It's interesting to hear Blind Willie Johnson accompanying out of C in standard tuning, too, not at all his normal sound. Some of his choices for harmonizing the melody are surprising. I'll listen to this one some more.
all best,
Johnm
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Thank you!! Are you guys familiar with any other versions of this song?
Here's the rest the way I hear it:
If it had not been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But he has fully saved me
And he washed my black heart white
Once I was a deep down sinner
Just as wild as I could be
I was on my way to destruction
and a deep down misery
Oh listen to me old sinner
I'll tell you just what to do
Surrender all to Jesus
And he will save you too
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Blind Willie Johnson. "The Soul of a Man" CD.
Well...
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord, just wait in the midnight when death comes slippin' in your room
You're gonna need, ah, somebody on your bond
I heard the voice of Jesus saying he told me he had risen
Now in the waining midnight hour, I don't hold my breath
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord, just wait in the midnight when death comes slippin' in your room
You're gonna need, ah, somebody on your bond
When you was a gambler, nobody would go your bond
Fell on your knees and began to pray, ?cause Jesus would go your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
You're gonna need somebody on your bond
Lord, just wait in the midnight when death comes slippin' in your room
You're gonna need, ah, somebody on your bond
I came to Jesus, as I was? wearied, wounded, sad
Found he?d held me a restin? place, he have made me glad
If I've got somebody on my bond
Lord, I've got somebody on my bond
Lord, just wait in the midnight when death comes slippin' in your room
Lord, I've got somebody on my bond
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I heard the voice of Jesus say
(Come) Unto me and rest
Found me weary, (I) want to lie down
Head upon my breast.
I came to Jesus as I was
Weary-boned and sad
Found in Him a resting place,
He have made me glad.
This is actually an old hymn... In one of the hymn books I have, it shows it was written by a Reverend with the unfortunate name of Horatius Bonar, who lived 1808-1889. The first verse in the hymn books I have is pretty much as Chris had it:
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me and rest"
Lay down thou weary one, lay down, thy head upon my breast.
I came to Jesus as I was -- weary, worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place, and He has made me glad.
I remember singing this in church (we still do, actually), but we never sang it like Blind Willie did!
PS - for more on the Pork Chop song that Chris mentioned, see the old discussion here (sorry, don't know how to make a pretty link): http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=128&topic=4991.msg38195#msg38195
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Hi all,
It seemed like there were enough separate lyric threads on Blind Willie Johnson songs to justify doing a merged thread. As usual, apart from the initial post in the merged thread, I've left the individual post subjects as they were originally, for ease in following the discussions. Please add any other Blind Willie Johnson lyrics to this thread rather than starting a new separate thread. Thanks.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi all,
I've been listening to "If It Had Not Been For Jesus". It really is a pretty song, in 3/4, with a melody strongly reminiscent of "Irene, Goodnight", and Willie B. Harris's lead vocal is so nice, as Lone Wolf noted back a few posts. Willie Johnson backs the song out of C in standard tuning, and makes an interesting chordal choice at the end of the first line (refrain and verses share the same melody). The melody notes under "Jesus" are B moving up to D, which then trails away up towards F. These notes outline a G7 chord minus its root, but Willie Johnson harmonizes them with a D chord, which gives the resolution an exotic sound. For several places in his accompaniment, Willie Johnson eschews chords altogether and chooses instead to accompany with moving bass lines. Here's what I have for the lyrics.
REFRAIN: If it had not've been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But He has fully saved me
And He washed my black heart white
One night I went to the meetin'
Just to hear them sing and shout
But there I got salvation
And I found their secrets out
REFRAIN: If it had not've been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But He has fully saved me
And He washed my black heart white
Oh, listen to me, oh sinner
I'll tell you just what to do
Surrender all to Jesus
And He will save you, too
REFRAIN: If it had not've been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But He has fully saved me
And He washed my black heart white
Oh, once I was a deep-down sinner
Just as wild as I could be
I was on my way to destruction
And the deep-down misery
REFRAIN: If it had not've been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But He has fully saved me
And He washed my black heart white
One night I went to the meetin'
Just to hear them sing and shout
But there I got salvation
And I found their secrets out
REFRAIN: If it had not've been for Jesus
I would not have been here tonight
But He has fully saved me
And He washed my black heart white
All best,
Johnm
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I like playing this tune but have never really found or figured out the "correct" lyrics. Would appreciate if you guys can help straighten it out.
Below is my own transcription. Thanks in advance.
https://youtu.be/QjHl-57_I0g
---
(Instrumental)
Keep your lamp trimmed and a-burning (3x)
(Ooh) See what the Lord has done [I think the traditional goes "For this old world it is almost gone"]
Sister don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done
Keep your lamp trimmed and a-burning (3x)
(Ooh) See what the Lord has done
Brother don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done
(Instrumental)
Heaven's journey, is almost over (3x)
See what the Lord has done
Elder don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done
...., is almost over (3x)
See what the Lord has done
Brother don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done
(Instrumental)
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It's the last verse that has me stumped and I'm hoping someone here can be of assistance.
https://youtu.be/_1QalKgyMG0
According to on-line sources the last verse goes something like this:
A.G. Smith, might man, built a boat that he couldn't understand
Named it a name of God in a tin, without a 'c' Lord, he pulled it in.
That last line doesn't seem to make sense to me as perhaps it's been transcribed incorrectly. If it has been transcribed correctly it still doesn't make sense.
Any help would be appreciated.
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I hear:
A.G. Smith, mighty man, built a boat that he couldn't understand,
Named it the name of God and the ten, [indistinct] never see, Lord, that boat again
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I hear "middle of the sea" in the second line.
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I hear that last line as "Named it a name, ah, God did attend, middle of the sea, Lord, the boat [it/did] end"
I think Johnson accidentally/mistakenly sings "attend" instead of "offend" in the first part of the line.
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I hear- "Gave it a name of God in attend - you'll never see , Lord , the boat again."
The thought being "God in attend" refers to the the mistaken assumption that God would protect the boat.
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I hear- "Gave it a name of God in attend - you'll never see , Lord , the boat again."
The thought being "God in attend" refers to the the mistaken assumption that God would protect the boat.
This sounds quite plausible to me, and it fits what's sung on the record reasonably well.
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I hear- "Gave it a name of God in attend - you'll never see , Lord , the boat again."
The thought being "God in attend" refers to the the mistaken assumption that God would protect the boat.
I just don't see "Titanic" as being a name that a fundamentalist Christian like Willie Johnson would think was in any way pleasing to God. It's more like a Tower of Babel kind of thing, where God would see mankind overstepping his place, and would be offended and angered at seeing that happen.
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I just don't see "Titanic" as being a name that a fundamentalist Christian like Willie Johnson would think was in any way pleasing to God. It's more like a Tower of Babel kind of thing, where God would see mankind overstepping his place, and would be offended and angered at seeing that happen.
You are expressing my thought better than I could about the meaning of the phrase which I said I heard. I agree with you - "God in attend" or it could be "God in a tin" being a sort of blasphemy. I think the phrase means that the boat was like a Tower of Babel. "God in a Tin" as per the original transcription, might be what he's saying.
I slowed it down in Adobe soundbooth and it looks like I was wrong about the "you'll never see , Lord , the boat again," what I hear is:
"Gave it a name of God in a Tin - when the sea , Lord , pulled it in."
I attached the file I worked from to get above.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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i hear:
Named it a name ah God in attened,middle of the sea,Lord, you pulled it in.
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Thanks for posting that file, Harriet. I think Lyndvs has it exactly right.
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Cool, thanks DJ - Lyndvs transcription checks out here as well, though I didn't hear it that way before.:)
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Thank you DJ,Thank you Harriet.Glad to be of help.
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This was posted on Bluestalk as the last verse which finally makes sense to me - I agree with it so am posting the lyrics in the spirit of any thoughts appreciated and apologies if its been posted here before:
God Moves on the Water
Blind Willie Johnson
Year of nineteen hundred and twelve, April the fourteenth day
Great Titanic struck an iceberg, people had to run and pray
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
The guards who had been a-watching, asleep 'cause they were tired
When they heard the great excitement, many gunshots were fired
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Captain Smith gave orders, women and children first
Many of the lifeboats piled right up, many were liable to crush
God moves on, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Ahh-ah
So many had to leave their happy home, all that they possess
Lord Jesus, will you hear us now, help us in our distress
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, people had to run and pray
Women had to leave their loving ones, see 'bout their safety
When they heard the liner was doomed, hearts did almost break
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
AG Smith, mighty man, built a boat that he couldn't understand,
Named it a name God didn't intend, the will of the sweet Lord pulled it in.
God moves, ah, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
(spoken: Well) Ahh, ah, Lord
http://youtu.be/MylKZba4wa4
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Hi Harriet,
Thanks very much for posting this transcription. There has been an attempt here, before, to transcribe "God Moves On The Water". I agree with most of the transcription but for the second half of the last line of the last verse, before the refrain, I'm hearing:
Made that-a sea, Lord, that pulled it in
I wonder what other folks are hearing.
All best,
Johnm
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"Named it a name God didn't intend, the will of the sweet Lord pulled it in."
This has always been the toughest line. Willie gets a little tongue-tied but that certainly makes a lot of sense.
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Hi all,
However much sense the line makes, the sound doesn't match up with the sound of what Willie Johnson sang. The sound is much closer to:
Gave it a name of God in the tin, made that-a sea, Lord, that pulled it in
The second half of the line is enunciated very clearly, it seems to me. He sings nothing that sounds anything like "the will of sweet" there, and Willie Johnson clearly ends the line with "THAT pulled it in". It would be nice to have the line solved, but only if it is solved correctly.
All best,
Johnm
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The first part of the end of that last line sounds crystal clear to me as "the middle of the sea, Lord"
I also hear:
Women had to leave their LOVED one, SEEK FOR the safety
When they heard THEIR LOVED ONES was doomed, hearts WOULD almost break.
Chris
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I agree after re-listening, Chris. Second half of that line seems pretty clear:
middle of the sea, Lord, that pulled it in
The first half of that line is tough!
All best,
Johnm
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The first part of the end of that last line sounds crystal clear to me as "the middle of the sea, Lord"
I also hear:
Women had to leave their LOVED one, SEEK FOR the safety
When they heard THEIR LOVED ONES was doomed, hearts WOULD almost break.
Chris
I think you're right on all the above.
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Hi all,
However much sense the line makes, the sound doesn't match up with the sound of what Willie Johnson sang. The sound is much closer to:
Gave it a name of God in the tin, made that-a sea, Lord, that pulled it in
The second half of the line is enunciated very clearly, it seems to me. He sings nothing that sounds anything like "the will of sweet" there, and Willie Johnson clearly ends the line with "THAT pulled it in". It would be nice to have the line solved, but only if it is solved correctly.
All best,
Johnm
"God in the tin" doesn't make sense.
"God didn't intend" makes sense, though that isn't exactly what Willie sings.
Perhaps he realized that six syllables would ruin the meter and improvised a metrically-sound but lyrically-challenged "God n't 'tend" three syllable substitute.
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Its definitely tough. I brought it into transcribe, slowed it down and altered the pitch and listened to it through bose speakers.
After listening to it that way I still go with "God didn't intend" although as IMHO Gilgamesh posted it's metrically sounded, and similarly I think the last part is not exactly to the transcription but - and I used asterisks for dropped letters where I heard them- something like "the wi**of the sweet Law* that pulled it in" for the posted phrase "the will of the sweet Lord pulled it in"
The idea in this phrasing that God was first offended and then His will sank the boat has a cause and effect meaning which is a bit more straightforward than other interpretations IMHO, and one that I am satisfied with, though others might not.
So basically no AHA moment on that in any case, thank you for your comments.
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I haven't listened to it in a while but always thought it was:
Named it a name of God in a tin, middle of the sea, Lord, bowled it in
.. as in using tin cans for games of skittles, the iceberg is the ball released from the hand of God. I theorize that someone or other, maybe a journalist or more likely the builders and/or captain, coined the 'God in a tin' phrase. As we know a lot of religious people were unhappy with the adulation shown to that particular work of man, considering it blasphemy. I have no proof of any of this immediately to hand and I've got to get back to work in a few minutes, may have time to research later.
There's a thread on here somewhere that discusses people's attitudes to the sinking, including an element of schadenfreude. Perhaps it was in Johnm's Titanic thread.
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The problem with "God didn't intend", even if he's dropping syllables to fit it rhythmically, is that he seems to pretty clearly sing "name of" before the word God. I don't think it's just an addition of a rhythmic syllable either "name-uh God...". Pretty sure I hear an F.
I don't know what words he sings though hear a something like "tin" or "ten". Using a "tin god" image here could make sense and apply either to Smith or to the ship itself. But the word order does not come that way unfortunately. And perhaps the name of god is not referring to Willie's Christian God but somehow a reference to the Titans that the ship was named after - e.g. ship named after false gods sucked into the sea. Just throwing things out there.
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It's relatively seldom that we encounter lines in these songs that are wholly devoid of meaning. I tend to think that if it doesn't make sense, we still haven't got the transcription.
The flip side is the temptation to formulate a coherent narrative pass, that is close syllabically, and, by definition, coherent, but simply isn't what's being said. I've been guilty of that many times.
In the end the ears will have it, wish I had the time to sit and listen a few dozen times.
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here is an interesting interpretation of the line in question. Not sure I agree, but 'God in a tin" ... seems pretty darn clear.
http://theforlornpath.blogspot.com/2012/04/remembering-titanic-god-moves-on-water.html
And a similar interpretation here:
http://patwictor.com/index.php?page=news&category=01--Newsletter&display=1560
And Ari's forum discussed it here: Everyone is stumped.
http://members2.boardhost.com/acoustic_blues/msg/1163883916.html
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One thing I do know for sure is that "...without a 'c'..." is balderdash. Amazing how such tosh gets enshrined as fact when one person types something on the net and a second person repeats it. It's the aptly named echo chamber effect in action.
The thought process of the poor sod who first dreamed that one up might have gone something like this:
"Let's see now, he's singing about the letter 'c', or perhaps it's 'The Sea', in a song about an ocean liner. Clearly, it must be the letter 'c', because "without a sea" makes even less sense".
Good grief. Talk about twisting the facts to fit an incorrect theory. In other words if you accept that the alphabet thing is wrong, and was designed to fit the first two or three words of the line, the conclusion must be that "Without a..." is also wrong. "Without a sea"? They had more than enough sea. Too much in fact.
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Hi all,
I merged Harriet's recent thread on "God Moves On The Water" into the Blind Willie Johnson Lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm
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Maybe I missed it in the thread, but I listen to this song a lot. It's on my favorite CD in the truck.
I came here to see if someone could help me understand it.
Here's how I hear one line:
"Everybody wailed when the war was on
Registered everybody when the war was on"
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Hi all,
I recently was requested to figure out "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" in order to teach a lesson on it. It's one of Blind Willie Johnson's non-slide thumb lead songs, picked out of Vestapol. The left hand of the guitar part has a beautiful economy and can be played with just one or two fingers. I love the sound of Blind Willie Johnson singing with his female musical partner. Here is the song:
https://youtu.be/D3OFo8MFNkE
REFRAIN: Oh, trouble, soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Trouble soon be over, oh, sorrow will have an end
Well, Christ is my burden bearer,
He's my only friend
Tell me the end of my sorrow
And tell me to lean on Him
REFRAIN: Trouble, soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Trouble soon be over, oh, sorrow will have an end
God is my strong protection
He's my bosom friend
Trouble rose around me
I know who will take me in
REFRAIN: Trouble, soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Trouble soon be over, oh, sorrow will have an end
Well, though my burden may be heavy
My ailments crush me down
Someday I'll rest with-a Jesus
And wear, starry crown
REFRAIN: Trouble, soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Trouble soon be over, oh, sorrow will have an end
I'll take this-a yoke upon me
And live a Christian life
Take Jesus for uh-my Saviour
My burden will be light
REFRAIN: Trouble, soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Trouble soon be over, oh, sorrow will have an end
All best,
Johnm
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I don't have any new interpretation of "God Moves On the Water" to add. Just want to point out that it is included on the 2016 Blues Images calendar CD. Maybe the remastered version will help decipher the words! Let us know what you hear. Thanks, Ch.
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One of the lines in "God Moves On The Water" has been bugging me for ages, specifically the "liable to crush" line which seemed awkward.
As suggested by Chezztone above, I used the newest remastering on the Blues Images CD and I think I've finally nailed it!
God Moves on the Water
Blind Willie Johnson
Year of nineteen hundred and twelve, April the fourteenth day
Great Titanic struck an iceberg, people had to run and pray
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
The guards who had been a-watching, asleep 'cause they were tired
When they heard the great excitement, many gunshots were fired
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Captain Smith gave orders, women and children first
Many of the lifeboats piled right up, many alive were crushed
God moves on, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Ahh-ah
How many had to leave their happy home, all that they possess
Lord Jesus, will you hear us now, help us in our distress
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, people had to run and pray
Women had to leave their loved ones, seek for their safety
When they heard their loved ones was doomed, hearts did almost break
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
A.G. Smith, mighty man, built a boat that he couldn't understand,
Named it a name God didn't intend, middle of the sea, Lord, that pulled it in
God moves, ah, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
(spoken: Well) Ahh, ah, Lord
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Hi all,
Blind Willie Johnson recorded "Let Your Light Shine On Me" at a session on April 20, 1930, performing it as a solo number and backing himself out of G position in standard tuning. After a lovely out-of-tempo rendition of the chorus, sung in his natural voice, he launches into vigorous boom-a-chang-a time-keeping for the remainder of his version, which he sings with his bass growl from the second verse onward, with the exception of the end of the final chorus. Here is "Let Your Light Shine One Me":
https://youtu.be/IcYKEGNQGJc
REFRAIN: Let it shine on me, let it shine on me
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Let it shine on me, let it shine on me
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on
My Lord, He done, just what He said
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Healed the sick, and He raised the dead
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on
REFRAIN: Oh, let it shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on
I know I’ve got religion, and I ain’t ashame
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Angels in the heavens, done wrote my name
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on
REFRAIN: Oh, let it shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on
REFRAIN: Oh, let it shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
REFRAIN: Shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, from the lighthouse, shine on me
Shine on, oh, let it shine on
Let your light, shine on me
Edited 7/23 to pick up correction from taft
Edited 7/24 to pick up corrections from Johnm
All best,
Johnm
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I hear: Healed the sick, and He raised the dead
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I hear that too, taft. Thanks for the catch. My stupid spell check sand-bagged me again. I will fix that.
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Hi all,
Blind Willie Johnson recorded "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning" at a session on December 5, 1928, for which he was joined by Willie B. Harris on vocals. As was the case on most of the songs that the duo recorded together, "Keep Your Lamps" employed a complex three-way call-and-response phrasing, in which the actors were Willie singing, Willie B. singing and Willie's slide guitar singing. In practice, this was made even more complicated by the fact that on occasion Willie and Willie B. sang lines together, often with slightly different words or placement of words. I've tried to reflect the way the song was performed in the transcription. If a line is shown in parentheses with no preceding indication, it was sung by Willie B. alone, otherwise the choices are Willie by himself (no parentheses), the guitar (with a preceding indication shown) or Willie and Willie B. together (with a preceding indication shown). I'm not at all sure I have the lyrics right in the verse that begins "I been journeyin'", and I would very much appreciate correction or corroboration of what I heard there. Here is "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning":
https://youtu.be/QjHl-57_I0g
INTRO SOLO
REFRAIN: Keep a-your lamp (trimmed and burning)
Keep a-your lamp (trimmed and burning)
Keep a-your lamp (trimmed and burning), oh
(See what my God has done)
Sister, don’t (get worried)
(Both: Sister, don’t) (get worried)
(Both: Sister, don’t) (get worried)
(For the work is ‘most done)
REFRAIN: (Guitar begins line), trimmed and a-burning
(Keep your lamp) (Both: trimmed and a-burning)
(Guitar begins line) (Both: trimmed and a-burning), oh
(See what my God has done)
Brother, don’t (get worried)
(Both: Brother,) don’t (get worried)
(Both: Brother, don’t) (get worried)
(For the work is ‘most done)
SOLO
Heaven's journey (on before)
Heaven's journey (he’s gone before)
Heaven's journey(he’s gone before)
(See what my God has done)
(Both: Elders don’t, get worried),
Aaah (don’t get worried)
Elders (Both: don’t) (get worried)
(For the work is ‘most done)
(Guitar begins line) almost (Both: over)
(Guitar begins line) (Both: it’s almost over)
(Guitar begins line) (Both: almost over), uh
(See what my God has done)
Brother, don’t (get worried)
(Both: Brother, don’t) (get worried)
(Both: Brother, don’t) (get worried)
(For the work is ‘most done)
SOLO
Edited 7/24 to pick up correction from banjochris
All best,
Johnm
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Here's what I hear, John –
Heaven's journey (on before)
Heaven's journey (he's gone before)
Heaven's journey (he's gone before) - I think she sings befo-ore rather than "before God"
(See what my Lord has done)
Chris
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Thanks so much, Chris. As so often happens, once you point it out, I can hear it as plain as day--and it was just as unclear before you pointed it out. Thanks, and I will make the change.
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Hi all,
I posted lyrics for "Trouble will Soon Be Over" further up this page in the thread, using a video that came from one of the Wim Wenders-directed parts of Martin Scorsese's "Story of the Blues". Unbeknownst to me at the time, the video had two verses edited out, and was pitch "corrected". Here is a video that has Blind Willie Johnson's full rendition. The added verses are the third and the sixth, which are the same as each other. I'd very much appreciate corroboration or correction of that verse--it seems like the last word in the second line should be "cave", but it sounds as though he is pretty clearly saying "cage". Here is the video, with what I have for the third and sixth verses posted below it:
https://youtu.be/EowFP7XCa4Q
Here is what I have for the verses that were missing from the previous post:
He proved a friend to David
How they hid him in a cage
But the same God that David served
Will give me a rest someday
Thanks for any help with it.
All best,
Johnm
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For what it's worth, John, I hear it the same way, with "cage."
Chris
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I hear that as well. I found on wikipedia there's reference in the Old Testament that David was hid in a "cave" but I don't know if that's what BWJ's referring to.
Harriet
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Thanks, Chris and Harriet, for the corroboration of what I heard in the lyric. I think this could be an instance of Blind Willie Johnson mis-hearing a Bible tale of David that was recounted to him at some point, and preserving the mis-hearing in his lyric. I can think of other instances of such lyrical anomalies.
All best,
Johnm
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I came here to find lyrics to "Jesus Is Coming Soon" (because of the current flu pandemic connection) but i read through the entire 7 pages and found nothing on that -- and the thread ended with the suggestion that Blind Willie Johnson didn't know that David hid in a cave and thought that Johnson had "misheard it" and sang "cage."
Frankly, the fact that someone HAD TO LOOK IT UP -- that David hid in a cave -- points to a fundamental weakness with blues and jazz and gospel lyrics transcription generally. Folks are not familiar with the Christian religion and figure that the SINGER was not. Lord have mercy. Even a Jew such as i knows that David hid in a cave and can hear, clear as a bell, that Blind Willie Johnson is singing "cave."
Ditto for farming and rural common terms. It is "measure your barley, measure your wheat." Not "boiler." I heard it as "barley" back in the 1960s and have never thought that anyone wouldn't know it. And why Barley? Because barley is one of the major grains listed in the Bible, and Willie Johnson, Blind or not, knew his Bible through and through.
Okay, off my soap box.
Here is my version of
"Jesus Is Coming Soon"
[Chorus]
(Well) we done told you how God done warned you,
Jesus coming soon.
We done told you how God done warned you,
Jesus coming soon.
In the year of 19 and 18,
God sent a mighty disease.
It killed many a-thousand,
On land and on the seas.
[Chorus]
Great disease was mighty
And the people were sick everywhere.
It was an epidemic,
It floated through the air.
[Chorus]
The doctors they got troubled
And they didn't know what to do.
They gathered themselves together,
They called it the Spanish Influ.(1)
[Chorus]
Soldiers died on the battlefield,
Died in account of flu.
Well, the Captain says, "Lieutenant,
"I've-a don't know what to do."
[Chorus]
Well, our God is warning the nation,
He's a-warning them every way.
To turn away from evil
And seek the Lord and pray.
[Chorus]
Well, the nobles said to the people,
"You better close your public schools.
(Ah) To prevent this epidemic
You better close your churches too."
[Chorus]
Read the Book of Zachari' (2)
The Bible plainly say
There's a people, cities dyin'
On account of their wicked ways.
NOTES
(1) Influ is short for Influenza
(2) Book of Zechariah 14:12 and 14:15, as follows:
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
[Thanks to banjochris for help.]
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In that last verse, John, I hear
There's a people, cities dyin'
Chris
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Sure sounds like "cage" to me, both times he sings it.
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I heard and still hear "cage" as well.
Perhaps it's worth restating that we transcribe what we hear based on the recording. We do not "correct" what the singer sang, the corrections being based on other sources and/or what we think the singer should have sung. That can be discussed and noted separate from the text of the transcription.
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Chris, thanks for the "people, cities dyin'" -- i played it and heard it clearly, as suggested. I have corrected the text i had posted.
As for "cave" versus "cage," i did not intend to offend anyone, but i have always heard it as "cave," although, of course, i expected to hear "cave," because i know the Bible stories pretty well.
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Hi catyron,
I also knew the Bible story had David hidden in a cave, which was why I was surprised when I heard Blind Willie Johnson very clearly sing "cage" in that verse both times he sang it in the course of his rendition. My attitude on transcription is to put down accurately what was said or played, not what I think or assume was intended to be said or played, because if I start doing that it's not transcription, it's editing. I was surprised enough at Blind Willie Johnson singing "cage" that I requested correction or corroboration, and got corroboration from two very close listeners. After re-listening myself several times after your previous post I was further convinced that I had it right the first time, as was further supported by two other close listeners. I never entertained the notion that David had been hidden in a cage in the Bible's recounting of the story.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi all,
Blind Willie Johnson was joined by Willie B. Richardson on lead vocal for "Go With Me To That Land", which the duo recorded at a session in Atlanta on April 20, 1930. Willie Johnson chose to accompany the song out of C position in standard tuning, certainly not a playing position we would normally think of him utilizing, although he also accompanied "If It Had Not Been For Jesus", recorded immediately prior to this song out of C. In the transcription, I will show Willie Johnson's response lines in parentheses and passages where both musicians sing in bent brackets. Here is "Go With Me to That Land":
https://youtu.be/i8zcKH8ZtPE
Come and go with me (to that land)
Come and go with me (to that land)
Oh, come and go with me [to that land where I'm bound]
Come and go with me (to that land)
Oh, come and go with me (oh, to that land)
Come and go with me [to that land where I'm bound]
Oh, we'll see Jesus (in that land)
Oh, we'll see Jesus (in that land)
We'll see Jesus [in that land where I'm bound]
We'll see Jesus (in that land)
We'll see Jesus (oh, in that land)
Oh, we'll see Jesus [in that land where I'm] (bound)
They ain't no dying (in that land)
There'll be no dying (in that land)
There'll be no dying [in that land where I'm bound]
Be no dying (well, in that land)
There'll be no dying (oh, in that land)
There'll be no dying [in that land where I'm bound]
SOLO
Oh, don't you want to go (to that land?)
Oh, don't you want to go (to that land?)
Don't you want to go [to that land where I'm bound?]
Don't you want to go (well, to that land?)
Don't you want to go (oh, to that land?)
Don't you want to go [to that land where I'm bound?]
Oh, we all'll be holy (in that land)
We all'll be holy (in that land)
We all'll be holy [in that land where I'm bound]
We all'll be holy (uh, in that land)
We all'll be holy (oh, in that land)
We all'll be holy [in that land, a-where I'm bound]
SOLO
All best,
Johnm