People is raving 'bout hard times, I don't know why they should. If some people was like me, they didn't have no money when times was good. - Lonnie Johnson, Hard Times Ain't Gone No Where
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.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2016, 04:30:08 PM by Rivers »
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:
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
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.
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
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":
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
« Last Edit: July 24, 2019, 10:42:07 AM by Johnm »
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":
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
« Last Edit: July 24, 2019, 02:04:31 PM by Johnm »
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)
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.
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:
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
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.