Topic: Blind Joe Taggart Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Joe Taggart recorded "Mother's Love" at a session in Chicago in December of 1928 for which he was joined by Josh White on second guitar and backing vocal.  As usual, Joe sounds to be working out of Spanish tuning and Josh out of Vestapol, capoed up a ways.   The song has a doubled up refrain, something Joe particularly liked to do, based on how many of his recordings include such refrains.  Josh White plays with great freedom in his second guitar part, just spanking it out and playing a lot of strong cross-rhythms.  Josh's vocal responses are shown in parentheses.  Here is the performance:



So many days and nights so far, Lord, my Mother watched over me
But now she's gone to live with Jesus, and I know she'll know me there

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know (Oh, yes I know) that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion beyond the sky
Our Mother's love can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know (Oh, yes I know) that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion beyond the sky
Our Mother's love (our Mother's love) can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

Yes, she has gone to live with Jesus, in that land beyond the sky
But I expect that she will know me in that land beyond the sky

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know (Oh, yes I know) that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion (oh, in that mansion) beyond the sky
Our Mother's love can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know (Oh, yes I know) that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion (oh, in that mansion) beyond the sky
Our Mother's love (our Mother's love) can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

I often think of Mother's prayers that she held, just over me
But now she's gone to live with Jesus, and I know she'll know me there

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know (Oh, yes I know) that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion (oh, in that mansion) beyond the sky
Our Mother's love can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

REFRAIN:  Ah, yes I know that she will know me
Lord, in the mansion beyond the sky
Our Mother's love can never forget me
And I know (yes, I know) she'll know me there

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Joe Taggart recorded "I Ain't No Sinner Now" twice, the first time in Grafton, around January of 1931, at a solo session.  Working in Spanish as he pretty much always did, he turns in a really nice accompaniment, working primarily in an ostinato, but one that accommodates some chord changes.  This song was sung often in both the black and white Gospel traditions.  The Carter Family did it as "Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord", I believe.  I'd appreciate corroboration or correction of the last verse before the final refrain, in bent brackets.  I'm not at all sure I have it right, and I'd love to get it right.  Here is Joe Taggart's version:



REFRAIN: Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I've been introduced to the Father and the Son
Oh Lord, I ain't, oh Lord, no sinner now

Just crying holy unto the Lord
Just crying holy unto the Lord
Please don't let this harvest pass
Good Lord, and lose, my Lord, your soul at last

REFRAIN: Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I've been introduced to the Father and the Son
My Lord, I ain't, Lord, Lord, no sinner now

Let's go down to Jordan's stream
Let's go down to Jordan's stream
Let's go down to Jordan's stream
Good Lord, and then, my Lord, be baptized

REFRAIN: Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I've been introduced to the Father and the Son
My Lord, I ain't, Lord, Lord, no sinner now

Can't you hear my Lord's command?
Can't you hear my Lord's command?
Can't you hear my Lord's command?
He said, and then, my Lord, be baptized

REFRAIN: Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I've been introduced to the Father and the Son
My Lord, I ain't, Lord, Lord, no sinner now

Turtle dove done loosed his wings
Turtle dove done loosed his wings
Turtle dove done loosed his wings
And gone on Zion, the elders sing

REFRAIN: Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I ain't no sinner now
Lord, I've been introduced to the Father and the Son
My Lord, I ain't, Lord, Lord, your sinner now

All best,
Johnm

[dj]

I'd appreciate corroboration or correction of the last verse before the final refrain

I gave it a listen and came up with what you've got.

[Johnm]

Thank you for giving the song a listen, dj.  I find that verse hard to hear, so another set of ears really helps.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Joe Taggart recorded "When I Stand Before the King" at his last session, and he was joined on the song by a female singer, different than the singer who had joined him on his first session.  I don't believe the identity of this singer is known; she sang noticeably sharp of pitch but had tremendous energy and a wonderful, crisp rhythmic sense in the phrasing of her response lines.  Joe Taggart accompanied himself out of Spanish tuning, as he did on all of his recordings.  I have not transcribed the response lines in the rendition, just Joe's lead singing of the song.  Here is the duo's performance of "When I Stand Before the King":



REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
To give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

My Mother's gone to live with Jesus
No more pain and grief to bear
Yes, she said, "Oh son, will you meet me
When I stand before the King?"

REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
To give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

My baby's got a home in Heaven
When from the grave she must rise
She must stand there, pure and spotless
When I stand before the King

REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
To give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

Farewell world of sin and sorrow
When on Earth my work is done
I'm gonna tell my God about it
When I stand before the King

REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
To give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
To give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

REFRAIN: Oh, when I stand before the King
Give an account of many a sin
I'll explain in the Judgement morning
When I stand before the King

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Joe Taggart recorded "Take Your Burden To The Lord" at his first session, in Chicago on November 8, 1926.  He accompanies himself out of Spanish tuning, as per usual, and as on most of his earlier recordings, he employs an accompaniment ostinato that appears to operate independently of the song's melody or implied chord changes.  He was such a wonderful singer--we're so fortunate to have access to his recorded works at our very great remove from the time in which they were recorded.  I'd sure appreciate some help with the bent bracketed passages in the second verse.  Here is Joe Taggart's rendition of "Take Your Burden To The Lord":



Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there,
REFRAIN: Oh, leave it there, oh, leave it there
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there

When your youthful days are done, when old age is stealing on
And your soul is almost sinking in despair
Just remember, in His words, how He feeds the little birds
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there

REFRAIN: Oh, leave it there, oh, leave it there
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there

When your body is suffering pain, and your health you can't regain
Don't forget that God will answer prayer
Yes, you trust Him for his grace, you will see his smiling face
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there

REFRAIN: Oh, leave it there, oh, leave it there
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there

REFRAIN: Member, won't you leave it there?  Oh leave it there
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there

Edited 4/30 to pick up lyrics from banjochris

All best,
Johnm









   

[One-Eyed Ross]

John:

I am sure that "strength" is correct, and I think (oh, bad word, bad word) the next phrase is "you will seek His mighty gaze" but....it just doesn't seem right.  I mean, it's what I hear, but I'm not sure how much of that is me "interpreting" the vocal and not just hearing it, if that makes sense.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Ross.  It sounds to me like the next to last word in that second blank spot ends in "ly", and is an adverb like "finely" or "finally".  As for the last word, I'm just not hearing it at present.  If we keep on listening we might get it.
All best,
John

[banjochris]

I would suggest
Yes you trust Him for his grace, you will see His smiling face.

There's an alternate take as well with much better sound and he kind of messes up the lyrics a bit. Taggart starts each verse with "When your youthful days are done" and doesn't sing the "body suffering pain" line. He follows that with the little birds, then with the line above in one verse, then with
Since you trust Him every day, He will take your sins away.

Chris

[banjochris]

Alternate take:

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris.  The sound and sense both work, so I will make the change.  Good hearing!  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Joe Taggart recorded "Pressin' Up That Shiny Way" at a solo session in Grafton, Wisconsin around January of 1931.  He accompanied himself out of Spanish tuning as he did on all of his songs, I believe.  The song has a pretty simple lyric formula, moving from verse to verse, but is no less expressive or heartfelt for that.  Here is the track, with apologies if it is not viewable by non-U.S. Weenies:



INTRO

REFRAIN: Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, those sinners on my track, tryin' to turn me back
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way

If my brother don't go, I can't tarry long
Brother don't go, I can't tarry long
If brother don't go, I can't tarry, from pressing up the Shiny Way

REFRAIN: Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, those sinners on my track, and he's tryin' to turn me back
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way

If members don't go, I can't tarry long
If members don't go, I can't tarry long
If members don't go, I can't tarry, from pressing up the Shiny Way

REFRAIN: Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, those sinners on my track, tryin' to turn me back
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way

If them deacons don't go, I can't tarry long
Deacons don't go, I can't tarry long
If them deacons don't go, I can't tarry, from pressing up the Shiny Way

REFRAIN: Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, those sinners on my track, tryin' to turn me back
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way

If my loved ones don't go, I can't tarry long
Loved ones don't go, I can't tarry long
If my loved ones don't go, I can't tarry, from pressing up the Shiny Way

REFRAIN: Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way
Lord, those sinners on my track, tryin' to turn me back
Lord, I'm pressing up the Shiny Way

All best,
Johnm