Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Blind Gussie Nesbit
Johnm:
Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage, I have made the change.
Johnm:
Hi all,
Blind Gussie Nesbit recorded "Canaan Land" at his second recording session, on September 9, 1935, in New York City. He accompanied himself in G position in standard tuning. I really like his singing and playing, but find him hard to understand sometimes, so I'd very much appreciate help with anything I'm missing or have wrong. Here is "Canaan Land":
REFRAIN: I'm on my way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way, oh
Joseph was the richest man, he had trouble at home and all over the
Land, Joseph was afflicted from his head to his feet, his servants came
In, saying, "Joe, how you feel?", old Joe begin to shout, 'bout, "I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, if Jesus
Will, my leader be, I'm on my
Way, praise God, on my way", oh
Joseph, your cattles is dead, they both come in, while he's lyin' on the
Bed, say "The Lord give the greatest and the Lord give the smallest, and
Blessed be the name of the Lord, give it up, hardly anybody
Here, wants to go with me, hardly anybody
Here, wants to go with me, if nobody
Here, I'll journey on, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way", oh
Joseph, your childrens is dead, they both come in, while he's lyin' on his
Bed, say "The Lord hath giveth, He taketh away,
Blessed be the name of the Lord that giveth, nothin' you can
Say, can change my mind, people, nothin' you can
Say, can change my mind, not either will it
Change, this heart of mine, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way", oh
Joseph, your wife want to know, if you got your right mind, she let your place go,
Joseph looked around at his wife with a smile, "You speak as a foolish, and not as a
Wise, but there's nothin' you can
Say, can change my mind, there's nothin' you can
Say, can change my mind, not either will it
Change, this heart of mine, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way" old
Joseph, what do you suppose? Old Satan comin' for to try your
Soul, Joseph thanked God, said, I'll clear out of the town, I'm goin' to the
Country, no sickness found. Hardly anybody
Here, wants to go with me, hardly anybody
Here, wants to go with me, if nobody
Here, I'll journey on, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way"
REFRAIN: I'm on my way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, to Canaan land, I'm on my
Way, praise God, I'm on my way
Edited 1/6/25 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and Doug
All best,
Johnm
Blues Vintage:
I'll keep listening, tough one.
This is what i have to offer for now
He may begin most of his verses with "oh" instead of "old"
2.3 Joseph gave a shout -Old Joe begin to shout-
3.1 Joseph your ? is dead gals or cows?
Report came in ?
3.3 give it -all-
"here" instead of "else" for 3.4 3.5 3.6 (also for the 6th verse)
4.1 Joseph [killed] -your- childrens is dead
4.5 -ain't- instead of "people"
6.1 -Old Satan- comin' for to try your soul
6.2 take me clear out of the town ?
Doug:
I don't know if it helps, but the lyrics are about the biblical story of Job (chapter 1), even though Blind Gussie is singing "Joseph" throughout.
In 3.1, I first heard "Joseph killed his callouses dead..." :) I suspect callouses should be "cattle is." Listening to 4.1, I think both verses start with "Joseph your [catttle/children] is dead..."
For what Joseph says in verse 5, is it "not as a wife" or "not as a wise" ? (The second is closer to the biblical story, but it might not be what is being sung)
I agree with Blues Vintage about Old Satan in verse 6.
Cheerily,
Doug
Johnm:
Thanks so much for the help, Blues Vintage and Doug, it made a huge difference. I thought I had done fairly well, but there was so much that I had missed. I think it's really good now, based on your fixes. Thanks!
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