After consulting his preacher to make sure there was nothing sinful about playing blues records on the radio Mr. Wright decided to give it a try. He did it six days a week almost until his death on what became one of America's longest-running radio programs. From 6 o'clock to 9, he was the 'Soul Man' playing the blues. For the last two hours he was 'Brother Early' playing gospel music - Early Wright, obituary to the DJ, WROX Clarksdale
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
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!
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
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
It's the last verse that has me stumped and I'm hoping someone here can be of assistance.
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.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2020, 10:37:57 PM by Johnm »
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.
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]
« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 05:38:13 AM by harriet »