Topic: Rev. Gary Davis Lyrics

[LoneWolf]

Oh man you are my hero!! Thanks. I'll probably record this myself soon:)


What does he mean when he say "I started", "Since I Started"? What did he start?

[Rivers]

Educated guess: Started out on his personal journey to religious salvation.

[smilnJackB]

Hi, Can someone help me with the lyrics to "I Belong to the Band."  I would be pleased with chords too, or if you can tell me what key it is usually in.    Jack

[smilnJackB]

Well, to answer my own question and post, here is a version of 'I Belong to the Band.'  I found it on youtube by Jorma Kaukonen and David Bromberg played in C and capoed to D.

Capo 2:
I Belong to the Band    ~Rev. Gary Davis

(Chorus)
          C                Am                      C                 G                C
Halleluuu , Halle-lu - iah?..   I belong to the band Halleluu.
          C                Am                      C                 G                C
Halleluuu , Halle-lu - iah?..   I belong to the band Halleluu.

C                     
What kind of band are you talkin' about?
Am                                                      C                 G              C
Talkin' about that angel band.  I belong to the band Halleluuu.


One of these days and it won't be long.
You?re gonna look and I'll be gone.  I belong to the band Halleluu.

Goin' up to heaven gonna sit right down,
Ask the lord for my starry crown,  I belong to the band Halleluuu.

Talk about me just as much as you please.
When I talk about you I?m down on my knees.  I belong to the band Halleluuu.

[Doug]

This is one of those songs in which you can use lots of traditional verses.  Here's my transcription of Reverend Gary Davis' version on the Complete Early Recordings:

Chorus:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
I belong to the band, hallelu!

What kinda band you talking about
Talking about that Christian band
I belong to the band, hallelu!

[Chorus]

{spoken: Yes I belong to this band
Take care Christian to belong to this band
You got to get right
And belong to this band
In order that you can die right
And have being that way
You can know how to treat everybody, you know
But you have to be belong to this band}

[Chorus]

What kinda band you talking about
Talking about that union band
I belong to the band -------
{spoken: Mean for you got to get in union}

[Chorus]

Talk about me just as much as you please
Talk about you down on my knees
I belong to the band hallelu
{spoken: You gonna be talked about}

[Chorus]

{spoken: I want to know you ain?t no better than Christ
You gonna be talked about
Anywhere you go
And people gonna say all manner of things about you
But if you belong to the band, right on}

[Chorus]

Going right to heaven gonna sit right down
Ask my Lord for a starry crown
I belong to the band, hallelu

[Chorus twice]

{spoken: You better get ready and get right for this band, now
You oughta get right for this band}

[Chorus]

[smilnJackB]

As Doug replied, there are lots of ways to do this.  I think this version is closer to being on than the first one posted.


I Belong to the Band  ~ Reverend Gary Davis

    C                Am                      C                 G                C
Halleluuu , Halle- lu - iah?..   I be-long to the band Halle-luuu.
                       Am                      C                 G                C
Halleluuu , Halle- lu - iah?..   I be-long to the band Halle-luuu.

(Em)  What kind of band are you talkin' about?
(Am)  Talkin' about that angel band.   I  be- [C] long to the (G) band Halle-{C}luuu.

Halleluuu,  Halle- (Am)- lu - iah?..   I  be- {C} long to the (G) band Halle-{C} luuu.



(Em)  One of these days and it won't be long.
(Am)  You?re gonna look and I'll be gone.  I  be- [C] long to the (G) band Halle-{C}luuu.
Halleluuu,  Halle- (Am)- lu - iah?..   I  be- {C} long to the (G) band Halle-{C} luuu.

(Em)  Goin' up to Heaven gonna sit right down,
(Am)  Ask the Lord for my starry crown,  I  be- [C] long to the (G) band Halle-{C}luuu.
Halleluuu,  Halle- (Am)- lu - iah?..   I  be- {C} long to the (G) band Halle-{C} luuu.

(Em)  You can talk about me as much as you please.
(Am)  I don?t talk about you down on my knees.  I  be- [C] long to the (G) band Halle-{C}luuu.
Halleluuu,  Halle- (Am)- lu - iah?..   I  be- {C} long to the (G) band Halle-{C} luuu.

[NevadaPic]

Folks,

Not sure if these are totally correct.  Maybe someone else's ears can lend a hand...



If I could holler just like a mountain jack,
If I could holler just like a mountain jack,
I'd go up the mountain, holler my baby back

Married(?) one thing sure do worry me,
Married(?) one thing sure do worry me,
My good gal packed her suitcase, walked off and left poor me

Lord, Lord, see what a fix she left me in,
Lord, Lord, see what a fix she left me in,
I ain't got no home, and I ain't got no friend(s?)

Oh what a wing(?), to worry off my mind,
Oh what a wing(?), to worry off my mind,
That I will be here, ringin' my hands and cryin'

These from 'Rev. Blind Gary Davis 1935 - 1949' CD. 

Pic

[banjochris]

There is one thing sure do worry me
and
I'm goin' away, to worry you off my mind,
Then I won't be here, wringin' my hands and cryin'.

Other than that, I think you've got it.
Chris

[NevadaPic]

Chris,

Thanks a million.  It's amazing what you think you hear vs. what you hear after you know what you're supposed to hear.

Pic

[Johnm]

Hi all,
There were five separate threads focusing on lyrics to Rev. Gary Davis songs, and it seemed like enough to justify a merged thread.  Titles of the original posts have been left as they were for ease in following the various original lyric discussions.
All best,
Johnm

[joe paul]

Hi, I've been learning Reverend Gary Davis's Moon Goes Down (or "going down") and I could do with help with the lyrics.
I found most of it, then stumbled across Frankie's transcription from the Devils and Angels set (thanks!) but the third verse still has me confused. Here's what I have for the moment :



Well and the moon going down and vanish away
and the sun refuse to shine
And every star gonna be disappeared
The moon goin' down and vanish away

Well somebody has stole 'way my lord (oh, yes they did)
Pray tell me where he is
He's the only man can ease my mind
and give my conscience ease


Well then if you go down  ?.      (yonder .... ?)
and search ?.. him out ....among the         ( ...?)
you'll find him there
so I was told
with no ?. ?.. kingdom to keep          (?)

Thank you friend for your advice
Well I'll find him if I can
And then if I do I will rejoice
For Christ is a friend to man

And the moon goin' down and vanish away (oh, lord)
And the sun gonna refuse to shine
And every star gonna be disappeared
The moon goin' down and vanish away

Thank you !
 
Gordon

[frankie]

Which recording are you working from?  there are at least two or three, and the one on that box set (iirc) doesn't have that verse in it...  I do recall that verse - if I listen to it, I'm sure it'll jog my memory.

[joe paul]

Yes, I should have said, that verse is when he sang it for the Pure Religion and Bad Company disc. That version is a little simpler and more relaxed. The version on the box set is great too, more restless, insistent, and the break is beautiful.

Thanks -   

[frankie]

Well then if you go down  ?.      (yonder .... ?)
and search ?.. him out ....among the         ( ...?)
you'll find him there so I was told
with no ?. ?.. kingdom to keep          (?)

I hear this verse as:

Well then if you go down yonder fold
and search among the sheep
you'll find him there so I was told
with those he loves to keep

he sort of bobbles the last line a bit, but I'm pretty sure that's it.  Love this.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"We Are the Heavenly Father's Children" can be found on the Smithsonian Folkways CD "If I Had My Way-Early Home Recordings-Reverend Gary Davis".  The song is some times called He Knows How Much We Can Bear", I think, and I believe it is my favorite performance by Rev. Davis, just a beautiful song and rendition, which he played out of F position in standard tuning.  Here are the lyrics, as best as I was able to hear them.  I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passages, or anything I else I think I have right that is wrong.



We are the Heavenly Father's children
And we all know that He loves us, one and all
There be a time that you find the answer
Another voice and call

If you're willing, He will teach us
His voice to obey, don't make no matters where
'Cause He know, yes, my God do know
Just how much we can bear

Though your load get heavy
You're never there, alone to bear it all
Just ask for strength and you keep on toiling
Though your tears drop fall

We have the joy of this assurance
His voice to obey, don't make no matters where
Because He know, yes, He know
Just how much we can bear

SPOKEN:  Just think of the times, you have asked the question,
Down in your heart, "Lord, what shall I do?"
Then again you'll find some of your friends and your loved ones
Talk all of your trouble
They can't do you no good, they're in the same trouble, too

Then your mind go back to, "There's a God that rules up in Heaven.
In Him there relief from every pain or care."
SUNG: 'Cause He know, yes, my God do know
Oh, just how much we can bear

Though your load get heavy
You'll never there, alone to bear it all
Just ask for strength and you just keep on toiling
Though your tears drop fall

We have the joy of this assurance:
Your Heavenly Father will always answer prayer
Because He know, yes, my God do know
Oh, just how much we can bear

Edited 1/29 to pick up corrections from uncle bud

All best,
Johnm