Topic: Rev. Gary Davis Lyrics

[harriet]

Hi Laura,
I created a new thread, if its not relevant to Davis it might be to lyrics from cb musicians playing in other venues like dance halls or travelling shows or just an interesting bit of trivia.

http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10107.msg85939#msg85939

[Laura]

Thanks for this Harriet - it would be useful to get the relevant replies moved over there, if no one objects!

[Mr.OMuck]

Hey Harriet, great find! Thanks!

[Mr.OMuck]

When i was studying with him, Rev. Davis had become enamored of a song called She's Funny That Way, which had ten million verses, each more obscure than the next but many of which elicited convulsions of laughter from him as he played and sang them. I was treated to this song on several occasions..he loved double entendre "joke' songs.
I'm pretty sure i have it on tape somewhere in the archives.

[Gumbo]

I've been intrigued by this song recently Mr O'Muck, having enjoyed the crisp delivery of Blind Boy Fuller's version. It was a surprise to find that i had a version by Reverend Davis. i got to wondering if this was one of the songs Fuller learned from Davis but it turns out the style is totally different. Tis a great song and I appreciate your mentioning having heard it first hand.

[joe paul]

I found a thread from 2011 for these lyrics, and I wanted to check them a little, I'm still not totally sure, particularly the "Mona", or "mourners" as the other thread suggested.
Here's what I have for "I Saw The Light" with Bull Red on vocals and Reverend Davis on guitar (on the Document collection of his early recordings).



One morning I was walking along
And I heard a voice and I saw no-one

I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona?)
I saw the light, I saw the light (from the heavens )

I saw the light that gamblers all see
When I saw the light it was shining on me

I saw the light, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light

Don't you wish your mother could rise and tell
When you're standing at the gates of hell

I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona)
I saw the light

If you hadda been there when I'd come through...(? come true?)
And your head got wet in the midnight dew


I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona)
I saw the light, I saw the light

Oh John declared that the soul of man
Had ten conditions in his hand

I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona?)
I saw the light from the heaven

Oh Satan is mad and I am glad
He missed that soul that he thought he had

I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona?)
I saw the light, I saw the light

I don't know what your Momma wanna stay here for
This whole world ain't no friend to her  / no friend at all (?)

I saw the light, I saw the light Mona

Well I looked in the East and I looked in the West
Well the fire gonna burn up the wilderness

I saw the light, I saw the light (Mona)
I saw the light, I saw the light

Thanks !
And Laura, good on you for working on "Lord, I Wish I Could See", it's a wonderful song.

[frankie]

I found a thread from 2011 for these lyrics, and I wanted to check them a little, I'm still not totally sure, particularly the "Mona", or "mourners" as the other thread suggested.

The right word there is definitely "mourner," but a Southern singer would often make it sound like "moaner" or "mona."

If you hadda been there when I'd come through...(? come true?)
And your head got wet in the midnight dew

If you hadda been there when I'd COME THROUGH

Oh John declared that the soul of man
Had ten conditions in his hand

Had ten FOUNDATIONS in his hand

I don't know what your Momma wanna stay here for
This whole world ain't no friend to her  / no friend at all (?)

I don't know what your MOTHER wanna stay here for
YEAH, this whole world ain't no FRIEND TO HER