Topic: Blind Willie Johnson Lyrics

[Timp]

Blind Willie Johnson. "The Soul of a Man" CD.


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

[Doug]

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!

PS - for more on the Pork Chop song that Chris mentioned, see the old discussion here (sorry, don't know how to make a pretty link): http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=128&topic=4991.msg38195#msg38195

[Johnm]

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

[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

All best,
Johnm

[deltaslim]

I like playing this tune but have never really found or figured out the "correct" lyrics. Would appreciate if you guys can help straighten it out.

Below is my own transcription. Thanks in advance.



---

(Instrumental)

Keep your lamp trimmed and a-burning (3x)
(Ooh) See what the Lord has done [I think the traditional goes "For this old world it is almost gone"]

Sister don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done

Keep your lamp trimmed and a-burning (3x)
(Ooh) See what the Lord has done

Brother don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done

(Instrumental)

Heaven's journey, is almost over (3x)
See what the Lord has done

Elder don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done

...., is almost over (3x)
See what the Lord has done

Brother don't get worried (3x)
For the work is almost done

(Instrumental)

[Toby Walker]

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.

[Alexei McDonald]

I hear:

A.G. Smith, mighty man, built a boat that he couldn't understand,
Named it the name of God and the ten, [indistinct] never see, Lord, that boat again

[banjochris]

I hear "middle of the sea" in the second line.

[dj]

I hear that last line as "Named it a name, ah, God did attend, middle of the sea, Lord, the boat [it/did] end"

I think Johnson accidentally/mistakenly sings "attend" instead of "offend" in the first part of the line.

[harriet]

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.

[Alexei McDonald]

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.

This sounds quite plausible to me, and it fits what's sung on the record reasonably well.

[dj]

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.

[harriet]

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]

[Lyndvs]

i hear:
Named it a name ah God in attened,middle of the sea,Lord, you pulled it in.

[dj]

Thanks for posting that file, Harriet.  I think Lyndvs has it exactly right.