Category: Spiritual

All My Trials

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Mp3: All My Trials

Though this song has Bahamian origins, it is usually classified as a Spiritual. A mother is comforting her child on her deathbed.

This is dedicated to the memory of Paul Lowman.

Lyrics:
[D] Hush little baby don't you cry [D7]

[D[ You know your mama's bound to [G] die

[D] All my [A7] trials Lord

Will soon be [D] over

If religion was a thing that money could buy

The rich would live and the poor would die

All my trials Lord

Soon be over

Too late my brothers

Too late, but never mind

All my trials Lord

Soon be over

There is a tree in Paradise

The Pilgrims call it the tree of life

All my trials Lord

Soon be over

If religion was a thing that money could buy

The rich would live and the poor would die

All my trials Lord

Soon be over

Hush little baby don't you cry

You know your mama’s bound to die

All my trials Lord

Soon be over

Battle Hymn of the Republic

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Mp3: Battle Hymn of the Republic
In October of 2000, Camilla and I were on a tour, driving up the East Coast. We stopped in Beaufort, South Carolina because that was where she was born. Camilla went for a walk down a tree lined street in her old hometown and found herself at the church where her mother had been baptized. It was a sentimental time for her, because her mother had just passed away a few months earlier. In the church, she picked up a hymnal. As she was browsing through it, the pastor walked in. She told him about being born there, and that his was the church which her mother had attended. He graciously gave her the hymnal as a remembrance of her mother and Beaufort. After the September 11, 2001 disaster, I was looking for a song that would fit the feeling in America. Camilla picked up the hymnal and found this. The arrangement with the contrapuntal background parts is one that she remembers from her youth. We recorded this in Dublin, Ohio on Camilla’s 50th birthday, with our friend Bill Lee on background vocals.
Lyrics:
[C] Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is [F maj7] trampling out the vintage where the [C] grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful [Am] lightening of His [C] terrible swift [F maj7] sword
His [Dm] truth is [G7] marching [C] on.

cho: [C] Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
[F maj7] Glory! Glory! [C] Hallelujah!
Glory! [Am] Glory! Hallelu [C] [F maj7] jah!
His [Dm] truth is [G7] marching [C] on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.

cho:

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

cho:

ln the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

I Saw Three Ships

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Mp3: I Saw Three Ships

Lyrics:
G
I saw three ships come sailing in
D
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
G
I saw three ships come sailing in
D G
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, etc. And what was in etc. On Christmas day
in etc.

Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady.

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?

O, they sailed to Bethlehem.

And all the bells on earth shall ring.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing.

And all the souls on earth shall sing.

Then let us all rejoice and sing.

Tradidional / Arr. Roger McGuinn
(c) 1999 McGuinn Music

John The Revelator

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Mp3: John The Revelator
This song was recorded originally in 1930 by Blind
Willie Johnson. He was one of the foremost African American singers of
religious songs, with thirty records to his credit. On his recording of
this song, his wife, Angeline sang the answer back part.

I have tried to keep as close to the original sound as possible, but
the person who sang the answer back part on this recording would prefer
to remain anonymous.

Lyrics:
D

Well who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Tell me what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Now who art worthy, crucified and holy
Bound up for some, Son of our God
Daughter of Zion, Judea’s Lion
He redeemed us, Jesus bought us with his blood

Now tell me who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well Moses to Moses, Watching the flock
Saw the bush where they had to stop
God told Moses pull off your shoes
Out of the flock, a well a you I choose

Now tell me who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

� McGuinn Music 1998 Roger McGuinn

Mary Had A Baby

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Mp3: Mary Had A Baby

This is an old Christmas spiritual that I found without a melody. In keeping with the folk process, I came up with a tune.

My guitar is tuned down to C#, where Lead Belly used to tune his Stella 12-string.

Lyrics:
[E] Mary had a baby oh my Lord
[A] Mary had a baby oh my Lord
[G] Mary had a baby [B7] oh my Lord
[A] People keep a-comin' an' the [B7] train done gone

What did she name Him oh my Lord
What did she name Him oh my Lord
What did she name Him oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Where was He born oh my Lord
Where was He born oh my Lord
Where was He born oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Born in a stable oh my Lord
Born in a stable oh my Lord
Born in a stable oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Copyright (c) 1998
Roger McGuinn
McGuinn Music

This Train

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Mp3: This Train
On June 1, 1997 Camilla and I boarded a flight for
London to begin a tour of the U.K. We had decided to travel light with
just carry-on bags and one guitar. I brought my Martin D-12-45 in a
leather gig bag. Our idea was to take the trains of Europe for the whole
tour.

From the outset, people in the U.K. said ‘you’ll never be able to do
it!’ But the trains were all on time and as efficient as any form of
transportation we’d ever seen, and it was great fun!

We even took the Eurostar through the English Channel to France and
took French trains through the whole country from the north to the
south. We flew home from Nice on July 1, 1997 with a love of the people
of the U.K. and France, and of their wonderful train system. I wish the
trains in the United States worked as well!

With that in mind, I thought this old gospel song about a heavenly
train would be appropriate for the Folk Den this month. Sorry it was a
little late.

Lyrics:
[E]This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory [B7] this train
[E]This train is bound for glory
[A]Don’t carry nothin’ but the righteous and the holy
[E]This train is [B7]bound for glory [E]this train

This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers
No crap shooters, no midnight gamblers
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train

This train is leavin’ in the morning this train
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train
This train is leavin’ in the morning
Great God a new day’s dawning
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train

This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers
No street walkers no two-bit hustlers
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train

This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory
Don’t carry nothin’ but the righteous and the holy
This train is bound for glory this train

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

Wayfaring Stranger

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Mp3: Wayfaring Stranger
This song was passed around by word of mouth,
throughout the Appalachain Mountains for many years. Its roots are
possibly from an old Irish tune. The singer is taking comfort in his
faith that the temporal aspects of this life are but for a moment, and
that an incalculably more pleasant eternity lies ahead.
Lyrics:
[Em]I am a poor [Am] wayfaring [Em] stranger
Wandering [Am] through this world of [Em] woe
But there’s no sorrow, [Am] toil or [Em] danger
In that bright [Am] land to which [Em] I go

I’m [G] going [C] there to see my [G] father
I’m going [C] there no more to [G] roam
I’m just a [Am] going over [Em] Jordan
I’m only [Am] going over [Em] home

I know dark clouds will gather ’round me
I know myway is rough and steep
But golden fields lie out before me
Where all the saints their vigils keep

I’m going there to see my mother
I’m going there no more to roam
I’m just a going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

I’m going there to see my Saviour
To sing His praise forevermore
I’m just a going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

What Child Is This

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Mp3: What Child Is This

(Lyrics 18?? by William Chatterton Dix, to the melody of 'Greensleeves')
Lyrics:
Em D

What child is this,who, laid to rest,

C B7

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Em D

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

C B7 Em

While shepherds watch are keeping.

G D

cho: This, this is Christ the King,

C Bm

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

G D

Haste, haste, to bring him laud

C B7 Em

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come, peasant, King to own Him;
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Special thanks to Bruce Kula for 12-string guitar accompaniment.
Merry Christmas 1996! All the best ….. Roger

Easter

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Mp3: Easter

This is a song that was performed by Lead Belly on his 12-string guitar. It's interesting to note that although it's in the key of E minor, Leadbelly played only major chords while singing the minor melody line, as he did with all his songs in a minor key. The effect is very unusual and quite appealing.
Lyrics:
[E] On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose [B7] for me
[E] One day when I was [E7]lost
They [A] hung Him on a [E] cross
They [A] hung Him on a [B7] cross for [E] me

The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

Virgin Mary

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Mp3: Virgin Mary

Around Christmas time each year at the old Gate of Horn in Chicago, folk singers would perform slow legato versions of this old spiritual. They were usually sopranos accompanying themselves on the autoharp. I often wondered what this song would have sounded like on the 12-string, so here is my interpretation with lots of bass runs on the big Martin D-12-45,in the style of the great 12-string legend, Lead Belly.
Lyrics:
[Em] The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
[Am] Oh oh pretty little baby
[Em] Glory be to the [B7] new born [Em] king

Mary what-cha gonna name your pretty little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king

Well some call Him one thing I know His name is Jesus
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I know His name is Jesus
Glory be to the new born king

Some call Him one thing I'm gonna call Him Savior
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I'm gonna call Him Savior
Glory be to the new born king

The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king