Rev. Clay Evans "Have You Got Good Religion" (Sound File & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file of the Gospel song "Have You Got Good Religion" as sung by Rev Clay Evans & choir. A transcription of Rev. Evan's sermon-like introduction and the lyrics of this rendition of this song are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/certainly-lord-gospel-civil-rights.html "Certainly, Lord" (Spiritual & Civil Rights Versions) for another post on this song

Also click http://cocojams.com/content/african-american-civil-rights-songs for one version of lyrics to the Civil Rights song "Certainly Lord (do you want your freedom) that is based on this song.
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FEATURED SOUND FILE
Rev.Clay Evans "Have You Got Good Religion"



Garrison Bullier, Uploaded on Nov 16, 2009

*AUDIO* Rev. Clay Evans "Have You Got Good Religion"
(Certainly Lord)
-snip-
The song begins at 2:47 of this sound file.

Commenter praiseleaderATL wrote that she or he was at this recording and indicated that it was in the 1980s.

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LYRICS: HAVE YOU GOT GOOD RELIGION
(As sung by Rev. Clay Evans & Choir)

Spoken introduction to this song:
In days and.... times in which we live
we are crucified.
[There's] Times of trouble
everywhere.
Uncertainty
Unrest
Everywhere you go.
Well, you just don’t know.
And half of us are in this dilemma.
You don’t know what the weather’s gonna be
Un!
You don’t know whether you got a job
Some of us don’t even know whether we are still married or not
Un!
That’s just how uncertain things are.
Sometimes you still think you married, but you’re not.
You need help cause things are so uncertain.
You’re well, one day
Sick the next one.
Ain’t that right?

And in a day and time like this
You don’t know what politicians are gonna do.
Ain’t that right?
So in ah time like this
Where there’s indefinite
uncertain[ity]
Well, my friends you need to be SURE and VERY SURE
that you’ve been born again.
You oughta KNOW you got GOOD RELIGION.
Something that we are SUBSTAINED in a time of trial,
tribulation
temptation
all around us.
It needs to be good enough
so that if you get in the fiery furnace like the Hebrew boys
You know He’ll keep you.
You know that if you get in the LIONS’ den
He’ll keep ya.
And when temptations are ALL around you
You need to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt
that I’ve been BORN again.
How many of you know you been born again?*
And we used to sing ah little song where I came from
And I just want you to kinda listen in
and if you can answer me back, well and good.
Well, we used to sing this little song down in Tennessee

Lead –Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead –Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead –Do you know you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Lead [speaking to the congregation] – Now wait ah minute…
You didn’t really sing it.
The choir sang it
But you didn’t really say it
like you mean it.
If you KNOW you got it
I want you to say it.

Lead –Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead –Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead –Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – I wonder do you got good religion.
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Lead- Have you been to the pool**
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Have you been to the pool
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Have you been to the pool
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Lead- Have you been baptized
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – (Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey) Have you been baptized
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – (How many of you have been baptized?) Have you been baptized
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord
Lead- Is your name on high***
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Is your name written on high
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Is your name on high
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Lead [speaking] – Well, now that’s the way we used to sing it down yonder.
Since I got up here you haveta [Begins singing to a faster tempo with accompanying handclapping]

Lead –Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Do you have good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord


Lead – Is your name on the roll ****
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Is your name on the roll
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Is your name on the roll
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Lead- Is your name on high***
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – (Yeah) Is your name on high
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Is your name on high
Choir - Certainly, Lord
Choir & Lead - Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Choir- Have you got good religion
Lead – (Yeah) Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Do you have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord
Lead –We need good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – We need good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Lead – Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

Choir- Have you got good religion
Lead – (Yeah) Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead – Have you got good religion
Choir- Certainly, Lord
Lead [overlapping with choir] Well now
Choir & Lead- Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord
Choir [singing] – Certainly, Lord
Lead [spoken]- You need to make sure
Choir [singing]- Certainly Lord [tempo slower]
Lead [spoken]- You need to be a peace,
When everything is going on
Choir [singing] – Certainly, Lord
Lead [spoken]- But if you got it
Choir [singing overlapping Lead’s extemporaneous words]- Certainly, certainly, certainly
Lead [spoken] -It will keep you
It will hold ya
Yeah, Yeah
Choir [singing during fade out] Certainly, Lord
Lead [spoken during fade out] - You gotta be sure
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file given above.
Additions and corrections are welcome.

This is transcribed without the organ’s chords and congregation’s exclamation that are an integral response part of this sermon like song introduction.
NOTES:
*been born again – accepted Jesus as your Lord & Savoir (become a Christian)

**been to the pool- been baptized by immersion in water

***is your name on high – is your name written in God’s book as being a person who has accepted Jesus as your Lord & Savior [The same idea is expressed in the religious song “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” – “roll call”: calling out the names of a group of people (such as students in a class room) to see who is present or absent)

**** is your name on the roll –[Read the notes for “is your name written on high”]

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Thanks to the composer/s of "Have You Got Good Religion" and thanks to Rev. Clay Evans and the choir for this rendition of this song. And thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Mississippi John Hurt - "I Shall Not Be Moved" (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases Bluesman Mississippi John Hurt singing the early Gospel song "I Shall Not Be Moved". The lyrics to this version of this song is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
"I Shall Not Be Moved" is a late 19th century or early 20th century African American Gospel song. This song and other African American early Gospel songs & Spirituals have a words that can easily be exchanged which facilitate their use for multiple situations. These types of compositions are known as "zipper songs". Because of that characteristic, the title of the religious song "I Shall Not Be Moved" was changed to "We Shall Not Be Moved" and different adaptations of this song were sung at pro-union rallies and at civil rights rallies & marches.
Similarly, the religious song "I'll Overcome" was retitled "We Shall Overcome" and versions of that song were sung at union rallies & at civil rights marches & rallies. The tunes for those religious song were retained but the tempos of the religious song often was changed for its secular adaptations.

Click http://cocojams.com/content/african-american-civil-rights-songs for a civil rights version of "We Shall Not Be Moved" & an example of that song that was sung at a union rally.

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LYRICS - I SHALL NOT BE MOVED
(As sung by Mississippi John Hurt)

Chorus:
Oh I shall not, I shall not be moved.
I shall not, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that's planted by the water,
I shall not be moved.

Guitar instrumental

Verse: I’m on my way to heaven,
I shall not be moved.
On my way to heaven,
I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that's planted by the water,
I shall not be moved.

Chorus

Verse: Oh preacher, I shall not be moved.
Oh preacher, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree planted by the water,
I shall not be moved.

Guitar instrumental

Verse: I’m sanctified and holy I shall not be moved.
sanctified and holy I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree planted by the water,
I shall not be moved.

Chorus: Oh I [guitar completes this phrase], I shall not be moved.
I shall not, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree planted by the water,
I shall not be moved.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: i shall not be moved - Mississippi John Hurt



hirkyjerkyUploaded on Oct 9, 2009

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Thanks to the composers of this song & all those who have sung it for religious, civil rights, and workers rights reasons.

Thanks to Mississippi John Hurt for his musicial legacy. Also, thanks to the publisher of this soundfile on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitors comments are welcome.

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Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round (Lyrics & Videos)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features a text version of the 1960s African American Civil Rights song "and sound file and videos of that song.

This post also includes two Gospel videos of "Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round", the African American Spiritual which was the inspiration for "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round".

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

My thanks to the unknown composers of the Spiritual from which the Civil Rights song was adapted and those who first adapted that song for use as a Civil Rights song. Thanks also to the vocalists featured in these videos, and to the producers & uploaders of these videos. Special thanks to those who worked then and those who work now for civil rights for all.

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LYRICS: AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME ROUND
(Unknown composers)

Aint gonna let nobody
turn me 'round
turn me 'round
Aint gonna let nobody
turn me round
I'm gonna keep on walkin'
keep on talkin
marchin into freedom land

Aint gonna let (add the name a prominent segregationist)
turn me 'round
turn me 'round
Aint gonna let (repeat name)
turn me 'round
I'm gonna keep on walkin'
keep on talkin
marchin into freedom land

Aint gonna let no jailhouse
turn me 'round
turn me 'round
Aint gonna let no jailhouse
turn me 'round
I'm gonna keep on walkin'
keep on talkin
marchin into freedom land

Aint gonna let no policeman
turn me 'round
turn me 'round
Aint gonna let no policeman
turn me round
I'm gonna keep on walkin'
keep on talkin
marchin into freedom land

-snip-

These lyrics are presented by Azizi Powell from my memory of this song being sung in the 1960s.

The African American Civil Rights song "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round" is based on an African American Gospel song with the same title. In the Gospel song, the line "marchin in to freedom land" is sung "walkin into Glory land" or "walkin into heaven land".

Like other civil rights songs, the words to this song aren't fixed. However, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round" was sung in unison which means that those singing it knew in advance which verses were to be sung, and in which order the verses were sung. In contrast, the earlier Gospel song was probably sung using a call & response pattern.

Click http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/aintgonnaletnobodyturnmearound.php for other verses for this song.

FEATURED VIDEOS & SOUND FILES
(These videos/sound files are presented in no particular order.)

Video #1: Sweet Honey In The Rock - "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around"



Uploaded by Rowoches on Jan 26, 2010

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Video #2: Joan Baez - "Marching Up To Freedom Land"



Posted by Baez971 ; August 04, 2006
"Joan baez singing acapella"

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Video #3: The Roots - "Aint Gonna Let Nobody"



Uploaded by djlightbolt on Oct 1, 2010
From "Soundtrk 4 a Revolution"

-snip-
This contemporary rendition of "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me "Round" is a jazzed up, funkier version of that Civil Rights song. This video includes documentary clips of 1960s Civil Rights marches. Those marches were also called "demonstrations".

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Video #4: The Chicago Children's Choir visits the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, AL.



Posted by SPLCenter; July 27, 2007

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Video #5: The Freedom Singers - Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round



Posted by the whitehouse | February 11, 2010

The Freedom Singers perform "(Ain't Gonna let Nobody) Turn me Around" at the White House Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.

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Video #6: Joyful Noise - Ain't Gonna Let Nobody



Uploaded by LadyKej on Jan 20, 2009

"This is Joyful Noise, a gospel acapella group in the DC Metro area. They sang at a popular restaurant in DC (Busboys and Poets) to celebrate MLK Day and the upcoming inauguration. The performance included singing of traditional Negro Spirituals, spoken word performances and saxophone solos."

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SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL VERSIONS
Video #7: The Fairfield Four circa 1980s..."Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round"



Uploaded by Docjive on Oct 29, 2010

"In the early 1980s after a thirty-year hiatus, the Fairfield Four with a powerhouse line-up once again began performing. This period clip features the legendary Rev. Sam McCrary leading his classic "Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round." The original release was on the Bullet label circa 1947/48. B.B. King called McCrary a primary vocal influence. The Fairfield Four left to right: Willie "Preacher" Richardson, Rev. McCrary, Wilson "Lit" Waters, James S. Hill, and Isaac Freeman."

-snip-
Notice the knee patting and foot stomping motions that one of the singers does for accompaniment. This body movement is found in a number of early Gospel and non-religious songs and is evidence of the survival of 19th century "pattin Juba".

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Video #8: Albertina Walker with Olando Draper & Associates Choir - "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Round"



Uploaded by ADRIAN WILLIAMS on Jan 17, 2009

-snip-
I'm not sure about the recording date for this video, but I think it was in the 1990s or the early 2000s.

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RELATED LINK
Click http://cocojams.com/content/african-american-civil-rights-songs for additional examples of African American Civil Rights songs.

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Thanks for visiting this pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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"Certainly, Lord" (Spiritual & Civil Rights Versions)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features examples of the Spiritual "Certainly, Lord" and examples of that song's Civil Rights adaptations. The Spiritual "Certainly, Lord" is also known as "Have You Got Good Religion".

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

My thanks to the unknown composers of the Spiritual from which the Civil Rights song was adapted and those who first adapted that song for use as a Civil Rights song. Thanks also to the vocalists featured in these videos, and to the producers & uploaders of these videos. Special thanks to those who worked then and those who work now for civil rights for all.

GOSPEL LYRICS: HAVE YOU GOT GOOD RELIGION (Also known as "Certainly, Lord")
(unknown composer/s)

Have you got good religion?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you got good religion?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you got good religion?

Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.

Have you been baptized?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you been baptized?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you been baptized?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.

Have you been redeemed?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you been redeemed?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you been redeemed?
(Certainly Lord.)
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.

Do you want to see Jesus?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want to see Jesus?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want to see Jesus?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.

Have you got good religion?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you got good religion?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Have you got good religion?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, certainly, certainly, Lord.
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.

-snip-
These lyrics are presented by Azizi Powell from my memory of this song being sung in Union Baptist Temple Church, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1960s.

I don't know when this song was composed or who composed it.

The parenthesis indicate that the song could be sung in a call & response manner, with the soloist asking the initial question, the rest the choir or congregation singing "Certainly, Lord", and the soloist and the choir/congregation singing "Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord".

However, as was the case with a lot of early African American Spirituals, my recollection is that "Have You Got Good Religion" ("Certainly, Lord") was actually sung in unison and not as a call & response song. That meant that the lyrics to the song and the order of the song was fixed (unchanging) with each rendition of the song.


CIVIL RIGHTS LYRICS: "CERTAINLY, LORD"
(unknown composer/s)

Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly Lord.

We'll march for our rights.
(Certainly, Lord.)
We'll march for our rights.
(Certainly, Lord.)
We'll march for our rights.
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly, Lord.

We'll go to jail.
(Certainly, Lord.)
We'll go to jail.
(Certainly, Lord.)
We'll go to jail.
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly, Lord.

Jail over bail.*
(Certainly, Lord)
Jail over bail.
(Certainly, Lord.)
Jail over bail.
(Certainly, Lord.)

Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Do you want your freedom?
(Certainly, Lord.)
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly Lord
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord.
Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord

-snip-
This is just one version of this Civil Rights song.
My recollection of this song is that it was sung using a call & response pattern. The soloist asks the initial question, the rest the choir or congregation sing "Certainly, Lord", and the soloist and the choir/congregation sing "Certainly, certainly, certainly Lord".

Like other African American Civil Rights songs of the 1960s, the words of this song were changed and can still be changed to fit the particular issue or cause being protested.

* "Jail over bail" means that the person arrested chooses to remain in jail rather than have his or her bail paid and be released from jail. This strategy draws media attention to the cause being protested.

FEATURED VIDEOS

Video #1: Have You Got Good Religion



Posted by jayhardinchristine
June 22, 2009

"Sis. Calloway leading the SBC Gospel Choir in singing "Have you got good religion". Have you got good religion? Certainly, Lord. Certainly, certainly, certainly, Lord. "

-snip-

It appears that this choir is singing "Have You Got Good Religion" during a congregational offering. In the Baptist church that I attended in my hometown of Atlantic City, New Jersey, one of the two offerings was (and still is) also done this way. Members of the congregation move row by row to the front to give their money donations. After the congregation finishes, the choir comes down from their rows on the rostum behind the minister/s to give their offering or an offering plate is passed to the choir and ministers.

"SBC" probably stands for "Shiloh Baptist Church" or "Second Baptist Church". Both of these are very common church names among African Americans throughout the United States.

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Video #2: Jessye Norman + Kathleen Battle 'Certainly, Lord' 1990



Posted by LEGENDSOFTHEROD1
July 09, 2009

"[For blasianFMA] Performing at Carnegie Hall .... with James Levine .... March 1990"

-snip-

In my experience, a moderately fast tempo is used for the civil rights version of "Certainly, Lord". That tempo is faster than either of the Gospel versions of this song that are featured in this post.

RELATED LINKS

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/aint-gonna-let-nobody-turn-me-round.html

One of the videos on that post includes documentary clips of 1960s Civil Rights marches.

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Also click http://cocojams.com/content/african-american-civil-rights-songs for additional examples of African American Civil Rights songs.

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

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