Rev. James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir - God Is

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file and lyrics of the Gospel song "God is".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
LYRICS: GOD IS
(Rev. James Cleveland)

Verse 1:
God is my protection.
God is my all & all.
God is my light in darkness.
God is, He, He is my all & all.

Verse 2:
God is my joy in times of sorrow.
God, God is my all & all.
God is my today and tomorrow.
God, my God is, my all & all.

Lead:
God is (repeating)

Choir:
God is the joy and
the strength of my life,
He moves all pain, misery, and strife.

He promised to keep me,
never to leave me.
He's never ever comes short of His word.

I've got to fast and pray,
stay in His narrow way,
I've got to keep my life clean everyday;
I want to go with Him when He comes back,
I've come too far and I'll never turn back.
God is (5x),
God is my all in all.
[repeat entire chorus]

Lead: God is
Choir- God is my all and all.
God is my all and all.
-snip-
Lyrics from eLyrics.net
with minor corrections by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
FEATURED SOUND FILE
"God Is" (1979)- Rev. James Cleveland



JayEm86,Uploaded on May 23, 2008

Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir.

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Rev. James Cleveland for his musical legacy. Thanks to the other featured vocalists and thanks to the producer of this sound file and its publisher on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

R Kelly's Song - The WorId's Greatest (Videos & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part post on inspirational songs by R&B artist R Kelly.

This post presents information about & song lyrics of R Kelly's hit song "The World's Greatest". This post also includes a video of R Kelly singing "The World's Greatest" and a video of a children's choir from Tanzania, East Africa singing that song.

Click this link for Part I of that series: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-believe-i-can-fly-videos-lyrics.html R Kelly's Song - I Believe I Can Fly (Videos & Lyrics)

The content of this post is presented for inspirational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "THE WORLD'S GREATEST"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World's_Greatest_(song)
"The World's Greatest" is a song written and recorded by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song was originally featured on the soundtrack to the film Ali...

The song reached number 31 on the Billboard R&B chart.[3] Its music video, which portrayed Kelly as a boxer,[4] was in heavy rotation on channels like MTV and BET. In the UK, it peaked at number four.
-snip-
Heavyweight world champion boxer Muhammad Ali was known for chanting "I am the greatest." A link to a pancccojams post that showcases two Muhammad Ali raps is found in the Related Links section below.

****
LYRICS: THE WORLD'S GREATEST
(R Kelly)

Yeah,Uhh...
Uhh...
Yeah..
It's the worlds greatest, Yo,
It's the worlds greatest, Come on,
Worlds Greatest, Ever

I am a mountain
I am a tall tree
Oh, I am a swift wind
Sweepin' the country
I am a river
Down in the valley
Oh, I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

[Chorus]
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it mmm
I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant
I am an eagle
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marchin' band
I am the people
I am a helpin' hand
And I am a hero
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

[Chorus]
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest

In the ring of life I'll reign love
(I will reign)
And the world will notice a king
(Oh Yeah)
When all is darkest, I'll shine a light
(Shine a light)
And use a success you'll find in me
(Me)

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

[*]
It's the greatest
Can you feel it
It's the greatest
Can you feel it

[Repeat * while:]
I saw the light
At the end of a tunnel
Believe in the pot of gold
At the end of the rainbow
And faith was right there
To pull me through, yeah
Used to be locked doors
Now I can just walk on through
Hey, uh, hey, hey, hey
It's the greatest
I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest
-snip-
Lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rkelly/theworldsgreatest.html

****
FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: R. Kelly - The World's Greatest



RKellyVEVO, Uploaded on Oct 24, 2009

Music video by R. Kelly performing The World's Greatest. (C) 2001 Zomba Recording LLC

****
Example #2: Tanzanian Primary Students Performing R. Kelly's "World's Greatest"



ervgotti27,Published on Sep 3, 2012

These kids put their own twist on an R. Kelly classic to perform at their primary school's upcoming graduation.

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-muhammad-ali-raps-this-is-legend-of.html "Two Muhammad Ali Raps (This Is The Legend Of Cassius Clay & Float Like A Butterfly)"

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to R Kelly for composing and performing this inspirational song. Thanks to the other featured vocalists and thanks to the producers of these videos and to their publishers on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

R Kelly's Song - I Believe I Can Fly (Videos & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part post on inspirational songs by R&B artist R Kelly. This post presents information about & song lyrics of R Kelly's 1996 hit song "I Believe I Can Fly". This post also includes a video of R Kelly singing "I Believe I Can Fly" and a video of Yolanda Adams & the Soul Children Of Chicago singing that song.

Click this link for Part II of this series: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/r-kellys-song-worids-greatest-videos.html "R Kelly's Song - The WorId's Greatest (Videos & Lyrics)"

The content of this post is presented for inspirational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Believe_I_Can_Fly
""I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song was written, produced and performed by Kelly and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, but later appeared in Kelly's 1998 album R..
In early 1997, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was kept from the #1 spot by Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart". Despite the fact that two of R. Kelly's songs did reach #1, "I Believe I Can Fly" remains the biggest hit of R. Kelly's career. The single was #1 on the R&B Singles chart (for six nonconsecutive weeks), and also topped the charts in the United Kingdom. It has won three Grammy Awards, and is ranked #406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

****
LYRICS: "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY"
(R Kelly)

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus:]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, cause I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can do it (I can do it)
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly-eye-eye-eye
Hum, fly-eye-eye
-snip-
Lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rkelly/ibelieveicanfly.html

****
FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly



TheWesleymen, Uploaded on Jun 14, 2009
R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly

****
Example #2: Yolanda Adams - I Believe I Can Fly



BrothaAjay2, Uploaded on Jan 28, 2010

Yolanda Adams and the Soul Children of Chicago (directed by Walt Whitman) sing "I Believe I Can Fly" during the Concert for World Children's Day in 2002.

Musical Director: David Foster

****
RELATED LINK
Click this page of my Cocojams cultural website for examples of
parodies of R Kelly's song "I Believe I Can Fly": http://cocojams.com/content/childrens-parodies-0

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to R Kelly for composing and performing this inspirational song. Thanks to the other featured vocalists and thanks to the producers of these videos and to their publishers on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Two Comedy Routines About Black And White Marching Bands

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two comedy routines about the differences between the marching band styles of historically Black American universities and predominately White American universities.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are posted in chronological order by the date of their posting on YouTube, with the oldest date presented first.)*

Example #1: Black and White Marching Bands! (rodofgodcomedy.com)



RodOfGodComedyUploaded on Jun 19, 2008

Rod's comical illustration of the differences he observed playing in Black and White Marching Bands! (From Rod's Live DVD "Laughter Is Legal")

****
Example #2: Ricky Smiley: Black vs. White Marching Bands

Tiara Washington, Published on Jun 4, 2012

Ricky Smiley: Open Casket Sharp performance. Copyright belongs to Ricky Smiley and BET. I uploaded because the other versions of this video aren't really clear.

THIS IS NOT MINE!! AND I DON'T CLAIM IT!!

****
RELATED VIDEO
Click this page of my zumalayah blog http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/bethune-cookman-univ-south-carolina.html for a post about Bethune Cookman Univ. & South Carolina State Univ. @ 2012 Honda Battle of the Bands

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to RodOfGodComedy & Ricky Smiley for their wit and humor. My thanks also to the producers of these video & their publishers on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Wentomb'unecala (with comments about this song's title)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of award winning South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing the song "Wentomb'unecala". This post includes my speculation-using an online Zulu to English feature-about the English translation of the word "Wentomb'unecala".

This post also includes information about Ladysmith Black Mambazo & isicathamiya music which is the type of South African music that that group has popularized throughout the world.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO
From http://www.mambazo.com/profile.php
"In 2013, Ladysmith Black Mambazo – led by founder and leader Joseph Shabalala – celebrates over fifty years of joyous and uplifting music that marries the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. In those years, the a cappella vocal group has created a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural and ethnic landscape. Their musical efforts over the past five decades have garnered praise and accolades within the recording industry, but also solidified their identity as a cultural force to be reckoned with.

Assembled in the early 1960s in South Africa by Shabalala – then a young farmboy turned factory worker – the group took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ladysmith being the name of Shabalala’s rural hometown; Black being a reference to oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo being the Zulu word for axe, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them. Their collective voices were so tight and their harmonies so polished that they were eventually banned from competitions – although they were welcome to participate strictly as entertainers."...

****
INFORMATION ABOUT ISICATHIMIYA SINGING
From http://www.umslobby.org/index.php/2010/01/what-is-isicathamiya-393
"What is Isicathamiya?

Even if you don’t know the name, you have probably heard isicathamiya (pronounced is-cot-a-ME-ya).

Isicathamiya choirs are made up of mostly of basses, joined by a couple tenors, an alto, and a lead voice. Their sound is recognizable by the emphasis of the bass voices. In South Africa, isicathamiya groups of 10 to 25 men perform the popular song-and-dance a capella singing style at weekly competitions. Outside of South Africa, however, music lovers became more familiar with the sound of isicathamiya with the release of Paul Simon’s 1986 multi-platinum record, Graceland, which included isicathamiya by Ladysmith Black Mambazo...

While the roots of isicathamiya can be traced to Zulu culture, European and American musical styles influenced its stylistic development. During the Dutch and British colonial period of South Africa, local people adapted western instruments and music to their own styles. Missionary music, American spirituals, and minstrel shows traveled through the colony, influencing the local musicians.

In the early to mid 20th century, Zulu migrant workers traveled from rural areas to urban areas to work in the mines of South Africa. In a biography of Joseph Shabalala, the leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Christopher Ballantine remarks, “Poorly housed and paid worse, [the migrant workers] would entertain themselves, after a six-day week, by singing songs into the wee hours every Sunday morning. Cothoza Mfana they called themselves, ‘tip toe guys,’ referring to the dance steps choreographed so as to not disturb the camp security guards. When miners returned to the homelands, the tradition returned with them. There began a fierce, but social, competition held regularly and a highlight of everyone’s social calendar. The winners were awarded a goat for their efforts and, of course, the adoration of their fans. These competitions are held even today in assembly halls and church basements throughout Zululand South Africa".

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Wentomb'unecala Live

.

LadysmthBlackMambazo, Uploaded on Jan 13, 2011
-snip-
In January 2013 Nuno Freire, a commenter on this video's viewer comment thread asked
"Can someone post a translation of the music or at least the title?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMhmswVLKdg Persumably, since many of the comments are in English, Nuno Freire was asking for an English translation of the lyrics or at leeast the title of this song. Unfortunately, to date no one has provided that translation, nor does that translation appear to be available online. Actually, I've only found one comment in English language about "Wentomb'unecala" other than indicating its inclusion on Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 2008 album or show.
Here's the sole citation about that song that I found after extensive online searching: http://news-business.vlex.com/vid/out-of-africa-64865378 quoting The Syracuse New Times August 24, 2009
"Toward the end of the show, tilings [sic: probably "things"] smoothed out with "Wentomb'unecala." During the singable "way we do" refrain, [Joseph Shambalala] [sic] invited members of the audience to dance on stage. The stunt could have felt gimmicky, but it became the kind of moment that sticks with you long after the houselights come up.*

*From the video it appears that no one took up Joseph Shabalala's offer to dance on stage.

I'm hoping that someone who speaks Zulu will post an English translation for the word "Wentomb'unecala" in the comment section of that video, in this post, or elsewhere online. In the meantime, here's some information about the word " that I received via an online Zulu to English translation page:

http://isizulu.net/?wentombi
wentombi [wɛnˈtoːmbi] ← wa + intombi
Possessive
of (a/the) girl

**
http://isizulu.net/

icala/amacala n. 5/6 (-cala) [iːˈǀaːla] [amaˈǀaːla]
defect; flaw
error; fault; mistake
blame; guilt
crime; offence
action; case; cause; court proceeding; lawsuit; trial

**
unecala [unɛˈǀaːla] ← u + necala
you [he, she, it are guilty]
you have (a/the) defect; you are with (a/the) defect
-snip-
Given those translations, I'm wondering if "wentomb'unecala" meaning is something like "You are guilty of mistreating that girl".

RELATED LINKS
http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/04/indlamu-dance-that-ladysmith-black.html "Indlamu - The Dance That Ladysmith Black Mambazo Does"

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/south-african-isicathamiya-music.html South African Isicathamiya Music

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Ladysmith Black Mambazo for their musical legacy. My thanks also to the online Zulu to English translation page, and to the producer & publisher of this video.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Read More

Sound Files Of "John The Revelator" by Blind Willie Johnson & by Son House

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features a 1930 sound file of "John The Revelator" that was recorded by Blind Willie Johnson and his first wife Willie B. Harris. This post also features a 1965 sound file of "John The Revelator" that was recorded by Son House. In addition, this post includes information about the meaning of that old time African American Gospel song.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
EXPLANATION OF THE SONG "JOHN THE REVELATOR"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Revelator_(song)
" "John the Revelator" is a traditional Gospel blues call and response song.[1] In the chorus, John of Patmos, the traditional author of the Book of Revelation, is writing "the book of the seven seals." At the time of the song's composition (and in modern times), John of Patmos was generally considered the same person as John the Apostle and John the Evangelist.

The song was recorded on April 20, 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia by Blind Willie Johnson and is included in the Anthology of American Folk Music.[1][2][3] In this version Johnson's first wife Willie B. Harris performs the response parts of the song.[4] The Golden Gate Quartet performed and recorded the song a cappella in the 1930s.[5] Son House also recorded several a cappella versions in the 1960s."
-snip-
The beginning lyrics of this song as sung Blind Willie Johnson & his first wife and by Son House are given below the featured sound files.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE TERM "A BOOK OF THE SEVEN SEALS"
The song "John The Revelator" focuses on John writing the book of Revelations. In that song, that last book in the New Testament is referred to as "a book (or the book) of the seven seals". Here's ome information about the term "book of the seven seals":
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_seals
"The Seven Seals is a phrase in the Book of Revelation that refers to seven symbolic seals that secure the book or scroll, that John of Patmos saw in his Revelation of Jesus Christ. The opening of the seals of the Apocalyptic document occurs in Revelation Chapters 5-8. In John's vision, the only one worthy to open the book is referred to as both the "Lion of Judah" and the "Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes"."

****
FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: Blind Willie Johnson - John the Revelator



velotronic, Uploaded on Mar 2, 2011
****
Here's the beginning of "John The Revelator" (as recorded by Blind Willie Johnson & Willie B. Harris.)

[call] Well who's that writin'?
[response] John the Revelator[6]
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
A book of the seven seals[7]
-snip-
Additional lyrics for this version of "John The Revelator" are found on that song's Wikipedia page whose link is given above.

****
Example #2: Son House - John The Revelator -Version Estudio



dhamago,Uploaded on Aug 7, 2008

Son House - John The Revelator -Version EstudiO
-snip-
Here's the beginning of "John The Revelator" (as recorded by Son House)
[call] Who's that writin'?
[response] John the Revelator[6]
Tell me who's that writin'?
John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin'?
John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals[7]
-snip-
Additional lyrics for this version of "John The Revelator" are found on that song's Wikipedia page whose link is given above.

****
RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/carolina-chocolate-drops-read-em-john.html for the related song "Read 'Em John"

**
Click http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=5825 for a discussion about the song "John The Revelator" which includes several versions of this song's lyrics.

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Blind Willie Johnson & Willie B. Harris, and Son House for recording this song. My thanks also to the producers and the publishers of these sound files on YouTube .

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Read 'em John (with lyrics & song explanation)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features two videos of the Carolina Chocolate Drops performing the Georgia Sea Isle song "Read' Em John". This post also features a rendition of "Read 'Em John" by Steve Levitt. The lyrics to "Read 'Em John" and the meaning of that song are also presented in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Chocolate_Drops
"The Carolina Chocolate Drops is an old-time string band from Durham, North Carolina, United States. Its 2010 album, Genuine Negro Jig, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, and was number 9 in FRoots magazine's top 10 albums of 2010.

The Drops are one of the two known full-time African American string bands...

All of the musicians sing and trade instruments including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, bones, jug, and kazoo. The group learned much of their repertoire, which is based on the traditional music of the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina,[2] from the eminent African American old-time fiddler Joe Thompson, although they also perform old-time versions of some modern songs such as Blu Cantrell's R&B hit "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)." "

****
EXPLANATION OF THE SONG "READ 'EM JOHN"
From the summary statement of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bXdcP19aVU "Read'em John" performed by Steve Levitt. (This video is given below as a Bonus video)
"[John] Refers to John the Revelator, doing what the slave was not allowed to do--reading. But not just reading, but reading with an authority that no one else could match of the doom of his masters and the end of the wicked world they had created and ascent of the persecuted and good into heaven. Field recorded by Alan Lomax and included in "Georgia Sea Island Songs." "
-snip-
Information about John The Revelator from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Revelator_(song)
" "John the Revelator" is a traditional Gospel blues call and response song.[1] In the chorus, John of Patmos, the traditional author of the Book of Revelation, is writing "the book of the seven seals." At the time of the song's composition (and in modern times), John of Patmos was generally considered the same person as John the Apostle and John the Evangelist.

The song was recorded on April 20, 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia by Blind Willie Johnson and is included in the Anthology of American Folk Music.[1][2][3]"
-snip-
Here's an excerpt of the Blind Willie Johnson version of "John The Revelator":
[call] Who's that writin'? [response] John the Revelator[6]
Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals[7]"
-snip
In contrast to "John The Revelator", the song "Read 'em John" focuses on John reading a letter. According to this interpretation, that letter is a substitution for or an oblique reference to the New Testament book of Revelations.

In the line "read'em let me go" (Read them and (then) let me go), the phrase "let me go" means "Let me go to my home in up in heaven". The "one by one", two by two" etc verse refers to how the "saints" [Christians] enter into heaven.

Given this interpretation of "Read 'em John", that song should be considered an old time African American religious (Gospel) song.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
Here are two Carolina Chocolate Drops performances of "Read 'em John". Notice the handclapping patterns that accompany this song. In other videos of this song, some of the members of the Chocolate Drops can also be seen adding foot stomps while they sing and clap their hands to this song.

Example #1: Carolina Chocolate Drops "Read Em John"



Johnny Miller, Uploaded on Jun 9, 2011
April 8 2011 at the Barrymore Theatre, Madison Wisconsin - part 19 : http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLB...

****
Example #2: Carolina Chocolate Drops Rock the Food & Community Conference -"Read 'Em John"



2010PHP, Published on May 23, 2012

****
LYRICS - READ 'EM JOHN
(An old time Georgia Sea Isle Gospel song with no known composer/s)

Verse #1 [The song begins with the lead and the other members of the group join in unison]
John wrote a letter and laid it on the table.
No one can read'em like old John.
Read ‘em let me go.

Chorus:
Lead -Now read ’em John.
Group- (Read ’em.)
Lead -Read ’em John.
Group- (Read ’em.)
Lead - Read ’em John.
Group- (Read ’em.)
Lead and Group - No one can read ’em like old John.
Read’em let me go.

Lead -Now read ’em John.
Group- (Read ’em.)
Lead -Read ’em John.
Group- (Read ’em.)
Lead and Group - Read ’em let me go.

Verse #2 [Entire Group]
Now it’s one by one
and two by two
and three by three
Four by four
No one can read ’em like old John
Read ‘em let me go.

Chorus

[Repeat chorus and verses in whatever order you choose.]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the videos. Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
BONUS VIDEO OF ANOTHER RENDITION OF "READ 'EM JOHN"

Read'em, John.wmv


steve levitt, Uploaded on Feb 6, 2012

"Read'em, John" on Akonting. Refers to John the Revelator, doing what the slave was not allowed to do--reading. But not just reading, but reading with an authority that no one else could match of the doom of his masters and the end of the wicked world they had created and ascent of the persecuted and good into heaven. Field recorded by Alan Lomax and included in "Georgia Sea Island Songs." Present version adds Akonting rhythm. For more videos go to www.duelingshoes.com
-snip-
Notice that Steve sings all of the other lyrics given above, with the exception of a slight but meaningful change to that song's last iine. In his rendition, that line is sung as "Read’em let us go.”

Here's information about the akonting musical instrument from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akonting
"The akonting (or ekonting in French transliteration) is the folk lute of the Jola people, found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. It is a banjo-like instrument with a skin-headed gourd body, two long melody strings, and one short drone string, akin to the short fifth "thumb string" on the 5-string banjo."

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/john-revelator.html

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song. My thanks also to the Carolina Chocolate Drops for their musical legacy that helps acquaint people to the richness of old time music. Thanks to Steve Levitt for sharing his old time music videos,and for clarifying the meaning of the song "Read 'em John". My thanks also to the producers and the publishers of these videos on YouTube .

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More