The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116137 Message #2505859
Posted By: Richie
02-Dec-08 - 10:37 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The authors of the 'Carter Family songs'
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M WORKING ON A BUILDING
"I'm Working on a Building" came from black gospel sources. The Carters learned their version from gospel singer Pauline Gary from Kingsport who was a friend of Leslie Riddle. The Carters also learned "On a Hill Lone and Gray," and "On My Way To Cannan's Land" from her.
Here's the earliest printed lyrics:
"WORKIN' ON THE BUILDING" recorded in Odum & Johnson, The Negro and His Songs (1925, p. 72).
If I wus a sinner man, I tell you what I'd do,
I'd lay down all my sinful ways an' work on the building too.
I'm workin' on the building fer my Lord,
Fer my Lord, fer my Lord,
I'm workin' on the building fer my Lord,
I'm workin' on the building, too.
If I wus a gamblin' man, I tell you what to do,
I'd lay down all my gamblin', an' work on the building, too.
If I was a 'ho'-munger, I tell you what to do,
I'd lay down all my munglin' and work on the building, too.
I'M WORKING ON A BUILDING- Carter Family
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
For my lord, for my lord
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
For my lord, for my lord
If I was a liar
I tell you what I would do
I would quit my lying
And work on the building too
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
For my lord, for my lord
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
For my lord, for my lord [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]
If I was a drunkard
I'll tell you what I would do,
I would quit my drinking
And work on the building too
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
For my lord, for my lord
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
For my lord, for my lord [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]
If I was a preacher
Tell you what I would do,
I would keep on preaching
And work on the building too
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
I'm working on a building
For my lord, for my lord
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
It's a holy ghost building
For my lord, for my lord