Lyr Req: 'Run On' or 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Run On' or 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'
From: Bill Brown
Date: 22 May 24 - 10:02 AM

Yes, I attempted to Check the DigiTrad or Forum for This Topic First, as the prompt is asking me. I attempted to use the Lyrics and Knowledge Search for this and I've gotten a "500-Error" for two days straight.

I there's a thread on this, please link to it. Thanks.

This song has been famously recorded by Jonny Cash and Odetta. There are versions available online of gospel groups recorded in the 40s, the first seems to be the Golden Gate Quartet, 1946, which Cash follows closely. https://youtu.be/ZvngnjAcrAw?si=J9lzupPNHXOVW8gO


I can find the lyrics to recorded versions easily, but information about this song says it is a folk song, so there's a good chance there are other lyrics or versions, and that's what I'm looking for, OTHER lyrics besides those easily found of recorded versions.

I note this version by Bill Landford And The Landfordaires has variations on the chorus: https://youtu.be/gDOMtOFaCys?si=4XUD59vcHrb6ve52

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Run On' or 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'
From: cnd
Date: 22 May 24 - 10:50 AM

Hey Bill -- a very old thread of the song is available here. Not a ton of information, but some additional reading. The thread directs you to a now-dead link, but it has been archived: http://www.answers.com/topic/god-s-gonna-cut-you-down (archived)

The "original" recording referenced in the above thread is that of the Golden Gate Quartet (link). It was released in 1947 on Golden Gate Spirituals (Columbia C-145). They credit themselves with the arrangement but make no reference to an author.

The same year, the Jubalaires made a recording (link) under the title "God Almighty's Gonna Cut You Down." Released by King Records as King 4167, they credited writer Willie Johnson, founder of the Golden Gate Quartet and manager of the Jubalaires. If I had to make a guess, they were just attributing it to the GGQ.

In 1948, the Coleman Brothers released a version as "You May Run On" on their own label, Coleman Records CR-5962 / CR-5964. You can hear a snippet on Apple Music (link). They credited their arrangement to themselves.

In 1949, Bill Landford released a cover as "Run On" (listen) on Columbia 30203. They wrote that the song was "Traditional."

None of the versions above are significantly different lyrically from Cash's version.