Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)

Subject: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 02:08 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to Joseph Spence's "(Out) On A Rolling Sea"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:33 PM

Guest, are you kidding? Tell you what, I'll go listen to it, and if I can understand enough of them, I'll give it a go. Don't hold your breath, tho.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Lyr Add: OUT ON THE ROLLING SEA (from J Spence)
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 01:37 AM

Here are a couple verses from the beginning. I would like to hear a bit more from you and see a name before I put any more work into deciphering the inimitable Brother Joseph Spence layered in with the Pindar family. Thank you.

OUT ON THE ROLLING SEA
(as sung by Joseph Spence and the Pindar Family)

Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah yah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah laaaaaaaah.

[Stephen] was out on the rolling sea when Jesus came to him
He was on the sea when in a boat (Lord Lord)
He was on the sea when Jesus speak unto me
He was on the rolling sea when he lay down (singer one)When he come (singer 2)

He was out on the rolling sea
Jesus speak to me (whoa, Lord)
I was out on the rolling sea when he comes (Lord, Lord in the morning)
I was on the rolling sea, Jesus speaks unto me,
Tell the world I'm on the rolling sea when he comes

There's the first couple without most of the overlays. Now tell me what this is about.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: bbc
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 08:00 AM

Barbara, you're a brave woman. We gave up trying to transcribe Joseph Spence, although we find him very amusing/entertaining. Our biggest joke, lately, is the idea of having a Joseph Spence festival w/ our church choir. We figure each part can have a specialty--throat-clearing, laughing, "la-la-ing", & occasional, intermittent words. :)

best,

bbc (the other Barbara)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 11:23 AM

bbc, If this is you asking, I'll share what I can figure out. Yes it sounds incoherent, but there's a basic underlying structure (tho some of the verses are just jamming, with variations on the one before.
But look at it this way: there is a basic melody line, and there is a plot (the next verse talks about Peter telling people to get their nets). Tons of us sing "And I bid you goodnight" which originaly sounds a lot like this one.
But I wasn't sure if GUEST was a troll. Do you still live ther same place? I have a box sitting on the counter waiting to be mailed.
Blessings,
the other other Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: bbc
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 02:47 PM

Yes, Barbara, same address in New York. I almost mentioned the pig. I'd love to see him!

thanks,

bbc

Subject: Lyr Add: OUT ON THE ROLLING SEA (from J Spence)
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 07:11 PM

Verse 3 is very similar to verse 2, it's 4 that gets to Peter:

Tell 'em we on the rolling sea, Jesus speak unto me
(Oh Lord) I'm on the rolling sea when he comes (Lord, Lord in the morning)
I'm on the rolling sea when he speak unto me
I'm on the rolling sea when he comes.

(Thru this next verse, JS sings a bass pattern that repeats the words "rolling sea")
Peter said, "I'm on the rolling sea, people take up your nets
I'm on the rolling sea, Peter he ?most say
I'm on the rolling sea, Jesus speak unto me
An I said, I'm on the rolling sea when he come, (Oh, Peter)

In this next verse, the bass pattern moves to the front, with JS jamming on the phrase "Rolling Sea" while others add spoken lines (in parentheses)

Rolling sea,(I'm on the rolling sea) rolling sea, rolling sea, rolling sea,
Rolling sea, Lord, Lord, rolling sea (In the morning) Rolling sea, rolling sea, rolling sea rolling sea,
Lord, lord rolling sea, when he come

Need a little more faith, now, rolling sea

Okay, break time again, folks. I'll pick it up with the faith line in my next post.
If you ever sat down with some friends and tried to just make up song words and maybe a tune out of thin air, you will recognize what is happening in this song: the singers pick up each other's phrases, change them sometimes slightly, sing repeat phrases as motifs, and sometimes blur words or slide into a new phrase when they can't quite make the thought come together with the right number syllables. Then the next time it comes around, they fix it.
The more I listen to it, the more I know what's happening. Sometimes, tho, I have to listen to JS's repetitious jam part first so I can screen it out.
Blessings,
Barbara,
I'll put the package in the mail Monday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: bbc
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 10:45 PM

Thanks for the words & the package, Barbara. I'll let you know by PM when I receive it.

bbc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:12 PM

Uhm, I'll put the package in the mail tomorrow when the blinkin' post office is open because it's no longer blinkin Columbus Day, already. What a stupid holiday. We should rename it Honor Native Americans Day.
Blessings, anyway
the other other Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 08:24 AM

Barbara, Could you say which CD this is on, please?

thanks, Garry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 09:59 AM

Well, Garry, I have it on a tape from Rounder Records, and it's called "Joseph Spence & the Pindar Family" The Spring of Sixty-Five. The tape was issued (re-issued?) in 1992, and was made originally by Jody Stecher and Peter Siegel in 1965.
Joseph Spence has to be heard to be believed. He has both an amazing voice, and guitar technique. (if the search engine's up, check out some other threads on him).
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: BrendanD
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 07:52 PM

Hello,

I'm the 'guest' that started this thread. The recording I have is on the 'Happy all the time' cd. Spence is recorded on his front porch accompanied occasionally by his wife, from their kitchen.

I've searched high and low for the lyrics to this song because on this recording the words are almost completely unintelligible, more so than usual for Spence. As are viewer once said it sound like he's trying to eat his guitar.

The principal lyrics seem to be :

On a rolling sea man jesus come to me,
Out on a rolling sea man he come,
On a rolling sea Jesus speaks to me,
Out on a rolling sea he come.

This is repeated many times but so unintelligibly that variations can't be heard although they are probably there. What I am most interested are five sections not sung but spoken quite rapidly. Every dash represents an unknown word but all words are uncertain.

Here's what I have so far.
1. On a rolling sea, I got terrible dreams - - - - - with the men who don't want another - - and the barbaree bell(belt?) for doctors I've saved and i'm gon' - - - - a terrible gait the sea me be hell of my fish over way was (insert random Spence growling guitar eating noises here.)

2. A rolling sea terrible doing on my cousin - - - - - - - - - - (repeat 1. starting from 'and the barbaree ...)

3.See me be hell(Michael?) by the faith no white emission for the terrible but wonderful sight and behold a great ruler on the crease on the wave and he swallowed a prophet and a man possessed by terror (more grunts here)

4. Repeat 1. (I think)

If anyone knows these parts on can improve on them please do so. If someone does I'll take a stab at the fifth section.

Brendan

p.s. barbara, what's a troll? don't think i'm one but that's only my opinion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 08:29 PM

A troll is someone who is baiting a person; asking a question to be a smart ass; set some other people off; that kind of thing.
I wanted to know if you really wanted the words, or if you were just asking the question to see if you could get some other people do a bunch of work for no purpose (since he is so hard to understand). I don't have time now to listen to those sections you're talking about, but the tape I've got is fairly clear; I'll give it a listen later.
Blessings,
Barbara
p.s. the package is in the mail; think kind thoughts about the postal service.

Subject: Lyr Add: OUT ON THE ROLLING SEA (from J Spence)
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 01:23 AM

Brendan, I have a different recording than yours. Mine includes Joseph, his sister Edith Spence Pinder, and her husband Raymond and daughter Geneva. The jacket says the song was recorded in a "backyard" session with Joseph and Edith trading verses.
Picking up where I left off,

Peter said, "I'm on the rolling sea, Peter take up your net
I'm on the rolling sea, Peter he [they most?] say
I'm on the rolling sea, Jesus speak unto me
An I said, I'm on the rolling sea when he come, (Oh, Peter)

The next verse is another jamming verse with JS singing the "rolling sea" counterpoint to Raymond's "we out on the rolling sea" and "Lord, Lord, Lord".

(Need a little more faith)

Rolling sea, All is said and done Before God you on the rolling sea
Let God hear your truth: truth is believe in God
Daniel God is a mighty Lord
I'm on the rolling sea when he comes.

(Oh, children) Rolling sea, ( JS first fast time rap here)
And I tell you about Jonah, Micah 's son,
and [gor-be-ton] as the one and not any one
oh not probably that was such a sad state,
I was on the oar[old?] waten-er-man gaze Oh!
And if he can, my body to Barbados as
On the rolling sea when he comes

Well, friends, I have the right number of sylables, and the right general sound for it, and I now open the floor for guesses as to what the words actually are, and what they mean.
For example, in the the third line, "as the" could be "Ezra", or another similar proper name. "That", "thought" "got" and "not" all sound similar.

This does not sound like even close to the same words you have, Brendan, tho "barbaree" may be "probably". I heard no "terrible" in this rap. There is another later, and I will tackle it later.
Is he singing with Louise on your recording?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 02:14 AM

Thanks, Barbara, I have The Complete Folkways Recordings 1958, Smithsonian CD SF 40066, which does not have this song on it, unfortunately. I also have the CD _called_ Out On The Rolling Sea (tribute to JS) which at the very end, _after_ the last track has Joseph Spence just saying "On the rolling sea" a coupla times and laughing in that way he does.

I'll have to try to find Spence and the Pinder family together on CD somewhere. I live in a cultural desert called Western Australia, which has no shops (well, you can buy food), so I rely on mail order CD stores in the UK and States.

At least I have a coupla titles from this thread.

Many thanks

Garry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 10:14 AM

Garry, you can order the CD right here at Mudcat. Dick Greenhaus can order it for you, and as he has gotten me UK CDs with the price in pounds still on the sticker, (I'm in the US) I'll bet he can do the money conversion for Oz the other way. The US price is $12.98, and if my link doesn't work, you go to the top of the main forum page and click on Mudcat Shop and Auction. He has 4 Joseph Spence CDs, it looks like.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 09:40 PM

Hooly dooly! Barbara.

thanks a bunch!

Gz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Max Tone
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 07:11 PM

Hey folks, just listening to Taj Mahal's '76 version of JS's tune "Roll, Turn, Spin". Never heard of him, 'part from that, an' this thread. Cookin'................Rob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: Barbara
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 04:08 AM

I hope, Garry, and you too, Rob, that you get your very own CD's of this man and family so that you can join me in playing 'guess what word this is'. I'd love some company.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Gospel: I was on the rolling sea
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 11:54 AM

I was on the rolling sea when my God speak to me,
I was on the rolling sea, let it roll,
I was on the rolling sea when my God speak to me,
I was on the rolling sea, let it roll,

I got this from a lovely cd, "Across the Blue Mountains" by Susannah and Georgia Rose Armstrong-Park (granddaughters of George and Gerry Armstrong). Are there any more verses?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gospel: I was on the rolling sea
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 11:59 AM

...On the cd it's called "Out on the Rolling Sea". A Google search tells me that there's a version attributed to Joseph spence; the only difference is "Jesus" instead of "My God". But I'm still searching for more lyrics!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gospel: I was on the rolling sea
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 12:12 PM

Posted here: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gospel: I was on the rolling sea
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 12:33 PM

Thanks, Masako! Sign me up for the Fan Club!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 12:34 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: little john cameron
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 02:43 PM

HAhahaha!!!
Out on the Rolling sea

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: little john cameron
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 07:32 PM

Hahahaha,still laughin.This is great,it drove the wife and daughter out of the house.My secret weapon.ljc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 05 - 12:52 PM

I remember reading (probably in "Be Glad", an ISB fanzine) that the Incredible String Band had been influenced by Joseph Spence. On their 3rd album (The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, regarded by many as their finest, although speaking personally I prefer several others) they include "Bid You Goodnight" by the Pindar family as part of "A Very Cellular Song."

However they seem to have incorporated (with slight variations) some of the titles of Spence songs into the lyrics of their own albums, eg "Out on the Rolling Rolling Sea" is the last track on "Earthspan" (?1972) and "Happy happy happy all the time" occurs on "Dust Be Diamonds" on their album "Changing Horses". Possibly there are other examples. I would need to listen to a JS album to hear his guitar work to decide if it was also an influence on the ISB. Can anyone out there recommend any of his albums which might appeal to a fan of the ISB?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: GUEST,jake
Date: 17 May 05 - 03:21 PM

The one you're after is The Real Bahamas Vol.1. It's a gem from the start (We'll Understand it Better By and By - another Stringy quote!)to the end (Bid You Goodnight). Like the Incredibles, you've got to listen to it a couple of times to start getting it... but it is worth it, believe me!
The influence of Joseph Spences guitar and singing is probably more marked in Mike Herons early work, but you can hear echoes of the Pindar Family all over the place, especially on the albums up to and including the wonderful Wee Tam / Big Huge.

J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: dwditty
Date: 17 May 05 - 03:35 PM

The Smithsonian 1958 Field Recordings of JS (by Sam Charters) captures his spirit as well. The was also a songbook of tablature to match this cd. If you think Ry Cooder offered up some synchopated guitar in his early work, you will realize that he owes much to Spence. In fact, I have wondered if there isn't as much time devoted to the space between the guitar notes on a Spence tune as there is to the actual notes themselves.

Also, if you ever get the chance to hear his rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, you may never listen to that song the same way again.

dw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: joseph spence - on a rolling sea
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 May 05 - 01:14 PM

I've been reading and hearing about Joseph Spence since the mid-60s, but never bought an album and never heard his work until downloading this song from Amazon about 10 minutes ago.

Amazing stuff! The group vocals are so wild, however, that it's hard to hear much of Joseph's vaunted guitar playing. Now I have more motivation than ever before to find and hear more of his work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST,Matthew Presti
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 11:21 PM

Hey, I just recently put together the talking part of "Rolling Sea" which is kind of a non-sense verse of the fish discussing the "war in heaven" mixed up with some Noah tales. I've been listening to this track since I was a kid, but for some reason I listen to it now and all the words fall in place:

The halibut, tuna, mackerels, and the guppies; the man-o-war want to know, "Did anyone fall?" When the puffer he left without the sand snail; when out on the ocean blow a terrible gale; the seamen beheld that's why their face grew white...

Seamen beheld; While their face grew white, didn't they see what a terrible, what a wonderful sight? Now behold a great whale on the crest of the wave, swallow the prophet no man could save, but Jesus told the fish, he gave the command, they was...

Let me know what you guys think. Looks like someone gave this a shot earlier. Would you change anything?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 02:38 AM

The version on "Good Morning Mr. Walker" is also helpful. With some more lyrics:

Rollin' sea when Jesus speak to Jonah
Rollin' sea when it roll
Rollin' sea when it speak to me
Rollin' sea when it roll

The crayfish started a ruckus and
Ran aground the sinking sun
For around the whale he chose upon the son
The bin and the bait came a-throwed it down
Tell you about something that a don't know man
But still don't know…

Jonah in that fish, ain't 'bout to lie,
Someone? Anyone alive?
Pray for Jonah
Down on Nineveh's bank
On the bank of Zion
Was out on the roll…

Been away yonder on the mountain top
To hear what they spoke of the chariot stop
The halibut, tuna, mackerels, and the guppies
Down man? Does anyone know?
In the morning sun, they was out on the roll…

Tell of one, Ishmael, Abraham's son
The bearer of Isaac and dreadful one
Tell of how Judah was killed by a fall
Solomon built the Millo to lift up that wall
Low in the morning sun, he was out…

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST,Matthew Presti
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 03:54 AM

In fact, I think the first line naming the warring fish may be linked to a precursive line that begins to recount Maccabees with:

Tell about Judah Maccabeus the kohen...

Yet the other line must have been substituted:

The halibut, tuna, mackerels, and guppies

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST,Matthew Presti
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 04:46 AM

I guess another alternative would be:

Tell you bout how Jonah make his mind to go 'way
The mariners wanna know "Did Niniveh fall?"
When the perfidy left without a slow sail
When out on the ocean blew a terrible gale; etc.

With biblical references, which is possible, it all sounds too pidgin for my tastes. However, bearing this in mind, I think I'm sticking with the fish-list.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST,Matthew Presti
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 05:06 AM

Here's the final transcript:


Tell you 'bout how Jonah make his mind to go 'way
The mariners wanna know "Did Niniveh fall?"
When the perfidy left without a slow sail
When out on the ocean blew a terrible gale
The seamen beheld this while their face grew white, they was...

Seamen beheld while their face grew white,
Didn't they see what a terrible, what a wonderful sight?
Now behold a great whale on the crest of the wave,
Swallowed the prophet no man could save,
but Jesus told the fish, he gave the command, they was...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 13 - 03:39 AM

I don't think anyone could dislike the joyous singing of Joseph Spence and his remarkable guitar playing. However, I've always had the feeling that Jim Henson/Frank Oz must have had Spence in mind when they voiced the Swedish Chef in the Muppets, they have a lot in common vocally.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 May 13 - 12:16 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UWfGTbhkUw

final final transcript:

the "Good Morning, Mr. Walker" version.

Out on the Rollin' Sea

Rollin' sea when Jesus speak to Jonah
Rollin' sea when it roll
Rollin' sea when Jesus speak to me
Rollin' sea when it roll

Rollin' sea...

Tell you bout Jonah make his sin to go
With the mariners wanna know, "Did Nineveh fall?"
The prophet he left, went out, and set sail
Went out on the ocean but a terrible gale
The seamen beheld, while their face grew white...

Rollin' sea when Jesus speak to me
Rollin' sea when it roll
Rollin' sea when Jesus speak to me
Rollin' sea when it roll

Seamen beheld while their face grew white;
Bene'icite! What a terrible what a wonderful sight
Behold a great whale on the crest of the wave
Swallow the prophet no man could save
But Jesus told the fish and he gave the command

Creator saw the rock outstand
Our ground the sinking sun
For up on the way he chose upon the son
The bin and the bait came a-throw it down
Tell you bout something that I durst know man
But still don't know...

Jonah and that fish, ain't 'bout to lie,
Someone? Anyone 'live?
Pray for Jonah
Down on Nineveh's bank
On the bank of Zion
Was out on the roll...

Been away yonder on the mountain top
To hear what they spoke of the chariot stop
Tell you 'bout Jonah make his sin to go
Domin, is Nineveh low?
In the morning sun, they was out on the roll...

Tell of one, Ishmael, Abraham's son
The burden of Isaac, the dreadful one,
Tell about Judah was killed by a fall
Solomon built the Millo to lift up that wall
Low in the morning sun, he was out...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out on the Rolling Sea (Joseph Spence)
From: GUEST,Another guest
Date: 24 Feb 20 - 02:28 AM

Hi folks:

Chiming in seven years later -- I disagree about The Real Bahamas takung a while to get comfortable with; for me, the instsnt it started playing, when the first notes of "We Will Understand It Better By and By" sounded, I was wholly in love; that was 1969, and I'm still in love with that album 50 years later. I feel like it was the beginning of my life -- that and "Negro Religious Songs and Services" from the Library of Congress, which hit me the same way and still does. Life-changing music.