Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine (gospel)

Subject: Lyr Add: NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 12:46 AM

NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE I

Yeah, nobody's fault but mine,
Nobody's fault but mine.
If I don't read my soul'll be lost.

I have a Bible in my hand (twice)
If I don't read my soul'll be lost.

Father, he taught me how to read (twice)
If I don't read my soul'll be lost,
Nobody's fault but mine.

Lord, Lord,
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read my soul'll be lost.

Mother, she taught me how to read (twice)
If I don't read my soul'll be lost,
Nobody's fault but mine.

Sister, she taught me how to read (twice)
If I don't read my soul'll be lost
Nobody's fault but mine.

Lord, Lord,
Nobody's fault but mine,
If I don't read my soul'll be lost.

Blind Willie Johnson
@religion @ gospel

NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE II

I got a Bible I can read (twice)
If I fail to read it an' my soul get lost,
Nobody's fault but mine.

I got a Jesus I can serve (twice)
If I fail to serve him an' my soul get lost,
Nobody's fault but mine.

I got a song that I can sing (twice)
If I fail to sing it an' my soul get lost,
Nobody's fault but mine.

I got a prayer that I can pray (twice)
If I fail to pray it, etc.

I got a moanin' that I can moan (twice)
If I fail to moan, etc.

Simon Williams, Johnson Place Baptist Church, near Livingston, AL.
John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Click on Links at top of page and go to Lomax Collection for notes and sound.
@religion @spiritual @gospel

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:21 AM

Hi, Dicho: Fancy meeting you here... I went to a black Baptist church in Beloit, Wisconsin a couple of Sundays ago, and a trio of women got up and did this song, and everyone in the church immediately joined in. Including me. I believe that the line is "I've got a bible in my home," not hand. That's what it sounds like to me on the Blind Willie Johnson recording, and that's what the women were singing.

Thanks for posting this..

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine
From: Grab
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 01:16 PM

Did Davey Graham mis-hear this then? His version goes

"Fire in my soul oh Lord"

and he actually calls the song "Fire in my soul". Slightly different first and second lines to the verses too.

Anyone know why he did it this way? Maybe just learning off a record where the singer wasn't singing clearly enough to hear properly?

Graham.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine
From: GUEST,G
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 02:19 PM

does anyone know who actually wrote this, or when it was written? it seems that blind willie johnson is credited with the first recording of it back in the 1920s, and there's that recording of the alabama church choir from the '39 sessions. but nobody seems to know where or when it came from. was it a slave spiritual dating back to pre-civil war? don't know...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 04:54 PM

Good question. Seems to be an early gospel song. Generally credited to Blind Willie Johnson. Sister Rosetta Tharp did a recording among others. Not found (by me, anyway) in pre-1920 writings).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nobody's Fault But Mine (gospel)
From: GUEST,Sis.mary
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 10:56 AM

Old with a powerful message,it is true what we ,must be accountable .nobodys fault .let. those of us who liste that man can't put noone in heaven or hell .oh but God of justice ,the Just God can, he's given us all the tool to make it.but if I don't make it its nobodys fault ,but mines I can't blame nobody but me, nobody but me,me,me, can't blame spouse, mother . Father ,sis. Or bro.."I feel like singing this myself.