Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKING THAT WINE(from J. B. Smith)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 20 - 02:17 PM

This is sung a cappella by one voice. Apparently a prison work song. My transcription from Spotify:


DRINKING THAT WINE
As recorded by J. B. Smith on "No More Good Time in the World for Me" (2018)
(The album cover says: "Recorded by Bruce Jackson, Unit No. 2, Ramsey State Farm, Rosharon, TX, 1965-1966")

1. If-a my brother asks for me,
Tell 'im that I went on Galilee.

CHORUS: I ought to been there ten thousan' year, drinkin' that wine,
Drinkin' that wine, wine, wine,
Good ol' W-I-N-E, wine,
I ought to been there ten thousan' year, drinkin' wine.

2. If-a my sister asks for me,
Tell 'er that I went on Galilee. CHORUS


[There is a bit of dialog at the end of the song where he explains: "Long as you want, you can go roun': brother, sister, or father, mother, anybody you want to."]

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKING THAT WINE (from Kimber's Men)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 20 - 01:52 PM

This sounds like a sea chantey: the verses are sung by a single voice, the choruses by a group, all a cappella. This group seems to specialize in sea songs. Transcribed by me from Spotify:


DRINKING THAT WINE
As recorded by Kimber's Men on "Kimber's Men" and "See You When the Sun Goes Down," both 2010.

1. If my mama done ask for me,
Tell her that death done summoned me.

CHORUS: Y'oughta been there ten thousand years, drinking that wine,
Drinking that wine, wine, wine,
Drinking that wine, oh, yes, my Lord,
Y'oughta been there ten thousand years, drinking that wine.

2. Down by the river gonna take a little walk.
Me and my Lord gonna have a little talk.

3. Two white horses side by side,
One o' them horses I'm gonna ride.

4. O Lord, please let me sleep
Where the waters run cold and deep.

5. If my mama done ask for me,
Tell her that death done summoned me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: GUEST,big al whittle
Date: 04 Feb 20 - 07:19 PM

great track. loved the harmony singing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: RTim
Date: 01 Feb 20 - 09:39 PM

Here is a version from the singing of Bob Walser....and today popular in the Sea Music world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiFgoBlT_YA


Tim Radford (who has also been known to sing it!!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 20 - 09:04 PM

What is the meaning of 10000 years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine SPO-DEE-O-DEE
From: GUEST,Gumbo Stu
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 11:23 AM

RolfyBoy6 posted the Sticks McGhee lyrics with this question


If you wanna get along, in New Orleans town
Buy some wine and pass it all around
Age runs up for tonight (?)
All those cats they love sweet wine

it's

Age runs up Forty-nine


this was written in 1949, remember

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 05:05 PM

The version I learned from Bob Walser has the verse:

Mind my sister
How you walk on the cross
Your foot might slip
And you're soul'd be lost

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 09:21 PM

Newman I. White called these departures 'upstart crows.'

I went down th the valley to pray, (3x)
I got drunk and stayed all day.

If you want to go to Heaven
I'll tell you what to do;
Just grease all over in Brunswick stew;
The devil will grab you and miss his man,
Then you slip right over into the promised land.
Eat chitlings.

From American Negro Folk Songs, 1928 (1965).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:04 PM

It's interesting how religious lyrics show up in non-religious songs and vice versa.

I remember this verse was sung by young folks back in the 1960s or earlier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I've no idea if these exact words came from a recorded Blues song or R&B song or what.

You get a nickel
and I'll get a dime.
And we'll go out a buy some wine.
Drinkin wine, wine, wine
Drinkin wine, wine, wine
Drinkin wine, wine, wine
All the time.

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKIN' OF THE WINE (Sea Islands)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 02:10 PM

Lydia Parrish says that the swinging rhythm of the communion song, "Drinkin' of the Wine," made it a favorite with the chain-gang for cutting weeds along the highway.

Lyr. Add: DRINKIN' OF THE WINE (Sea Islands)

Chorus:
Drinkin' of the wine- wine- wine
Drinkin' of the wine
O yes- my Lord.
I oughta bin to heaven ten thousand years
Drinkin' of the wine.

Eatin' of the bread- bread- bread
Eatin' of the bread- O yes my Lord.
I oughta bin to Heaven ten thousand years
Drinkin' of the wine.

Chorus

If my mother ask for me
Tell her Death done summon' me.
I oughta bin to Heaven ten thousand years
Drinkin' of the wine.

Chorus

If y'u get there before I do
Tell my Lord I'm comin' too.
I oughta bin to Heaven ten thousand years
Drinkin' of the wine.

Chorus

Ain' but one thing I done wrong
Stayin' in the wilderness mos' too long.
I oughta bin to heaven ten thousand years
Drinkin' of the wine.

Chorus

Lydia Parrish, 1942, 1992, "Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands," pp. 249-251 (without music).

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKING OF THE WINE
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 04:50 AM

DRINKING OF THE WINE
(Bacom Lamar Lunsford)

CHORUDS:
Drinkin' of the wine, wine, wine.
Drinkin' of the wine, holy wine.
You ought o' been there four thousand years,
Drinkin' of the wine.

1. Drink it members, drink it free,
Flows from the root of a tender tree.
You ought o' been there four thousand years,
Drinking of the wine.

2. If my sister calls for me,
Tell her to meet me at Galilee.
You ought o' been there four thousand years,
Drinking of the wine.

3. If my mother calls for me,
Tell her death has silenced me.
You ought o' been there four thousand years,
Drinking of the wine.

From: Loyal Jones, Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1984; University of Kentucky Press, 2002, p. 220; with music); Notes--"Fragment mistakenly listed in Brown III 48 as a drinking song. 'I [Lunsford] heard this in 1903 at a Children's Day Program in a Negro congregation in the Yadkin Valley, Wilkes County, N.C.'"(p. 157)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 12:50 PM

Anamnesis: Recalling to mind (word appeared in print in the 16th century). Medical definition: A preliminary case history of a medical or psychiatric patient.
(Be careful, boys, she is impugning our sanity)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 11:47 AM

Now if I had time, I'd write about how this song is a fine example of anamnesis. (Can I get an AMEN)

Some of these are going to go together into a presentaion titled something like "Gospel 101 for Episcopalians." It will be about how the central truths of the faith keep popping out in the music, despite the doctrinal differences that so often are prominently waved about.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 09:30 PM

Barry, thanks for the info. From Bruce Jackson's book Wake Up Dead Man (Harvard UP, pp. 245-248; with music)[titled "Drinkin' That Wine"], I knew Lydia Parrish also recorded this song, which is in her Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (1942; Univ. of Georgia Press, 1992, pp. 249-251; without music)["Drinkin' of the Wine"]. The Walter Kegler version ["Drinking the Wine"] is "the most popular sacred song adapted for menhadden chantying".
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Barry Finn
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 08:23 PM

Also to be found on Global Village, Virginia Traditions collected in 1950 from Walter Kegler & crew of the Bernegat, again recorded by the Manhaden Chanteymen. Bruce Jackson (see Wake Up Dean Man not the CD but the book) collected this from 'Chinaman'Johnson & group in 8/21/1965 at the Ellis Prison Unit, Texas as an axe song. Happy wining, Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 04:50 PM

Yep, you got it, Rolfyboy6. I have that recording, and also a fine verison of it by Jeryy Lee Lewis. O.K., it's not what Dicho was thinking about, but it was the first song that came to mind when I rad the title of the thread. Jerry

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKIN' WINE SPO-DEE-O-DEE
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 03:52 PM

Track Title: DRINKIN' WINE SPO-DEE-O-DEE

Album Title: Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: Vol 1, 1947-1952
Prime Artist: Stick McGhee
Vocal: Stick McGhee
Guitar: Stick McGhee

Guitar: Brownie McGhee
Bass: Gene Ramey
Piano: Wilbert (Big Chief) Ellis
Producer: Herb Abrahmson

Producer: Ahmet Ertegun
Written by: J. Mayo Williams
Written by: Stick McGhee


Lyrics:

Down in New Orlean, where ev'rything is fine
All them cats is drinkin' that wine
Drinking that mess, their delight
When they gets drunk, start singing all night

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Drinking that mess, their delight
When they gets drunk, start fighting all night
Knocking down windows and tearin' out doors
Drinkin' half a gallon and callin' for more

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!
Wine, wine, wine (Elderberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Or sherry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Blackberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Half 'n' half!)
Wine, wine, wine (Oh, Boy!)
Pass that bottle to me

If you wanna get along, in New Orleans town
Buy some wine and pass it all around
Age runs up for tonight (?)
All those cats they love sweet wine

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Hoy! Hoy!
Wine, wine, wine (Elderberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Or Sherry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Blackberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Half 'n half!)
Wine, wine, wine (Oh Boy!)
Pass that bottle to me

Drink that slop!
That's what I'm talkin' about!
Ah, drink it!
Sneaky Pete!

Now down on Rampart street at Willy's Den
He wasn't selling but a little gin
One cat wanted a bottle of wine
He hit that cat for a dollar and a dime

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Hoy! Hoy!
Wine, wine, wine (Elderberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Or Sherry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Blackberry!)
Wine, wine, wine (Half 'n half!)
Wine, wine, wine (Oh Boy!)
Pass that bottle to me

I got a nickel, have you got a dime?
Let's get together and get a little wine
Some buys a fifth, some buys a quart
But when you buy Sherry now you're doing things smart

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-o-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Hoy Hoy: Stick McGhee
Hoy Hoy: Drinkin' Wine Sound clip

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Drinkin' Wine
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 02:57 PM

Drinking Wine, Spodee-odee. Jerry

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKIN' OF THE WINE
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 01:57 AM

DRINKIN' OF THE WINE

If my mother ask you for me, tell her I gone to Gallerlee,
I ought to a been there four thousand years ago,
To drinking of the wine.

Drinkin' of the wine, drinkin' of the wine,
Drinkin' of the wine, drinkin' of the wine.
Christ was there four thousand years ago,
Drinkin' of the wine.

You may mourn, sinner, mourn, the Lord help you to mourn;
Christ was there four thousand years ago,
Drinkin' of the wine.

From: Odum and Johnson, The Negro and His Songs (1925; 1968, p. 136)

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: DRINKIN' WINE
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 02:30 PM

DRINKIN' WINE

Cho. (twice)
Drinkin' wine, drinkin' wine,
You ought to have bin there,
Ten thousand years, drinkin' wine.

Anybody ask you 'bout that time,
Ever'body dead and gone on high,
You ought to have bin there, ten thousand years,
Drinkin' wine.

Cho. (with) You ought...

If my mother asks for me,
Tell her I've gone to Gallilee,
She ought to have bin there, ten thousand years,
Drinkin' wine.

Cho. (with) She ought...

If my sister asks for me, etc.

Cho. (with) She ought...

If the people ask for me,
Tell them I've gone to Gallilee,
They ought to have bin there, ten thousand years,
Drinkin' wine

Cho. (with) They ought...

Ed Jones, 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.
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