17 Aug 00 - 10:16 PM (#279937) Subject: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Mary in Kentucky Help again Joe! It appears that we have another medley instead of correct words in the DT again. I just don't know for sure. Twelve Gates to the City, found here, appears to have the words to Wade in the Water when it says "who are those children dressed in red." My copy of Twelve Gates to the City doesn't have those words. For all out in cyberspace, I'm still trying to help MMario locate tunes for the DT, but even when I think I know a song, I'm finding many variations and mistakes. Any help is appreciated. Mary |
17 Aug 00 - 11:46 PM (#280024) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: IvanB Mary, my copy of the song (in the Joan Baez Songbook) has words of the same import, but arranged to better fit the tune (I think). I suppose, if someone actually transcribed the words from a recording by the Rev. Gary Davis,that he might have done it that way, but I don't think those lyrics would fit the tune I know. Finding a definitive version of a spiritual can be difficult just because there WAS so much borrowing back and forth. |
17 Aug 00 - 11:56 PM (#280036) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Mary in Kentucky My book, Something to Sing About! says it is a favorite (and chosen by) Reverend Gary Davis. I'll post the words after I hear a little more. |
18 Aug 00 - 04:32 AM (#280105) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Joe Offer Another song that used "dressed in red...dressed in white...etc." is "Go Tell It on the Mountain." I have songbooks that use the "dressed" verses for both "Wade in the Water" and "Twelve Gates." I'm sure we could find many other songs that use those words. In fact, I think we had a thread discussing that. -Joe Offer- Here is the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song: Twelve Gates to the CityDESCRIPTION: Spiritual: "Oh, what a beautiful city/There's twelve gates to the city, halleluiah"; "Three gates in the east, three gates in the west/Three gates in the north, three gates in the south."AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (recording, Norfolk Jubilee Quartet) KEYWORDS: nonballad religious FOUND IN: US(SE) REFERENCES (4 citations): Warren-Spirit, pp. 72-73, "Oh! What a Beautiful City" (1 text, 1 tune) PSeeger-AFB, p. 81, "Twelve Gates to the City" (1 text, 1 tune) Silber-FSWB, p. 349, "Twelve Gates to the City" (1 text) DT, TWLVGATE RECORDINGS: Marian Anderson, "Oh! What a Beautiful City" (Victor 10-1040, 1943) Blind Gary [Davis], "Twelve Gates to the City" (ARC 7-04-55, 1937; rec. 1935) (1992, on "Harlem Street Singer," Prestige Bluesville CD OBCCD-547-2(BV-1015); recorded 1960)) Blind Boy Fuller w. Sonny Terry, "Twelve Gates to the City" (Vocalion 05465, 1940) Galilee Singers, "What a Beautiful City" (Decca 7765, 1940) Norfolk Jubilee Quartet, "Oh What a Beautiful City" (Paramount 12929, 1930; rec. 1929) Pete Seeger & Sonny Terry, "Twelve Gates to the City" (on SeegerTerry) Pete Seeger, "Beautiful City" (on PeteSeeger18)); "Twelve Gates to the City" (on PeteSeeger42); "Oh, What a Beautiful City [Twelve Gates to the City]" (on PeteSeeger47) Sonny Terry [pseud., Saunders Terrell], "Beautiful City" (on Terry01) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Tell My Mother" (floating lyrics) ALTERNATE TITLES: Oh, What a Beautiful City NOTES: I know there are earlier recordings of this piece (it was a showpiece for Rev. Gary Davis), and probably earlier printed citations too, but I haven't found them yet. - PJS The image of the heavenly city may possibly be derived from Chapter 21 of the Apocalypse, which mentions "the holy city, the new Jerusalem" (21:2), but the twelve gates of the city, three on each side, although mentioned in 21:3, are ultimately taken from Ezekiel 48:30-34. - RBW Last updated in version 4.1 File: PSAFB081 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. And the Digital Tradition lyrics: TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY cho: Oh, what a beautiful city. Oh, what a beautiful city Oh, what a beautiful city Twelve gates to the city, Hallelujah Three gates in the east, Three gates in the west, Three gates in the north Three gates in the south There's twelve gates to the city, Hallelujah. Who are those children dressed in red? There's twelve gates to the city, Hallelujah Must be the children that Moses led There's twelve gates to the city, Hallelujah My God done just what He said He healed the sick and He raised the dead. When I get to heaven gonna sing and shout Ain't nobody there gonna put me out. Recorded by Gary Davis @religion @spiritual filename[ TWLVGATE TUNE FILE: TWLVGATE CLICK TO PLAY RG |
18 Aug 00 - 07:15 AM (#280133) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Mary in Kentucky Thanks Joe, I saw the threads on Go Tell It On the Mountain and Wade in the Water. It seems that even printed versions of these spirituals have a lot of borrowing back and forth. Here's my version of Twelve Gates to the City which also goes with the midi I sequenced:
TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY |
18 Aug 00 - 07:26 AM (#280135) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Bud Savoie The "children dressed in red" verse is a floater and works with innumerable other Gospel tunes like "Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John," "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep," and "I'm Gettin' Ready to Put on my Long White Robe." |
18 Aug 00 - 02:58 PM (#280367) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Jacob B Makes you wonder what other songs those lyrics might fit to. How about: Who's that yonder dressed in red Must be the children that Moses led Honey, let me be your salty dog *BG* |
18 Aug 00 - 03:02 PM (#280371) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Bert Mary, I hope you never get around to defining the difference between a variation and a mistake. I'd never be able to sing again;-) |
18 Aug 00 - 03:05 PM (#280373) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: MMario a variation is "See them children dressed in red" versus "See Those children dressed in red" a mistake is "See them children dressed in dre" |
18 Aug 00 - 03:09 PM (#280377) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water From: Bert But I ALWAYS sing 'Dressed in dre' |
09 Jun 01 - 03:54 PM (#479807) Subject: Lyr Add: TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY (Trinity Version From: wysiwyg We're closing tonight's service with it, a capella, this way:
TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY SH |
01 Mar 10 - 09:08 PM (#2853668) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God Specializes (Have you any rivers} From: GUEST,LIGHTNING I AM LOOKING FOR THE ARTIST WHO SINGS A GOSPEL SONG CALLED 12 GATES, AND WHERE ARE THE LYRICS? LIGHTNING |
29 Nov 14 - 03:43 AM (#3680905) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City From: GUEST,ST Mary in Kentucky, I sing a version similar to yours with the second verse saying, When I get to the heaven I'm gonna sing and shout. There ain't nobody there Who's gonna put me out. And you know, Twelve gates into the city, o halleloo! |
29 Nov 14 - 05:05 PM (#3681063) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City From: GUEST,Squeezer The Pete Seegar lyrics website names Marion Hicks as the author. Anyone know anything about her? |
29 Nov 14 - 05:59 PM (#3681077) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City From: GUEST,Rahere I'd be interested to see if that's possibly a really old one, as I can see Arab and mediaeval European horoscopy described in it. Unlike modern circular casting, the older ones were square, as described here - they changed in the 17th century, and it's possible something hung on in the US. Or it could just be coincidence... |
30 Nov 14 - 08:22 AM (#3681162) Subject: RE: 12 Gates to the City From: GUEST,Squeezer Co-incidence. The 12 gates are the 12 tribes of Israel, a metaphor found several times in the bible apparently. |