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27 Apr 06 - 05:47 AM (#1728612) Subject: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: Danks On the Springsteen "Pete Seegar" album, Bruce performs a song called " Eyes On the Prize" which is basically the same song - i.e. "Gospel Plough" - as Dylan did on his first album; interestingly, I remember reading that, way back, young bluegrass musicians picked up on Dylan's version and it subsequentially became a bluegrass standard. I think, even, Bill Monroe recorded it. Does anyone know anything about the origins of the song? |
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27 Apr 06 - 06:12 AM (#1728628) Subject: RE: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: erinmaidin I believe the song, in today's form, was written around the inception of the Civil Rights movement. The lyrics, if they are the "Paul and Silas" ones, were written by a woman named Alice Wine, from one of the Carolina states. It is based on a chapter from the bible, Luke, I believe, where Christ is speaking one of his parables and says something to the effect of "if a man puts his hand on the plough and then looks back, he is not worthy to enter the Kingdom". Hence, keep your eyes on the prize. |
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27 Apr 06 - 12:17 PM (#1728856) Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: Franz S. Can't believe I got to this before Joe: Keep Your Hand on the Plow DESCRIPTION: Various events from scripture intended to encourage the troubled: Paul and Silas in jail, Jesus washing the disciples feet, Mary's chain. Chorus: "Hold on, hold on, Keep your hand on the plow, hold on." AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1937 KEYWORDS: Bible religious prison FOUND IN: US(Ap) REFERENCES (3 citations): Lomax-FSUSA 111, "Keep Your Hand on the Plow" (1 text, 1 tune, plus the modern parody "United Nations Make a Chain") Silber-FSWB, p. 362, "Hold On" (1 text) DT, HANDPLOW* Roud #10075 RECORDINGS: Pete Seeger with Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Big Bill Broonzy, Bill McAdoo, "Hold On" (on PeteSeeger15) Pete Seeger, "Hold On" (on Selma) (on PeteSeeger44) (on PeteSeeger48) (on PeteSeeger27) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep" (floating lyrics) cf. "Keep Your Hand upon the Chariot" cf. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" (song from the civil rights movement, adapted from Keep Your Hand on the Plow) Notes: Paul and Silas's stay in prison is related in Acts 16:19-40. The footwashing is described in John 13:1-11. Mary's chain is apocryphal, perhaps a free extrapolation on Luke 2:35. - RBW File: LxU111 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2006 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Search text: paul and Silas Document 1 of 11 Title: Keep Your Hand on the Plow ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © 1999-2001 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Some preexisting portions Copyright © 1997-2000 Netscape Communications Corporation. All Rights Reserved. |
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27 Apr 06 - 12:34 PM (#1728864) Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: Joe Offer You just think you did, Franz (click). [grin] I can hardly wait to get to the Post Office to see if my Springsteen CD came in today - gotta do homeschooling first... -Joe- |
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28 Apr 06 - 12:19 AM (#1729111) Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: Franz S. Joe, I am humbled but not humiliated. That was a good thread. |
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31 Oct 06 - 12:39 AM (#1872739) Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: Johnhenry'shammer Does anybody know of a recording, other than Dylan's, with pre-civil rights era lyrics? |
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31 Oct 06 - 08:11 PM (#1873461) Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize From: GUEST,Richie Here are some sources/recordings: Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Folk Song USA, Signet, Sof (1966/1947), #111 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow) Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 60 Carawan, Guy. Tree of Life, Flying Fish FF 525, LP (1990), trk# A.01 Folksmiths. We've Got Some Singing to Do, Folkways FA 2407, LP (1958), trk# B.03 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow) Folk Singers. Run Come Hear, Elektra EKL-157, LP (1958), trk# B.08 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow) Foster, Alex; and Michel Larue. American Negro Slave Songs, Tradition 2108, LP (1973), trk# B.04 Gateway Singers. At the hungry i, Decca DL 8671, LP (1958), trk# A.04 McSpadden, Lynn. McSpadden, Lynn / Four and Twenty Songs for the Mountain Dulcimer, Dulcimer Shoppe, sof (1970), p36 Odetta. Odetta at Carnegie Hall, Vanguard VRS-9076, LP (1961), trk# B.06 Oneida School Girls. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p292/# 209 [1917/08/18] Seeger, Pete. Hootenanny at Carnegie Hall, Folkways FN 2512, LP (1960/1958-9), trk# B.06 (United Nations Make a Chain) |