Lyr Add: John (Done) Saw That Number

Subject: John (Done) Saw That Number
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 09:22 PM

JOHN (DONE) SAW THAT NUMBER

Sung: (1st verse also used as part of chorus)
1. John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air,
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
Cho.
Cryin' "Holy,"
Cryin' "Holy,"
Cryin' "Holy, my God," (also, "Holy, my Lord")
Cryin' "Holy."

2. John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.

Chanted:
3. See, see, see, man, read,
Read the Revelation,
Third chapter, third verse,
And there, you'll find it there;
There was a man of the Pharisees,
Named Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews,
Satan* came to him by night,
Says, "No man can do these mi'acles
Except God be with him there."

Chorus sung:
4. Cryin', "Holy, Lord," (twice)
Cryin', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy."

5. John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.

Chanted:
6. There was a beast came out of the sea
Havin' ten horns and ten crowns,
On his horns was a-written blaspheme-
Cho.
Sung:
7. Weep like a willow, mourn like a dove,
You can't get to Heaven 'thout you go by love.

8. John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air,
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
Cho.
9. John couldn't read it, Lord,
John Couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.

10. Cryin', "Holy, Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy, Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy."

Chanted:
11. God told the angel,
Go down, see 'bout ole John."
Angel flew from the bottom of the pit,
Gathered the sun all in her fist;
Gathered the moon all 'round her wrist;
Gathered the stars all under her feet;
Gathered the wind all 'round her waist.

Sung:
12. Cryin', "Holy, Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy, Lord,"
Cryin', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cryin', Holy."

John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.

*"Same," in Our Singing Country. The chorus is the 1st and 4th verses of the printed version. Parts are missing from the printed version (3rd verse is a combination of two verses) in Our Singing Country, Lomax and Lomax, p. 16-21, but are difficult to understand from the recordings. The version above was modified from the printed text after listening to the recordings.
Vera Hall, Dock (Zebediah) Reed, and Jesse Allison, Livingston, AL. Click on Links at top of page and go to Lomax Collection for notes and sound.
@religion @spiritual @gospel

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Done) Saw That Number
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 10:30 AM

Other two versions.

JOHN DONE SAW DAT NUMBUH

John done saw dat numbuh,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
Don't-chu wanta jine dat numbuh,
  'Way in de middle of de air?

On de right I saw a sight,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
A band of Angels dressed in white,
  'Way in de middle of de air.

Havin' great tribulations,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
Havin' their harps in their han's,
  'Way in de middle of de air.

Singin' a new song brfore the throne,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
That Angels in Heabum could not sing,
  'Way in de middle of de air.

John done saw dat numbuh,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
Comin' up from hard triyuls,
  'Way in de middle of de air.

On de left I saw no rest,
  'Way in de middle of de air;
I'm gonna talk 'bout God myse'f,
  'Way in de middle of de air.

SOURCE: Mary Allen Grissom, The Negro Sings a New Heaven (1930; Dover, 1969, pp. 30-31, with tune)

JOHN SAW DE NUMBER

John done saw dat number
Way in de middle ob air;
John done saw dat number
Way in de middle ob air.

[Solo]Sing holy--[chorus] holy!
[Solo]Sing holy [chorus] holy
Sing holy lawd
Sing holy. [etc.]

SOURCE: Winthrop Sargeant, Jazz, Hot and Hybrid, 3rd ed. (1938; Da Capo, 1975, p. 184; the first verse only, with tune).

~Masato