Roberto

I've had a closer listen now. The version I used I picked up from YouTube and it says it's Blind Willie Johnson with Willie B Harris, 1930 (no matrix number given), so I don't know if it's the same version that you have.

There are some minor corrections in the verses, but the chorus seems to be basically:

  Well, want somebody to tell me, answer if you can
  Want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man?

with slight variations. The second line I think always uses want (though to comes and goes) and definitely always uses just what.... The first line I have more trouble deciding between a-won't and I want. In the opening chorus it seems definitely to be I want agreeing with to tell me further along, but in other choruses this is not so clear cut.

I'll give the version below with the corrections I've made and I'll use I want in the first line of all choruses, with the proviso that it may not always be correct(!).

Mick

---

SOUL OF A MAN

Well, want somebody to tell me, answer if you can
Want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man?

I'm going to ask the question, please answer if you can
Is there anybody's children can tell me, just what is the soul of a man?

Well, I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man

I've travelled different countries, I've travelled to'n furthest land
I've found nobody could tell me, just what about the soul of a man

Well, want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man

I saw a crowd stand talking, I just came up in time
Was teaching the lawyer, the doctor, well a man ain't nothing but in mind

Well, I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man
God, I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody tell me, just what is the soul of a man

I reads the bible often, I tries to read it right
And far as I could understand, nothing but a burnin' light

God I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody tell me, just what is the soul of a man

When Christ sat in at the temple, the people all stood amazed
Was teaching the lawyers, doctors, how to raise a man from the grave

Well, I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man?

Well, I want somebody tell me, answer if you can
I want somebody to tell me, just what is the soul of a man?



Source: Blind Willie Johnson and Willie B Harris, 1930