The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41929   Message #3682962
Posted By: Joe Offer
06-Dec-14 - 03:30 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan
Subject: Origins: Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan
Here's the Traditional Ballad Index Entry for this song:

Don't You Hear Jerusalem Mourn?

DESCRIPTION: Describes the foibles of various denominations of preachers; a Baptist has a bottle in his pocket, etc. Chorus: "Don't you hear Jerusalem Mourn?...Thank God for the heaven bells a-ringin' and my soul starts singin'"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recording, Bill Chitwood & Bud Landress)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Describes the foibles of various denominations of preachers; a Baptist has a bottle in his pocket, a Hardshell "never chews his own tobacco nor drinks his own booze," a Presbyterian is stiff-necked, a Holy Roller "gets them all a-rolling then he kicks the lights out." Chorus: "Don't you hear Jerusalem Mourn?...Thank God for the heaven bells a-ringin' and my soul starts singin'"
KEYWORDS: sex drink humorous nonballad clergy
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
DT, JERUSLEM*
Roud #4945
RECORDINGS:
Warren Caplinger, "Jerusalem Mourn" (Vocalion 5240, 1928)
Bill Chitwood & Bud Landress, "Jerusalem Mourn" (Brunswick 2809, 1925)
Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, "Can't You Hear Jerusalem Moan" (Columbia 15104-D, 1926)

ALTERNATE TITLES:
Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan?
NOTES: This seems to be a distant parody of a spiritual, "Jerusalem Mourning", recorded in 1910. I suspect a minstrel origin. - PJS
File: RcDYHJM

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2014 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.


And here's the Digital Tradition version of the song:
DON'T YOU HEAR JERUSALEM MOAN?

There's a Meth'dist preacher, you can tell him by his bow---
Don't you hear Jerusalem moan?
Never grubbles at a chicken, just picks out the co'
Don't you hear Jerusalem moan?

cho: Don't you hear Jerusalem moan?
Don't you hear Jerusalem moan?
Get to Heaven with a ringin' and my soul starts singin'
Don't you hear Jerusalem moan?

There's a Baptis' preacher, you can tell him by his walk
Got a bottle in his pocket an' he can't hardly talk.

There's a Hardshell preacher, you can tell 'im by his shoes,
Never chaws his own terbaccer er drinks his own booze.

There's a Campbellite preacher, an' his soul is saved,
But he has to get baptised ever' other day.

There's a Holy Roller preacher, he can show you how to shout,
When he gits them all a-rollin' they kick the lights out.

There's a Presbyt'ian preacher, an' he lives in town,
His neck's so stiff he cain't hardly look around.

@religion
filename[ JERUSLEM
TUNE FILE: JERUSLEM
CLICK TO PLAY
RG