From the late great Bob Gibson and Shel Silverstein...


Heavenly Choir

Part of the Heavenly Choir
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found
Ain’t that a heavenly choir
Ain’t that a hell of a sound

Last night I heard Josh White playing
From somewhere on the other side
In an orchard full of strange fruit hangin’
With his head thrown back, he stood there singin’
He snapped those strings till his fingers bled
He bent those notes till his guitar wept…now he’s…

Part of the Heavenly Choir
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found
Ain’t that a heavenly choir
Ain’t that a hell of a sound

Then I heard Hank Williams moaning
So lonesome he could cry
Tellin’ of ways that life could hurt ya
Tellin’ of women who love and desert ya
Showin’ us ways that a man can die
Like a poor whippoorwill who’s too blue to fly…now he’s…

Part of the Heavenly Choir
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found
Ain’t that a heavenly choir
Ain’t that a hell of a sound

Then I heard sweet Janis singin’
Oh, Pearl, wailin’ high, sailin’ wide
Tellin’ of troubles that soon shall end
Singin’, “Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz”
Sayin’, “This chorus had better start cookin’ fast
And if I can’t sing lead, you can all kiss my ass”…now she’s…

Then I heard Bessie Smith singin’
And wearin’ her bangles and beads
Shoutin’ the blues so the whole world could hear
Shoutin’, “Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer”
In a hospital waitin’ room, waitin’ too long
Livin’ the blues as she dies to her song… now she’s…

Part of the Heavenly Choir
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found
Ain’t that a heavenly choir
Ain’t that a hell of a sound

Words & music by Bob Gibson and Shel Silverstein
© Robert Josiah Music / Evil Eye Music


Saul