Well, looky here. Maybe the fun-poking version was first:

Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan?
In terms of number of recordings, Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers was the most prolific of the Georgia string bands of the 1920s and 30s. They typified the unrestrained Georgia string band style, featuring comedy skits, fiddle breakdowns, and the hillbilly showman personality of Gid Tanner. The band featured Tanner and Clayton McMichen on fiddle, Fate Norris on a barely audible banjo, and Riley Puckett on guitar.
    "Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan" is an old gospel/novelty song which manages to poke fun at several of the major religions. As if the words weren't enough to make this song outrageous, the chorus has a few extra beats added for good measure.

Source: Old Time Songbook, by Wayne Erbsen. Native Ground.
Recording on file by: Sam Bush & Friends.

Online Source: Old Town School of Folk Music.


The song is also in Sing Out! Vol 26, #3 - anybody got that one?
The version in the Digital Tradition is just about the same as what I hear in the Skillet Lickers recording Dale Rose sent me. Thanks, Dale.
-Joe Offer-