Lyr Req: John The Baptist - Rev Moses Mason

Subject: Lyr Req: John The Baptist - Rev Moses Mason
From: GUEST,Bernard
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 12:20 PM

Trying to figure out the lyrics to John The Baptist by Rev Moses Mason (Paramount 12702A) from 1928. Anyone have any ideas? I's a real tricky one.

This is what I have so far...

John The Baptist.

John done saw that number, in the air(1)
John done saw that number, in the air

Inculcating John The Baptist,
Preaching in the wilderness
All the children came from east
Came from the east,
For the kingdom of heaven
Speaking of...........
.................... prophecy
That was spoken (of the Bible) ..........prophecy

A voice of one crying in the wilderness............... .....................
John had a raiment of camel hide and a leather girdle, not his own (2)

John done saw that number, in the air
John done saw that number, in the air
Crying "hooley, hooley, hooley my Lord God, hooley" (3)

Jesus came from Nazare' unto Galilee
to be baptised by John in Jordan
And John said unto Him "Come yourself to me,
I need to be baptised of thee"
And Jesus said unto John "Suffer it to be...... ........................... ..........................

John done saw that number, in the air
John done saw that number, in the air
Crying "how long, how long, how long my Lord God, how long."

After Jesus was baptised of John
Straight way out of the water
He looking He saw a dove..................
And the spirit of God came down and laid a bow(?) on him
And Jesus was carried up into the mountain
To be tempted, all-forsaken
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights
They tempters came unto him and said
"If Thou be the Son of God, cast thy weight
'Cos he's going to be a burden."

Jesus said unto John
"Get behind me, for it is written thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God But him only (thou shall obey?)

John done saw that number, written in the middle of the air John done saw that number, written in the middle of the air

NOTES

(1) "middle of the air" could be "golden altar" - see below
(2) I'm assuming "not his own" is a cheeky aside, apparently there is no Biblical basis for thinking he'd borrowed his gear!
(3) It sounds like "hooley" - are there similar cries in other songs?




One of the Alan & John Lomax books ("Our Singing Country; Folk Songs and Ballads", 1941, http://web.doverpublications.com/cgi-bin/toc.pl/0486410897)
lists a song with the title "John Done Saw That Number." I have a different Lomax book at home but I'll check to see if it's in there.

And from http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/john_saw_the_holy_number.htm - this has a similar opening line which may be better than ours:

"JOHN SAW THE HOLY NUMBER"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from "The Book of American Negro Spirituals"
by J. W. Johnson, J. R. Johnson, 1925

John saw.
Oh, John saw
John saw the holy number
Sitting on the golden altar

Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
Is the Lamb, is the Lamb
Oh, Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
Sitting on the golden altar

Mary wept and Martha cried
Martha, Martha cried
Oh, Weeping Mary weeps no more
Sitting on the golden altar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John The Baptist - Rev Moses Mason
From: GUEST,Eddie Taylor
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 03:55 PM

Hi there

Going with you Hooley (as holy) this is my stab. Still some gaps though.

Eddie

John The Baptist.

John done saw that number, in the air
John done saw that number, in the air

Inculcating John The Baptist,
Preaching in the wilderness
All the children came from east
Came from the east,
For the kingdom of heaven
It ain't for this is he
That was spoken of by the prophecy, yeah
The voice of one
Crying in the wilderness so badly
Stayed away all day Lord
It made him____________insane
John had a raiment of camel hide
and a leather girdle, not his own

John done saw that number, in the air
John done saw that number, in the air
Crying "hooley, hooley, hooley my Lord God, hooley"

Jesus came from Nazarene unto Galilee
To be baptised of John in Jordan
And John said unto Him "Come yourself to me,
I need to be baptised of thee"
And Jesus said unto John "Suffer it to be
Come__________________alright

John done saw that number, in the air
John done saw that number, in the air
Crying "how long, how long,
How long my Lord God, how long."

After Jesus was baptised of John
Straight way out of the water
He looking He saw a dove_____________
And the spirit of God came down and laid a bow on him
And Jesus was carried up into the mountain
To be tempted, all-forsaken
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights
They tempters came unto him and said
"If Thou be the Son of God, cast thy weight
'Cause he's going to be a burden."

Jesus said unto John
"Get behind me, for it is written
Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God
But him only thou should obey

John done saw that number, written in the middle of the air
John done saw that number, written in the middle of the air

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John The Baptist - Rev Moses Mason
From: GUEST,R.L. Hargis (Anthology Revisited)
Date: 26 Jun 26 - 04:36 PM

For the most part, the verses are taken directly from Chapters 3 and 4 of the Book of Matthew, King James Version of the Bible. There are some variations where Mason couldn't quite make it fit, but if you read this transcription and listen to the song, it will make sense. :)

-----

John done saw that number
In the middle of the air
John done saw that number
In the middle of the air
Eeeeeeeee--

In those days came John the Baptist
Preaching in the wilderness
Of Judaea, and saying, “Repent ye
For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias
Saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way of the Lord
And made his path way straight and the same
John had a raiment of camel hair
and a leather girdle, about his loins

John done saw that number
In the middle of the air
John done saw that number
Way in the middle of the air
Crying Hurry! Hurry! Hurry my Lord, God hurry.
Wheeeee

Jesus came from Nazarene unto Galilee
To be baptized of John in Jordan and
John said unto him “Why comest thou unto me?
I need to be baptized of thee”
And Jesus said unto John
“Suffer it to be so for thus it becomes us to fulfill
All righteousness and

John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air
John done saw that number
Way the middle of the air
Crying “How long? How long? How long, my lord? Lord, how long?”.
Heyyy

Jesus when he was baptized of John
Straightaway out of the water
Looked and saw the heavens open
And the Spirit of God came down
And lit above on him and

Jesus was carried up into the mountain
To be tempted of Satan
And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights
The tempter came unto him and said
“If Thou be the Son of God,
Cause that these stones become bread

And Jesus said unto John
“Get behind me, for it is written
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God
But Him only thou should obey.

John done saw that number,
way in the middle of the air
John done saw that number,
in the middle of the air