Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 09:02 PM

I have no idea what this song is titled. It sounds like a contemporary bluegrass song. Its about a hardline preacher that does right and helps everybody, but once in a while he can't be reached cause he has fallen off the wagon and is drinking. I think in the song he's had a hard life. I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me who sings this or what the name of it is.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: Mark Clark
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 03:51 PM

I think a lot of bluegrass gospel lyrics are realy just old Baptist and Holiness hymns worked over into bluegrass arrangements. The melody is placed down in the upper baratone range and the tenor is sung a fifth higher as is common in bluegrass music.

Of course many bluegrass gospel songs are composed by the bands that play them. A real working bluegass band will include at least two gospel songs on every album they cut and every third or fourth album will be completely gospel. This tradition is deeply embedded in the music since most bluegrass musicians first learned to sing in church and when families get together to sing, gospel songs and hymns are often the ones everyone knows.

Everyone seems to be drinking much less these days than many of us used to, but I remember at festivals years ago that when everyone got too drunk to play (around 3:00am) they'd repair to someone's camper and sing gospel songs for another hour or two. Great fun.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: Dale Rose
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 03:11 AM

If you want to know where he gets a LOT of the a cappella stuff, check out The Chestnut Grove Quartet, County CD 2709, 1994 (reissue). County also has a number of their old cassettes available as well, but I would start with the CD. Doyle grew up listening to the Chestnut Grove boys as his father was a fan, and was quite familiar with their work. You only need to listen to a few cuts to hear the debt his music owes to the Chestnut Grove Quartet. Check CDNow for song samples of their music. If the link does not work, just go to their site and enter Chestnut Grove in the search box. Tunes.com has song samples as well. I didn't look, but I bet you can get the album through Mudcat/Camsco as well!

Here's a quote from singers.com :

More people have heard about the Chestnut Grove Quartet than have actually heard them, for they influenced the world of a cappella music tremendously. The quartet was created by friends who had sung together in childhood in Washington County, Virginia where they learned shape note singing from itinerant instructors. After returning from WW II, they started singing together once again but just didn't feel the need for instruments and became one of those rare mountain groups who sang their hymnody a cappella. In the mid '50s they started singing on newly opened WBBI in Abington. From 2:00 to 2:30 each Sunday, for thirty years, they had a show, paid for by the sale of songbooks and LP's.(Their first album was recorded in less than an hour!!!) After the death of his brother and singing partner, Carter Stanley, Ralph moved back home and became a great fan of the quartet. He was so influenced that, in 1971, he began singing quartet style a cappella in his shows. It was a hit. Now most bluegrass groups put down their instruments for a moment of gospel harmonizing. This music is major part of the reason why that happens.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 08:04 PM

Mark, when you find out, let us all know. I've been looking for a comprehensive bluegrass gospel songbook. There oughta be such a beast. Somebody suggested Heavenly Highway Hymns to me. It's good, but it's not the ultimate book I'm looking for.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: GUEST,markd
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 06:18 PM

OK Guys, thanks for da replies. I'd like to say, I've been roaming the net for some time, and I really wanna know where Doyle Lawson gets his lyrics. He doesn't seem to have an email address, so I can't ask the good man. And he won't come to my country -Holland- this year, so I won't see the man. I'm afraid I'll never see the dude in person.

Howevah, I NEED to know, so I won't care if it's gonna cost me. Ofcourse I visited Motoya's site, and the mirror in America as well, see "Greenlight on the southern" and ye'll find my name ! Right there. So thanx e'rybody, but I'm looking a little deeper than meets the eye.

So help me God.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 06:27 PM

Bluegrass World Links
Gospel Music Archive
Bluegrass and Southern Gospel Index
Try doing a simple search for either Bluegrass lyrics or Gospel lyrics--there really are a lot of places!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: BlueJay
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 05:45 PM

Guest, Markd- If you have specific songs you're looking for, try the Digital Tradition Database at the top of the forum page. You'll be amazed how many gospel songs are there. Aside from that, check ANY bluegrass links for lyrics, as bluegrass music is FULL of gospel tunes. Or you could post a request here at the Mudcat for specific songs, and you will probably be answered. It works best if you include the song title in the "subject" field, rather than "looking for lyrics" or something like that. Welcome to the Mudcat. I'm sure that at the Mudcat you will find many kindred souls, with a wealth of information that is nothing short of astounding! Joining is easy, free and painless. Just click the "membership" link at the top of the Forum page.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: tar_heel
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 04:37 PM

try the HERITAGE SHOP,RT. 1,BOX 505 WOODLAWN,VIRGINIA 24381, 540-236-9079 BOBBY PATTERSON,IS THE MAN YOU WANT TO TALK TO::: OR [e-mail]

Subject: Bluegrass-Gospel lyrics
From: GUEST,Markd
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 04:17 PM

Does anyone have suggestions about where I should be looking for sites with bluegrass-gospel lyrics ? Or maybe someone knows where Doyle Lawson finds his lyrics.....

Please let me know if you have an answer. Thank you in advance.

[e-mail]