Lyr Req: Preachin' Prayin' Singin' (Flatt&Scruggs)

Subject: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 09:33 PM

I have asked for this before and nobody seemed to know the words. "PREACHIN, PRAYING DOWN ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE" by Flatt and Scruggs. Was also done fairly recently by The Bluegrass Album Band.

Help is appreciated. Jeepman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:06 PM

Jeep, I hope somebody knows this one. I've been ALL OVER the net for the past hour and I can't find any lyrics for it. Found a couple of songbooks, but not a lyrics site anywhere with this listed. Sorry.

Keep refreshing this thread and maybe someone will have it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:05 AM

It is highly unlikely, but it may be on the one real old tape I threw into the library project without reading the fine print-- new glasses not due till April, and can't see worth... much. But I will look at it in the light of day. For you, jeeply one. I will use the magnifying glass.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 02:17 AM

I can certainly see the problem....

played it 7 or 8 times....hard to make out..

even SLOWED it down with KJOFOL PLAYER...

anybody want to give it a shot...

leave me a personal message with your email addy

and i will send RealMedia file of it..

It is cut 28 of F&S/The Complete Mercury Sessions

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 08:42 AM

Jeepman, can you take Gene him up on this offer? It sounds like, since you know the song somewhat, you might be the best candidate to sort out the words from the recording? And at least then you'd have a copy of the recording!

Gene, I see you posted as a guest. Is your Mudcat name also Gene, for PMs?

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:25 AM

Will do Gene. Thanks, and thanks to you Susan. Jeeply

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:26 AM

Gene, I don't know how to leave you a PM since you are not a member. Help me out. Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:07 AM

Jeeplified, if you are nervous about leaving your e-mail address hung up here, paste in the clickie to mine, and I'll forward a message to you from Gene.

Gene... my computer won't handle the sound file though. Dang. And I'd love to have this too, to put in the gospel tape library I'm about to ship around the globe.

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: PREACHIN' PRAYIN' SINGIN' (Flatt&Scruggs)
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:40 AM

I have the boxed set which includes this (Flatt & Scruggs 1948-1959 on Bear Family Records). Actually, I got it for my banjo-pickin' husband. Here are the lyrics, as I hear them:

Preachin', Prayin', Singin'

(Chorus)
Preachin', prayin', singin' everywhere
Shouting the praises of your lovin' care
All of God's children seemed to gather there
Preachin', prayin', singin', down on the public square.

I was a stranger there intent upon my way
But when I saw the crowd I had the urge to stay
I heard a welcome voice plead me to come and share
Their preachin', prayin', singin', down on the public square.

I felt so much at home amid the happy throng
That came from far and near to praise your name in song
To lay the burden down, forget their every care
And have an old-time meeting down on the public square.

Now as I journey on and think back on the day
I am convinced within these folks have found a way
To pour out their hearts in song just prayin' on this prayer
And leave that old bell ringin' down on the public square.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:49 AM

Ho Rah the Mudcat!

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: Gene
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:02 PM

YES I IS a member...
but I habitually delete all cookies...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:13 PM

You cookie-bleeper! *G*

I do that too, but Gene, you must recookie from time to time just to check PMs?

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:40 PM

Thanks, Barbara. I have looked for quite some time. Thanks also to Gene and my buddy Susan for their help and concern. Jeeply

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:50 PM

..........an hour on the freakin' net and I don't even get a mention. Searchin' and surfin' and bustin' my chops and I get bupkus for thanks. Plant one 'tween my coat vent Jeep!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prechin' Prayin' Singin'
From: Mark Clark
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 01:09 PM

I was out of town and just saw this request for the first time. I see Barbara has already supplied the lyrics so jeepman should be all set.

In performance, keep in mind that there is no banjo part on this tune or even a complete instrumental chorus. The thing that propels this tune is the fingerpicked guitar turnaround that Earl played by placing a capo on the seventh fret and using E chords. This wonderful guitar fill is almost lost today but you'll hear it behind Carl Story's work and several other "traditional" gospel groups. If you can add that to your performance, you'll really get the attention of knowledgable bluegrassers.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 03:11 PM

Thanks, Mark. I have been working on that style and hope others like it. Jman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 06:55 PM

We love you Catspaw,
Oh yes we do!
When you eat Vegemite,
Or fart blue.
But when you surf for us--
Wha-hoo!
... Oh Catspaw, we love you!

Can I plant it on Jeepster's behalf huh? Can I?

Been that kinda day-- you offering? I got celery-- that OK?

*G*

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 07:18 PM

Well, okay Susan.........since you're being so nice about it.................tell Jeep I'll get over it...I guess.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 07:31 PM

Ten four, 49, butt what about the celery?

Be specific. Please advise.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:16 PM

Hey Spaw. I sent you and apology but evidently it didn't get through. Here it is again. Sorry Spaw, it was an oversight and should not have happened. Jman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:29 PM

Jeepers! OK, here, you take charge of the celery then.

*G*

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jofield
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:38 AM

Mark touches on something interesting. Many of the original bluegrass bands put down the fiddle and banjo whenever they did a sacred song -- they are considered the "devil's instruments". Thanks to this tradition, we get great guitar turnarounds from Earl Scruggs as well as some wonderful mandolin and guitar bridges from other groups. Are there any contemporary bands that keep up this tradition?

When I played regularly in a band, I always had a secret yearning to finish a sacred song and hear absolute silence, the way one would in church. A little odd perhaps, inasmuch as I am nearly areligious, and not Christian by heritage. I guess the closest I get to a religious feeling is something in the complete dedication to one's fellow humans in a song like "Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus"...Such a far cry from the vindictive perversion that the religious Right has made of Christianity.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:44 AM

jofield, your post had an amazing amount of power packed into it. Because of that, the last line would have been unnecessary... adding it put all that force into a sadly negative picture. I wish you had just left the lovely thing you had said, stand... you see, you opened my heart and then dropped THAT into it.

And you know, it IS appropriate to linger in silence, after a piece like that-- any piece that reaches real deep. It's a gift to the audience to provide leadership in that moment, and allow them to come back from that place you've sent them, slowly. Do it that way-- please-- and see what happens.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 06:57 PM

Wish I had said that Susan. Jeeply

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: GUEST,SingSong/SusanGoo
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:50 PM

Dear WYSIWYG/Susan:

I understand Jofield's post and her last comment about the perversions of the Christian right...I spent all my life looking for something spiritual and finally found a little Church of Christ/Congregational that let's me enjoy the Lord without the "You vill do it our vay or you vill burn in Hell." My mother is convinced my pastor is satinic because he posits that Mary might have been a happily married Jewish woman with 6 sons and who knows how many daughters. She's convinced I'll burn in Hell because I don't believe the bible, as passed through our very human hands, is inerrant. To which I can only reply..."Amazing Grace..." and that's all I need. Please forgive all of us who have suffered at the hands of all those "Christians." We're working at not judging Christ by the Christians. Really.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flatt and Scruggs Gospel Song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:48 AM

Guest, believe me, I know all about that. But I am not going to debate all that here. My comment was to jofield only, and only as stated.

I'd be glad to pursue this further in e-mail if you like.

(Click HERE to e-mail me.)

~Susan