Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^

Subject: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him what...
From: Fortunato
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 03:12 PM

Hello Friends,

I'm looking for the lyrics for this gospel song:

Jesus on the Main Line, Tell Him What You Want.

Can you help?

Regards, Chance

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Search for other "Jesus on the Mainline" threads

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 03:26 PM

I don't have the lyrics to this song written down though I do sing the song. I first heard it on Ry Cooder's Paradise and Lunch CD. It is on the Reprise label and the number is 2179-2. If no one posts the lyrics within a day or two, I'll type them in and post them. (By the way, the whole CD is great!)........Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: Fortunato
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 04:01 PM

Jim, I don't think I have that Cooder CD. But let me look. Thanks.

Chance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 04:16 PM

flattop has them. I've just messaged him about this thread.

Subject: Add: Jesus on the Mainline^^
From: flattop
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 06:03 PM

JESUS ON THE MAINLINE
(Traditional)

I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Wo, that line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Keep on calling Him up
And tell Him what you want

Well, if you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, if you're sick and wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Well, if you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
If you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
Call Him up and tell Him what you want ^^

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(this version has been included in the Digital Tradition)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: GUEST,Fortunato/Chance
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 10:55 PM

Thanks alot, Carol C and Flattop!

You guys are OK!

regards, Chance Shiver

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: Stewie
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 01:04 AM

Did Cooder get his version from Joseph Spence?

For a song with a similar theme have a listen to Blind Roosevelt Sykes & Brother 'Telephone to Glory' (1929) Document DOCD-5105 which had been first recorded in a fiery version by Sister Mary Nelson in 1927. Paul Oliver has commented that such songs were part of a new trend in the 20s to find gospel images that 'related to contemporary society and linked the familiar to the holy' and that 'such familiarity with a personal God and a "direct line" to Jesus strongly appealed to working class worshippers who had little access to theological abstractions'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: Stewie
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 01:22 AM

My apologies. In my previous posting it should have read Blind Roosevelt Graves & Brother. Somehow Roosevelt Sykes came into my mind - a bird of a very different wing. I doubt whether either Graves would have approved of some of Roosevelt Sykes' more salacious sides.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: KAS
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 02:18 AM

Howdy Chance!

One of my all-time favorites: Track 9, Disc 3 (Negro Church Music/White Spirituals)in Alan Lomax's stellar "Sounds of the South" collection (Atlantic, 1993). It's a 1959 field recording, sung by James Shorty, Viola James, and Congregation. Fantastic! The perfect demo for teaching/learning the song. Great sound quality, much other amazing stuff in that collection too - not all overlaps with the new Lomax rereleases from Rounder.

Cheers,

Ken Schatz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: KAS
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 02:31 AM

PS

For something completely different, Joseph Spence (referenced above)sang it with the Pinder Family of the Bahamas. Recorded by Guy Droussart in 1978, their version is on Spence's album Glory (Rounder, 1990). Far out.

Ken

Subject: ADD Chords: Jesus on the Main Line
From: flattop
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 08:31 AM

The version on Ry Cooder's album Paradise and Lunch goes like this:

JESUS ON THE MAINLINE
(Traditional)
(C) - (F) - (G)

(C) Now, Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
(F) Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you (C) want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want (Am)
You can (C) call Him up and (F) tell Him what you (C) want

Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Wo, that line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
The line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
You can call Him up
And tell Him what you want

Now, if you're sick and wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Oo, if you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
If you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, if you want your soul converted
Tell Him what you want
If you want your soul converted
Tell Him what you want
If you want your soul converted
Tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

Now, if your soul's in danger
Tell Him what you want
If your soul's in danger
Tell Him what you want
If your soul's in danger
Tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: Fortunato
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 03:28 PM

Thanks, Kenny, how do you be like?

Thanks Flat Top, I like that version!

You guys are the greatest.

thanks to all. chance/Fortunato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 03:41 PM

Gaither Vocal Band has a kicked up version where they start out a capella and so slow it's almost unbearable as they growl-whisper.... then it breaks, after a LONG first verse and chorus done that way, into a fast, highly-produced four-part (white) male gospel quartet style... wow!!! Each line in the verse, once they kick it up to speed, is taken by a different voice, I think. Or they each get a verse. I forget. But wow!!!

Thnking of doing it that way in church, soon.

Flats-- thanks for the words and chords! I needed that!

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: dwditty
Date: 01 May 01 - 06:19 AM

I just returned froma three day retreat where we sang this song often. The "mainline" image comes from the days of the party line. If you had an emergency you would ask the operator for the mainline so you could make your call. The song comes alive in a group because about half of them automatically start singing the echos.

dw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line, Tell him wha
From: GUEST,(jo)
Date: 02 May 01 - 05:19 AM

Those lyrics also pop up used by the Alabama 3 (now theres an odd bunch...)
i think its in the song Lets go back to church

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 10:31 PM

Joseph Spence recorded "Jesus on the Mainline" with the Pinder Family in May, 1978. It's on the Rounder Joseph Spence CD called "Glory." I can't make out the lyrics very well. It's similar to the Ry Cooder version, but not the same.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 02:32 PM

I wrote a parody of this based on the notion sponsored by our beloved ex-primeminister (in office at the time)
"Major's on the Cone Phone"
the story was that JM- PM thought we would like a telephone number to report overuse of traffic cones on major roads in the UK and the cone operator would whisk them away in short order.
Inevitably everyone & his brother's dog who was sat in a traffic jam rang the number and abused the poor operators.
an easy target for a song, what?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 08:25 PM

Title variants and performers (all recorded in CDs) are as follows:

(1) Jesus On The Mainline (Ry Cooder, Joseph Spence, James Shorty & Viola James)
(2) Jesus Is On The Mainline (Gospel Harmonettes, Isaac Douglas, Bad Livers)
(3) Jesus On The Mainline, Tell Him What You Want (Sam Block)
(4) On The Mainline (Chosen Gospel Singers)
(5) Go Tell Him What You Want (Voices of Jordan)
(6) Tell Jesus (What You Want) (Pilgrim Jubilee Singers)
(7) Tell Him What You Want

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Azizi
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 04:50 PM

Here are some YouTube videos of "Jesus Is On The Main Line":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ8R9A69oh0&feature=related
Pastor Jackson Sings "Jesus Is On The Mainline"

**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfU6kbgR1SY
Ry Cooder - Jesus On The Mainline 1973

**

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHDmU0PdtkI&feature=related
Ebenezer Baptist Church Communion Radio Broadcast Service-Jesus Is On The Main Line

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hQhiY7sciE&feature=related
Jesus on the Main Line; MERRILL PICKETT AT THE "WOODBINE OPRY"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 02:38 PM

I'm pretty sure I've heard this sung by Mississippi Fred McDowell, although no recording by him is mentioned above. It might have been a live performance that I (vaguely) remember, not a recording, but I suspect that Fred probably did record this number at some point.

This song seems pretty obviously "traditional" (or anonymous, or "folk-processed") even though the lyrics reference some fairly modern technology (the telephone) at an early stage of that technology's evolution (the party line or "mainline"). Kinda like the white-gospel classic "Turn the Radio On."

It was many years before I noticed the very close similarity between this song's melody and its harmonic structure (chord changes) to those of "This Little Light of Mine." Hearing one of the local brass bands sing verses of both songs, switching back and forth seemingly at random, made it obvious.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Diva
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 05:26 PM

Spooky just been listening to it...Ry Cooder

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 09:15 AM

We put some spoof verses in like.....

Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps

and my favourite

For the total and complete distruction of the capatilist state
(I know it doesn't scan but thats half the fun)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 01:18 PM

Mississippi Fred McDowell did record, titles "Jesus Is on the Mainline," And "Jesus on the Mainline."
Allmusic lists some 170 or so under the two titles; a much recorded gospel song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: Azizi
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 11:50 AM

Happy New Year!

Inspired by another Mudcat thread, I just published this blog post on Telephone Central Songs From Gospel And Blues Traditions:

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/telephone-central-songs-from-gospel.html

That blog post includes two transcriptions of the Gospel song "Jesus Is On The Mainline", as well as a YouTube sound file and YouTube video of that song. It also includes a transcription of a YouTube sound file of Bluesman Lightnin Hopkin's song "Give Me 209 (Hello Central)".

Best wishes,

Azizi Powell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jesus on the Main Line^^
From: banjoman
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 07:54 AM

I have heard the last verse sung irreverently as
"If you want your neighbours wfe ..."