Lyr Req: Standing on the Highway (Isaac Freeman)

Subject: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 06:20 PM

I'm listening to a new album by Isaac Freeman, bass singer for the Fairfield Four. This is his first solo album, at the age of 74. After a lifetime of singing a capella, he's backed by a wonderful Nashville blues band called the Bluebloods. One the album, the first cut is a song I haven't heard, that I'd really like to get more words to. He only sings one verse.

The song is Standing on the Highway

"As I walked down the lonesome highway
You know my heart was lifted up with prayer
Mu Mother said son, son don't you worry
I know the Lord surely will make a way
But as I walked down the lonesome highway
You know my heart was lifted up with prayer
She left me standing out on the Highway, Lord
Lord I was just wondering which way to go

She left me standing, Mother left me standing,
Mother left mE standing, out on the highway
just wondering which way to go

And then he starts improvising,

My Mother's gone and left, she's gone and left me all alone
My Mother left me out on the highway
Just wondering which way to go

Just keep on marchin, Just keep on Marchin'
I'll never get tired, out on the highway
Just wondering which way to go

Allright, Dicho and Masato, start flippin' them pages and see if you have any more verses...

This one is a keeper. So is the album.

Brother Jerry

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 07:22 PM

Found this Clay & Scott recording at Amazon. It's for sale new for $12.33 and used for $9.50. I never heard of these guys - looks like it's all gospel and you might like it.

There are sound samples, including one of "My Mother Left Me Standing On The Highway."

Here's the Primarily A Capella website Gospel and Christian A Capella page. Again, they have songs/arrangements for sale. No freebies.

I couldn't find the lyrics, but if the words are to be found, I'm sure Masato and/or Dicho will find them.

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 07:48 PM

Yes, I expect a review copy any day, as I indicated in another thread, and I look forwad to posting a review very soon.

~S~

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 09:17 PM

Thanks, Jerry:

I never heard of them, but then I bet they've never heard of me. I just bought it used for $6.50. Should be worth the investment. I know most of the songs on the CD, and they're good songs. When I played Standing On The Highway for my wife, she'd heard it.

Several years ago I was involved in the Adirondack Folk/Gospel Festival and what astounded me was that from Friday evening (until all hours of the morning) through Sunday afternoon there were always three or four different places where people were singing gospel, including the cafeteria, out on the lawn... maybe in the bathroom for all I know. And I don't think that I heard the same song repeated, through the whole weekend. Just when you think you know music, you realize that you've barely touched the surface.

Jerry

Subject: Lyr Add: STANDING ON THE HIGHWAY
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 09:22 PM

Isaac Freeman is great. "Standing on the Highway (Wondering Which Way to Go)" was previously sung by the Angelic Gospel Singers, the Pilgrim Travelers, and Selah Jubilee Singers. Here's Selah's version (recorded 1945).

STANDING ON THE HIGHWAY

As I walking down the lonesome highway,
Well, you know, my heart just-a lifted up in prayer;
Well, my mother cried, "Well, son, don't you worry.
Yes, you know, the Lord, yes, will always fix a way."
Oh well, then I was marching down the lonesome highway.
But, you know, my heart it was lifted up in prayer,
She left me standing out on the highway, Lord,
Then I was wondering which-a way I must go.

My mother died, yes, she died and left me.
Well, it was a long, long, long time ago;
Yeah, but I searched her record all over,
Well, you know, my mother, yes, she had to go;
Oh well, she said, "Son, son, don't you worry,
Well, you know, the Lord, yes, will always fix a way."
She left me standing out on the highway, Lord,
Then I was wondering which-a way I must go.

As I was marching, yes, I met old Satan,
Well, he tried so hard to turn me around.
My Lord, but I bowed and I called on my Jesus,
Yes, you know, the Lord, yes, will always fix a way.
Oh well, and I was marching, yes, I was marching,
Oh, you know, my heart just was lifted up in prayer.
She left me standing out on the highway, Lord,
Then I was wondering which-a way I must go.

(From: Selah Jubilee Singers, Selah Gospel Train, P-Vine (Japan) PCD-5547, 1999)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 10:03 PM

CLICK HERE for the post that describes the project and links to the website about it.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 10:13 PM

The Pilgrim Travelers' sound clip is HERE.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: 53
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 10:18 PM

The Fairfield are great but i really don't like that kind of music.

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 10:05 PM

There is at least one version you can hear of this in the Black Gospel MP3 archive at DOVESONG, which is a fabulous site Masato posted several weeks and where I have been quite absorbed!

I got my copy of Freeman's CD today to review-- and WOW!!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 09:41 AM

From Dovesong:

The Selah Jubilee Quartet recorded Standing on the Highway in Los Angeles in the spring of 1945, Continental C6010.

The Famous Blue Jay Singers recorded Standing on the Highway in Chicago, January, 1947, Harlem 1026.

Click those pages and find the clickable, playable recordings.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:19 AM

Thanks, Susan: And the Dovesong site IS magnificent!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:37 AM

Did you get it all to play then Jerry?

Unfortunately one of the songs I linked above is mis-filed at the site-- the wrong one plays. I notified the site owner, who is a delightful fellow. Maybe he will choose Mudcat as his forum of choice for people who want to discuss music at his site.

~S~

Subject: RE: Isaac Freeman/Fairfield Four
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 03:04 PM

Hi, Jeri:

I'm listening right now to Clay and Scott... which I picked up used for $6. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Did I say Thank you? Clarence Clay and William Scott were blind street singers in Philadpelphia. Clay plays accordian and they sing wonderful, primitive harmonies. What a terrific album! Many familiar hymns with some unfamiliar lyrics, and an equal number of songs I've never heard. This has to be the best CD I've bought in the last several years!

Did I thank you?

Jerry