Lyr Req: Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed

Subject: kelly joe phelps lyrics
From:
Date: 19 May 98 - 06:51 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to Kelly Joe Phelps' version of Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dyin' Bed esp. the first two verses. Any help or advice on who else could help me would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks Man!! (N.B. when i say man it means "cool person of either sex")

Mark Brown [e-mail]

Subject: RE: kelly joe phelps lyrics
From: Jon W.
Date: 19 May 98 - 07:01 PM

I've never heard of Kelly Joe Phelps but do you know if it's similar to Rev. Blind Willie Johnson's? If so I could try and transcribe his version from an old tape I have. He is quite difficult to understand, but I do like that song. Great slide work, great synchopation.

Subject: RE: kelly joe phelps lyrics
From: DWdITTY
Date: 20 May 98 - 06:20 AM

Only heard one KJ Phelps song on a sampler, but he sounds incredible. Thanks for reminding me to pick up one of his CDs. BTW, he plays a Gibson (maybe J45) lap style with a slide.

Subject: Lyr Add: JESUS MAKE UP MY DYING BED (W Johnson)
From: Jon W.
Date: 20 May 98 - 04:58 PM

Since he plays slide, he's probably covering the Blind Willie Johnson version. So here are the words I hear. I have seen a written source for this somewhere. They had the words "They despised the: Amen" where I have "Later Friday evenin'". I respectfully disagree with their interpretation, but if you've got a recording you can judge for yourself.

JESUS MAKE UP MY DYING BED
Rev. Blind Willie Johnson

Since me 'n' Jesus Christ got married,
Haven't been a minute apart,
With the receiver in my hand 'n'
Religion in my heart
I can ring 'im up easy, ahh
Oh, well---
Ring 'im up easy
Go on make up my (***)

Mmm, weepin', that a He ain't, Lord
Later Friday evenin', hangin' on a cross
Hangin' there in misery, ahh--
Oh, well--
Hangin' there in misery
Go on make up my (***)

(guitar slide solo)
Jesus gonna make up my (***)

Later Friday evening, made poor Martha moan,
Jesus said to his disciples, come 'n
Carry my mother home
Dyin' will be easy, ahh--
Dyin' will be easy
Dyin' will be easy,
Jesus gon' make up my (***)

I'm dead and buried, somebody said that
I was loved
When it get down to Jordan
Ask the ferryman, how did it cross?
Done gone over, ahh
Oh, well--
Done gone over, make up my (***)

Note: in the places marked (***) the guitar takes the melody for the words "dyin' bed."

Subject: RE: kelly joe phelps lyrics
From: marlin
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 06:11 PM

On the subject of Blind Willie in general and lyrics in particular, can I point you in this direction? Blind Willie Johnson-The Biography http://www.lulu.com/content/704585
If you like Blind Willie, you'll love the book!