ADD: The Land Beyond the Blue (Tell My Mother)

Subject: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: GUEST,fretless
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 05:23 PM

At a recent concert, Jim Watson sang a gospel song that began "Tell my mother that I will meet her..." and continued, more or less, "When the good of earth are gathered with the faithful and the true, tell my mother that I'll meet her in the land beyond the blue." I was sure it has been recorded by the Red Clay Ramblers, but I couldn't find it among my (incomplete) set of RCR vinyls. Help.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAND BEYOND THE BLUE (Max Hunter coll
From: Peace
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 05:34 PM

The title is "The Land Beyond the Blue"

You can hear it at this site--from which I got the words.

www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/0556/

or google

THE LAND BEYOND THE BLUE

VERSE 1
In a far an' distance city
Dying at the close of day
Was a fair headed boy
Who'd wandered far from home
Take this message to my Mother
When my work on earth is through
Tell her that her boy will meet her
In the land beyond th blue

CHORUS:
Tell my Mother, I will meet her
When'd our work of love an' labor all are through
When the good of earth shall gather
With the faithful an' the true
Tell her that her boy will meet her
In the land beyond the blue

VERSE 2
To the old home came a message
T'was for Mother from her boy
But alas, th message came, it was to late
For that day the angels took 'er
With th faithful an' the true
An' tonight she dwells with Willie
In the land beyond the blue

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 06:53 PM

"Land Beyond the Blue" is on Debby McClatchy with the Red Clay Ramblers (with sound clip).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 10:39 AM

Many thanks to you both. I've got that Debby album at home -- never would have thought to look there without the reminder.

Subject: ADD Version: Land Beyond the Blue
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 10:42 PM

Mudcat is just great.   I was wondering where I could find the lyrics to this song, having just bought Debby's CD and being just captivated by this one (among others on the CD).

So glad to find this thread with its lyrics.

One of the many wonderful aspects of the 2010 Getaway last weekend was the fact that Debby was there.    Great workshops on mining songs and especially Charlie Poole--she's a real authority on him, and her renditions of his songs, more than ably assisted by Chance (Fortunato) and Suzette, were just a pure delight.

And on top of that, she had some of her CD's there---including the one with this song--silver jubilee reissue (25 year anniversary) of the CD.

Also has some other just magnificent 49'er era songs--like "Seeing the Elephant" and "Humbug Steamship Companies".

Her frailing banjo, and backed up by the Red Clay Ramblers--an indispensable classic.



At any rate, here's my effort at a transcription of Tell My Mother (Land Beyond the Blue) from the CD (which is called Debby McClatchy with the Red Clay Ramblers).



THE LAND BEYOND THE BLUE

In a far and distant city, dying at the close of day
Was a fair-haired boy who wandered far from home
"Take this message to my mother:   When my work on earth is through
Tell my mother that I'll meet her in the land beyond the blue"

Ch:
Oh, tell my mother that I will meet her
When my works of love and labor are all through
When the good of earth are gathered with the faithful and the true
Tell my mother that I'll meet her
In the land beyond the blue

In one hand he held a picture of his old home far away
In the other was his mother old and gray
"Though in death" he slowly whispered "she will know that I was true
"Tell my mother that I'll meet her in the land beyond the blue" (Ch)

"T'is my last farewell" he whispered. "Angels gather round my bed
Soon with all my friends and loved ones I shall be.
Through the valley of the shadow, Jesus leads me safely through.
Tell my mother that I'll meet her in the land beyond the blue" (Ch)

To the old home came the message.   T'was to Mother from her boy
But, alas, for her the letter came too late.
For that day the angels took 'er to the faithful and the true
And tonight she dwells with Willie in the land beyond the blue (Ch)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: fretless
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:01 AM

Jim has also recorded the song on a solo CD, but I can't find info on it at the moment. Will try to track down and post details later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:39 PM

Jim Watson, Willie's Redemption, band 12 (but not quite solo: Robin and Linda Williams and a few others back him up).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tell My Mother
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 04:56 PM

Joe - fix