Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize

Subject: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: Danks
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 05:47 AM

On the Springsteen "Pete Seegar" album, Bruce performs a song called " Eyes On the Prize" which is basically the same song - i.e. "Gospel Plough" - as Dylan did on his first album; interestingly, I remember reading that, way back, young bluegrass musicians picked up on Dylan's version and it subsequentially became a bluegrass standard. I think, even, Bill Monroe recorded it. Does anyone know anything about the origins of the song?

Subject: RE: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: erinmaidin
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 06:12 AM

I believe the song, in today's form, was written around the inception of the Civil Rights movement. The lyrics, if they are the "Paul and Silas" ones, were written by a woman named Alice Wine, from one of the Carolina states. It is based on a chapter from the bible, Luke, I believe, where Christ is speaking one of his parables and says something to the effect of "if a man puts his hand on the plough and then looks back, he is not worthy to enter the Kingdom". Hence, keep your eyes on the prize.

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: Franz S.
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 12:17 PM

Can't believe I got to this before Joe:


Keep Your Hand on the Plow
DESCRIPTION: Various events from scripture intended to encourage the troubled: Paul and Silas in jail, Jesus washing the disciples feet, Mary's chain. Chorus: "Hold on, hold on, Keep your hand on the plow, hold on."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1937
KEYWORDS: Bible religious prison
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Lomax-FSUSA 111, "Keep Your Hand on the Plow" (1 text, 1 tune, plus the modern parody "United Nations Make a Chain")
Silber-FSWB, p. 362, "Hold On" (1 text)
DT, HANDPLOW*
Roud #10075
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger with Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Big Bill Broonzy, Bill McAdoo, "Hold On" (on PeteSeeger15)
Pete Seeger, "Hold On" (on Selma) (on PeteSeeger44) (on PeteSeeger48) (on PeteSeeger27)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Keep Your Hand upon the Chariot"
cf. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" (song from the civil rights movement, adapted from Keep Your Hand on the Plow)
Notes: Paul and Silas's stay in prison is related in Acts 16:19-40. The footwashing is described in John 13:1-11. Mary's chain is apocryphal, perhaps a free extrapolation on Luke 2:35. - RBW
File: LxU111
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Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 12:34 PM

You just think you did, Franz (click).
[grin]
I can hardly wait to get to the Post Office to see if my Springsteen CD came in today - gotta do homeschooling first...
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: Franz S.
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 12:19 AM

Joe, I am humbled but not humiliated. That was a good thread.

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 12:39 AM

Does anybody know of a recording, other than Dylan's, with pre-civil rights era lyrics?

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel Plough/Eyes on the Prize
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 08:11 PM

Here are some sources/recordings:

Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Folk Song USA, Signet, Sof (1966/1947), #111 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow)

Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 60

Carawan, Guy. Tree of Life, Flying Fish FF 525, LP (1990), trk# A.01

Folksmiths. We've Got Some Singing to Do, Folkways FA 2407, LP
(1958), trk# B.03 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow)

Folk Singers. Run Come Hear, Elektra EKL-157, LP (1958), trk# B.08 (Keep Your Hand on the Plow)

Foster, Alex; and Michel Larue. American Negro Slave Songs, Tradition 2108, LP (1973), trk# B.04

Gateway Singers. At the hungry i, Decca DL 8671, LP (1958), trk# A.04

McSpadden, Lynn. McSpadden, Lynn / Four and Twenty Songs for the Mountain Dulcimer, Dulcimer Shoppe, sof (1970), p36

Odetta. Odetta at Carnegie Hall, Vanguard VRS-9076, LP (1961), trk# B.06

Oneida School Girls. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p292/# 209 [1917/08/18]

Seeger, Pete. Hootenanny at Carnegie Hall, Folkways FN 2512, LP (1960/1958-9), trk# B.06 (United Nations Make a Chain)