Lyr Req: I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey...

Subject: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: Bill Foster
Date: 10 Mar 97 - 02:28 PM

Recently I performed in a production of "Smoke on the Mountain," and one of the songs we did was I Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now. I'm not certain that all the verses were contained in the playbook. Anyone know where I might get all the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 97 - 02:17 PM

this isn't what you are looking for is it?...The rest of it is in the database

KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE PLOW

Got my hands on the gospel plow, Wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now. Keep your hands on that plow, hold on.

chorus: Hold on, hold on, Keep your hands on that plow, hold on.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: Bill Foster
Date: 13 Mar 97 - 08:28 AM

No, Bill, that's not the song I had in mind. The one for which I'm searching begins with the line "I started out travelin' for the Lord many years ago. .. ." I have two verses, and that may be the whole thing; I just can't help feeling that there must be more verses out there some- where.

Thanks for your interest and your response.

Bill F.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Mar 97 - 01:04 PM

Hi- Why not post the two verses you have? It may help jog memories.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY...
From:
Date: 14 Mar 97 - 08:25 AM

The words, as they appear in the script of the play, are as follow:

1. I started out trav'ling for the Lord many years ago.
I've had a lot of heartaches, met a lot of grief and woe.
And when I would stumble, then I would humble down,
And there I would way, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.

CHORUS: I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now--
I've got to make it to heav'n somehow,
Though the devil tried to tempt me and he tried to turn me around;
He's offered everything that's got a name,
All the wealth I want and worldly fame;
If I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.

2. Ain't nothing in the world that'll ever take the place of God's love.
Silver and gold could never buy his love from above;
When my soul needs healing and I begin to feeling his pow'r,
I can say thank the Lord I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 08:56 PM

I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY NOW was written by Jimmie Davis and Charles F. "Rusty" Goodman, 1964.

It has been recorded by Jimmie Davis, Connie Smith, The Gatlin Brothers, the Happy Goodman Family, Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Oak Ridge Boys, and others.

I found several copies on the Internet and the lyrics quoted above seem to be complete (ignoring repeats).

The title varies: Sometimes "I" is omitted from the beginning; sometimes "now" is omitted from the end; and "nothing" is sometimes spelled "nothin' ".

I also found these book titles:

"Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now" by Maya Angelou, 1993.

"Wouldn't Take Nothin' for My Journey Now" by Jock Lauterer, 1980.

"I Wouldn't Take Nothin' for My Journey: Two Centuries of an Afro-American Minister's Family" by Leonidas H. Berry, 1981.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics-wouldn't take for my journey now
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 15 Nov 03 - 12:54 AM

The line, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey" now is a few years older than the hills. It is stuck into a jillion different gospel songs, just like "I went down to the River to pray, my soul got happy and I stayed all day." In black gospel, when singers improvise, they can go on forever with couplets that are common knowledge in their community.

Guess somebody went out and wrote a song using one..

Jerry

Subject: Add: On Ma Journey
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 01:10 PM

Hear clips at Amazon, using this searchbox for a link where your purchse benefits Mudcat: CLICK and page down.

Search up these two CDs to get to the clips:
<> The Essential Leontyne Price; Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs (Excellent 2-CD set on RCA)
<> Great American Spirituals, Vol. 9 (Excellent, on Angel label, this song sung by Florence Quivar)

See also SONGS OF ZION hymnal, Verolga Nix.

It would be really hard to appreciate the rhythmic fun of this without hearing it. Could this have some calypso influence? No info on origin-- but there was a lot of travel into (and escape out of) Florida, so perhaps island plantation or boatman influences? Anyway, thanks, ladies, for a great song!

Bill Foster-- perhaps these verses might jog your memory on the "missing verse", or maybe they would give you a start on writing a new third verse?

~Susan

===========================================================

ON MA JOURNEY NOW
Traditional Negro Spiritual

Note: "Zion" is sung (and printed) as "Zine" in some versions or used interchangeably. Also, choral or responsorial phrases can be inserted echoing (or preceding) the phrases of the lead.

In the version I heard, (on) is omitted in the refrain's second line, or perhaps it can be slurred as "Mount Zine-'n mah journey".

The Price version includes a short introductory choral passage that clarifies why Mount Zion appear in the lyric throughout:

On my journey now, Lord, gonna march up to Mount Zion, Lord, Lord!

REFRAIN:
On mah journey now,
Mount Zion, (on) mah journey now,
Mount Zion, well I wouldn't take nothing, Mount Zion,
For mah journey now, Mount Zion!

1. One day, one day,
I was walking along.
Well, the elements opened
An de love come down, Mount Zion.

2. I went to de valley,
An' I didn't go to stay.
Well my soul got happy
An' I stayed all day, Mount Zion.

3. Just talk about me--
Just as much as you please.
Well I'll talk about you
When I bend my knees, Mount Zion.

SH

Subject: Lyr Add: I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY...
From:
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:47 PM

Well, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now,
I'm gonna make it to Heaven somehow,
Though the Devil tempts me and tries to turn me around.
He's offered everything that's got a name,
All the wealth I want and worldly fame,
But if I could still I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now.

Well I started out travellin' for the Lord many years ago,
I had a lot of heartaches, met a lot of grief and woe.
But when I would stumble, then I would humble down,
And I can say thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now.

Well there's nothin' in the world that'll ever take the place of God's love,
All the silver and gold could never buy a mighty touch from above.
But when my soul needs healing and I begin to feeling His power,
I can say thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now.

Well, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now,
I'm gonna make it to Heaven somehow,
Though the Devil tempts me and tries to turn me around.
He's offered everything that's got a name,
All the wealth I want and worldly fame,
But if I could still I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now.

--words and music by Jimmie Davis and Rusty Goodman