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Origi: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round

12 Mar 10 - 11:56 AM (#2862684)
Subject: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Richie

Hi,

I was wondering about the origin of the spiritual "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around"

The ballad index give crdit to Jimmy Davis in his 1936 "I Ain't Gonna Let Ol' Satan Turn Me Round."

Anyone have Davis' lyrics?

This seems unlikely and surely this comes from an 1800s spiritual. Did Stowe reference the lyrics in 1850?

Any sources for the lyrics from the 1800s?

Richie

12 Mar 10 - 01:08 PM (#2862745)
Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T YOU LET NOBODY TURN YOU AROUND
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Probably based on the spiritual Don't You Let Nobody Turn You Around.
No records from the 1800s but the spiritual is called "traditional."

It is printed with music in Clarence Cameron White, 1927, Forty Negro Spirituals, Theodore Presser Co. Philadelphia.
Also see Doncher Let Nobody Turn You Roun', Johnson, in Green Pasture Spirituals, Not seen.
There are many variant verses, depending on the singer.

As a floating verse or line, the 'don't let Satan turn you around', or similar, appears in several guises in spirituals and gospel songs.

In the Spirituals Study thread here at Mudcat, see Don't You Let Nobody Turn You Around.

Davis sang his own version, which is copyright, but others, such as the one by White, are listed as traditional.

Here are the lyrics from White:

DON'T YOU LET NOBODY TURN YOU AROUND

1
Don't you let nobody turn you aroun',-
turn you aroun', turn you aroun'!
Don't you let nobody turn you aroun'!
Keep on to Calvary.
2
Don't you let that sinner turn you aroun',
turn you aroun', turn you aroun',
Don't you let that sinner turn you aroun',
Keep on to Calvary.

This may already be posted.
(Add verses about others including Satan).
Uncle Dave Macon, Bill Monroe, Flatt and others sang "Don't Let Old Satan .... as a verse in songs; 'don't let old Satan hold your hand', 'D L O Satan lead you down the line', etc.

12 Mar 10 - 02:12 PM (#2862784)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Joe Offer

This link (click) will lead you to YouTube recordings of the civil rights song. For completeness, maybe we should post the Traditional Ballad Index entry:

    Keep On a-Walking (Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round)

    DESCRIPTION: "Ain't gonna let nobody, Lordy, Turn me 'round (x3)... Keep on a-walking, Keep on a-talking, Marchin' on to freedom land." Similarly "Ain't gonna let no jailhouse... Turn me round," etc. Versions may refer to local events
    AUTHOR: unknown
    EARLIEST DATE: 1962 (source tune recorded by Jimmy Davis in 1936)
    KEYWORDS: discrimination political nonballad
    FOUND IN: US
    REFERENCES (3 citations):
    Scott-BoA, pp. 374-375, "Keep On a-Walkin'" (1 text, 1 tune)
    Silber-FSWB, p. 303, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round" (1 text)
    cf. Greenway-AFP, p. 234, "Don't Turn Around" (1 text, probably a union adaption of this song)
    RECORDINGS:
    Pete Seeger, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round" (on Selma)
    SAME TUNE:
    Jimmie Davis "I Ain't Gonna Let Ol' Satan Turn Me Round" (Decca 5235, 1936)
    Notes: This song, an activist hymn from the civil rights and labor movements, was clearly adapted from "I Ain't Gonna Let Ol' Satan Turn Me Round." Jimmie Davis recorded that song; in view of the later adaptation, it's ironic that his second successful run for governor was on a racist platform, pledging resistance to integration. - PJS
    File: SBoA374

    Go to the Ballad Search form
    Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
    Go to the Bibiography
    Go to the Discography

    The Ballad Index Copyright 2009 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

I have to say I disagree with the Ballad Index on this one - Q makes a far better case. I couldn't find the Jimmie Davis recording, so I don't know if it's the same song. I did find recordings of "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" by the Fairfield Four, and by Blind Willie McTell (1898-1959). I did not find a date for these recordings.

12 Mar 10 - 02:49 PM (#2862829)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: PoppaGator

Here's a really excellent recent performance of this number: The Freedom Singers live at the Obama White House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhafyI6-Bp0

12 Mar 10 - 03:08 PM (#2862856)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

See thread 17768 and lyrics posted by w,y,s,i.w.y.g.
Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around

12 Mar 10 - 03:31 PM (#2862877)
Subject: Lyr Add: AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND
(Ascribed to Joan Baez)

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around,
turn me around, turn me around,
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around;
Keep on a-walkin'
Keep on a-talkin',
Gonna build a brand new world.

2-etc.
Ain't gonna let the administration turn me around,
etc.
Ain't gonna let no first-strike policy turn me around,
etc.
Ain't gonna let Indira Ghandi turn me around,
etc.
Ain't gonna let that Harry Kissinger turn me around,
etc.
Ain't gonna let no rain, now, turn me around,
etc.

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around,
etc.
Keep on a-singing,
Keep on a-swinging,
Gonna build a brand new world.

Various lyrics web sites ascribe these verses to Joan Baez.

12 Mar 10 - 03:47 PM (#2862892)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Additional lines in website of Ms. Azizi Powell, Cocojams.

Ain't gonna let no jail house
turn me 'roun
turn me 'roun
Ain't gonna let no jailhouse
turn me 'roun
I'm gonna keep on walkin'
keep on talkin'
walkin' into freedom land.

Ain't gonna let no policeman...

etc.

Ain't gonna let no playa haters* ...

*player haters- a person who is jealous of another person's possessions, etc. or just jealous for no reason at all.


http://www.cocojams.com/content/african-american-civil-rights-songs

12 Mar 10 - 03:53 PM (#2862902)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Thread 104199: African American Protest Slogans and Songs

African American Protest

12 Mar 10 - 04:06 PM (#2862911)
Subject: ADD Version: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Joe Offer

AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME 'ROUND

Ain't gonna let nobody (Lordy) turn me 'round,
turn me 'round, turn me 'round,
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round;
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin'
Keep on a-talkin',
Marching up to freedom land.

Ain't gonna let Nervous Nelly turn me 'round.... (term applied to typical segregationist)

Ain't gonna let Chief Pritchett...

Ain't gonna let Mayor Kelly...

Ain't gonna let segregation...

Ain't gonna let Z.T.... (Z.T. Mathews, sheriff of Terrell County, Georgia)

Ain't gonna let no jail house...

Ain't gonna let no injunction... (after a federal injunction prohibiting further demonstations)

Source: Sing for Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through its songs, edited and compiled by Guy and Candie Carawan (Sing Out Corporation, 1990, 1992) (pp. 62-63)

Notes:
    This old spiritual was first introduced in Albany (Georgia) by Reverend Ralph Abernathy during the summer of 1962 when mass arrests and demonstrations erupted for the second time. He taught it one night to a mass meeting of the Negro community at Mount Zion Baptist Church. It immediately caught on and became widely used in the demonstrations. A nationally televised CBS documentary showed spirited students rhythmically clapping and singing "ain't gonna let chief Pritchett turn me 'round" while the policemen picked them up, two to a student, and carried them into the paddy wagons.
    "...anybody who thinks this town is going to settle back and be the same as it was, had got to be deaf, blind, and dumb."
        -a Negro woman in Albany, Georgia

Chief (Laurie) Pritchett (click), 1926-2000

Mayor (Asa) Kelly & injunction

Protests in Albany, Georgia
Additional verses from Everybody Says Freedom, by Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser:
    Ain't gonna let no police dogs...
    Ain't gonna let no Uncle Tom...
    Ain't gonna let no fire hose...

Click to play

There are a couple of chords that don't sound right, especially on "keep on," but I think it's an exact transcription from the Seeger book.
-Joe-

12 Mar 10 - 07:20 PM (#2863035)
Subject: ADD:Don't You Let Nobody Turn You Round
From: Joe Offer

DON'T YOU LET NOBODY TURN YOU ROUND

CHORUS
Don't you let nobody turn you round,
Turn you round, turn you round;
Don't you let nobody turn you round,
Keep the straight and the narrow way.

'Twas at the river of Jordan
Baptism was begun
John baptized the multitude,
But he sprinkled nary one
CHORUS

The Baptists they go by water,
The Methodists go by land;
But when they get to heaven,
They'll shake each other's hand.
CHORUS

You may be a good Baptist,
And a good Methodist, as well;
But if you ain't the pure in heart,
Your soul is bound for hell.
CHORUS

Source:
American Negro Songs (by John J. Work, 1940 - page 89)

Click to play


I guess since we Catholics baptize by sprinkling, we're in trouble....
There are countless verses for this song, both the gospel and civil rights versions.

12 Mar 10 - 09:40 PM (#2863080)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Richie

Blind Willie McTEll recorded the song before Davis in April 1935 for Decca. There's a chance Davis, picked it up from him or someone who also knew the song.

Richie

12 Mar 10 - 09:57 PM (#2863084)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Richie

Besides it's popularity in the 1960's I remember it as a rock hit for Steve Miller.

Richie

12 Mar 10 - 10:31 PM (#2863095)
Subject: Lyr Add: DONCHER LET NOBODY TURN YOU ROUN'
From: Richie

DONCHER LET NOBODY TURN YOU ROUN'- Hall Johnson (1930 Carl Fischer)

CHORUS: Doncher let nobody turn you roun'
Turn you roun', turn you roun'.
Doncher let nobody turn you roun'
Keep away from de Eden tree. (Repeat)

VERSE: Ol' Satan's mad an' I am glad,
Keep away from de Eden tree.
Cause he missed a soul he thought he had,
Keep away from de Eden tree.

VERSE: Satan's a liar and a cunjer too
Keep away from de Eden tree.
If you don't mind out, He'll cunjer you,
Keep away from de Eden tree.

12 Mar 10 - 11:02 PM (#2863105)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

How many songs have the line "Satan's Mad and I'm glad? Probably several dozen.

Thanks for the Hall Johnson.

03 Dec 12 - 11:05 AM (#3446185)
Subject: RE: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
From: GUEST

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