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30 Aug 01 - 12:17 PM (#538181) Subject: Working on a Building history From: Rex I'm working on a building, for my Lord, for my Lord. The prefixes don't fit this. I have the lyrics. What I'm looking for is when this might have been written and who has recorded it. I should know where to find these things but I can't recall where to look. Any insight would be sure appreciated. Rex |
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30 Aug 01 - 12:28 PM (#538190) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: IanC Well, a Google search (or Webferret, which I use) will get you references to versions by Grateful Dead, Marley's Ghost and The Carter Family. You might want to try looking through the sheet music sites (I don't know if it would be old enough for Levy or The Library of Congress site) for any reference. Of course, you should start by doing a Digitrad and Forum Search!!!
Cheers! |
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30 Aug 01 - 12:52 PM (#538210) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Clinton Hammond The best version I've heard was by The Cowboy Junkies! |
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30 Aug 01 - 12:57 PM (#538213) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Sorcha Nothing turns up about history, though. Just Trad. |
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30 Aug 01 - 12:59 PM (#538217) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: MMario the "help" prefix certainly wouldn't have been wrong. |
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30 Aug 01 - 01:17 PM (#538231) Subject: Lyr Add: I'M WORKIN' ON THE BUILDIN'^^ From: wysiwyg But Mmario, wouldn't that just bring out the Sawzalls? (And is that a fiddle band?) I have it in the book of spirituals I have been studying, so.... either it always was one, or it was borrowed and made one. The title I have is "I'm Workin' on the Buildin'." It's ripe for additional or floating verses, but this is what I have on it. ~Susan ========================================= I'M WORKIN' ON THE BUILDIN'
LEADER (use as CHO):
VERSES:
If I was a gambler, I tell you what I would do,
SOURCE: SH ^^ |
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30 Aug 01 - 01:20 PM (#538232) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: wysiwyg Maybe if Joe harvests this he'll put in the double line break I missed between verses, too. ~S~ |
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30 Aug 01 - 01:34 PM (#538242) Subject: Lyr Add: WORKIN' ON THE BUILDING From: masato sakurai Charles K. Wolfe says in notes to The Carter Family: Longing for Old Virginia (Rounder CD):
Another "Holiness song" [in addition to "Hello Central, Give Me heaven"] was "I'm Working on a Building," still current in gospel repertoires today.
And there's a song "WORKIN' ON THE BUILDING" recorded in Odum & Johnson, The Negro and His Songs (1925, p. 72). This seems to be related:
If I wus a sinner man, I tell you what I'd do,
I'm workin' on the building fer my Lord,
If I wus a gamblin' man, I tell you what to do,
If I was a 'ho'-munger, I tell you what to do, Masato
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30 Aug 01 - 01:45 PM (#538248) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: wysiwyg Munglin'! I love it! ~S~ |
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30 Aug 01 - 03:46 PM (#538346) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Charley Noble This may be the base for an organizing song of the same title that folklorist John Greenway recorded in the early 1960's on one of his albums which I've never found more than the title for. Bob Bolton was helping me search for this by sifting his Australian archives. Anyone have a clue to the Greenway version? Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble |
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03 Sep 01 - 01:24 PM (#540829) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: GUEST,Rex at work I'm back to work. Thanks for all the replies. First of all, let me say I never put in an inquiry without first consulting the Digital Tradition. (don't look for songs without it!) Then I search the forum. Secondly, the "help" prefix would have been appropriate. Hopefully I'll remember that next time. I didn't think it old enough to be on the Levy or L.O.C. sites but after the suggestion checked them anyway. Nope, t'ain't there. Either of the sites. Thanks for the words from John W. Work's book to WYSIWYG. Another reason for me to get a copy of it. That alone makes it earlier than I thought. Also thanks to Masato for the similar words and and a source with a date. Ya know? I think I have that book. Time to go hunting in another direction. Thanks to you all for the help. If I dig up anything more I'll post it. Rex
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03 Sep 01 - 02:09 PM (#540860) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: wysiwyg Might want to check here too: Your item isn't there, but a lot of good info is. ~S~ |
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04 Sep 01 - 01:57 AM (#541306) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: GUEST,BigDaddy John Fogerty recorded this on his "Blue Ridge Rangers" album in 1973. It's been reissued on CD. He must still like the song as he performed it live on his "Premonition" tour three years ago. I believe the Hotmud Family used to do it as well, but would have to check to be sure. |
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04 Sep 01 - 03:28 AM (#541332) Subject: Lyr Add: WORKING ON A BUILDING From: Joe Offer You'll find a long list of recordings of the song on this page (click). My favorite is the one by Marley's Ghost. Here are the lyrics from the Marley's Ghost Album How Can I Keep on Singing You can download an MP3 here (click). This is one wonderful CD. Great a cappella harmonies. -Joe Offer- WORKING ON A BUILDING (Chorus) I'm working on a building, I'm working on a building, I'm working on a building for my Lord, for my Lord! It's a Holy Ghost building, it's the Holy Ghost building, It's a Holy Ghost building, for my Lord, for my Lord! (Chorus) If I was a preaching man, I tell you what I'd do: I'd preach the truth throughout the land and work on a building, too. If I was a carpenter I tell you what I'd do: I'd work all day and work all night just to work on the building, too. (Chorus) If I was a ramblin' man, I tell you what I'd do: I'd stop my rambling, stop my gambling, and work on a building, too. If I was gambling man, I tell you what I'd do: I'd throw away the Queen of Spades and work on a building, too. (Chorus) If I was a sinner man, I tell you what I'd do: I'd stop my sinning, start my praying, and work on a building, too. (Chorus) (as recorded by Marley's Ghost) |
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04 Sep 01 - 01:37 PM (#541664) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Rex Thanks to WYSIWYG for pointing out the spirituals site. And to BigDaddy, Fogerty? Who'd na thought? Yep, I believe I've heard the Hotmud Family do that one too. Finally, to Mr. Offer, what an astonishing list. I looked at the home page and tried to find the overall list of songs. Do they run a list like that for everything the Dead recorded? If so, do tell me how to find it. What a resource. I agree, it would be hard to top Marley's Ghost on this one. Thanks to all, Rex |
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04 Sep 01 - 01:58 PM (#541679) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: wysiwyg Rex, there are more (and I think even better) links here: I have started posting more of these, too, Rex. Keep an eye out! *G* I also have an index I am working on, that shows what titles are in what songbooks. Wish I had all the songbooks, but I have enough to keep busy for a bit anyway. *G* ~Susan
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05 Sep 01 - 09:18 AM (#542384) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Rex Thanks for putting all that together. If you make your songbook index available online, I should like to know about it. Good work! Rex |
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05 Sep 01 - 09:34 AM (#542393) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: wysiwyg *G* |
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15 Nov 02 - 04:49 PM (#827251) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: GUEST,Bob "Workin On a Buildin" was the album title of Wattle records, recorded by John Greenway in Australia, 1956. It is also the title of cut 5,side 1 on this album. |
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15 Nov 02 - 04:53 PM (#827256) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Jerry Rasmussen Excuse me, but I feel very strongly about this. I think that one of the half a dozen greatest recordings of a gospel song ever done is Working On A Building by the Swan Silvertones. If you want to verify this totally objective statement, PM me with your mailing address and I'll send you a whole CD full of almost as great stuff.. Jerry |
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16 Nov 02 - 10:08 AM (#827686) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Steve Latimer I've only heard it by Bill Monroe. |
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16 Nov 02 - 11:27 AM (#827727) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: masato sakurai B.B. King sang this too. |
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16 Nov 02 - 12:45 PM (#827798) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Jerry Rasmussen My second favorite version is probably Mark Spoelstra's, and then Wade Mainer and His Mountaineers.. Jerry |
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16 Nov 02 - 07:19 PM (#828013) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: GUEST,Richie One of the earliest printed versions comes from the Old Songs Hymnal, in the late 1920's: "Old Songs Hymnal-Words and Melodies from the State of Georgia" by Dorothy Bolton. -Richie |
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16 Nov 02 - 07:53 PM (#828048) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: masato sakurai Two recordings in the Max Hunter collection: Working on the Building (As sung by Mrs. Claudie Richardson, Mountain View, Arkansas on August 31, 1971) I'm Workin' on the Building (As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 28, 1969) ~Masato |
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16 Nov 02 - 08:09 PM (#828056) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Merritt My favorite tune by (somewhat obscure) Col. Bruce Hampton (ret.) & the Aquarium Rescue Unit is a live version of this song. I would classify their approach as Gospel/Jazz/Funk/Rock and, although Toto and I aren't have left Mudcat as we know it, really easy to listen to. Col. Hampton handles the vocals, and lead guitarist phenom, Jimmy Herring, is featured throughout. - Merritt |
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16 Jan 03 - 04:06 PM (#868674) Subject: Lyr Add: WORKING ON A BUILDING (Old & In The Way) From: Genie I've heard this sung at bluegrass jams in Seattle, and at a thrift store I recently bought (or stole for $4) a CD called "Breakdown" by Old & In The Way (Jerry Garcia,Vassar Clements, David Grisman, John Kahn, and Peter Rowan), which is all bluegrass and has this song on it. Can't compare this recording with the others you've mentioned, but the one on this CD is purty durned good! Their liner notes say: "Bill Monroe recorded this gospel song, with origins in African American spiritual traditions, for Decca in 1954 on the same day he cut "On and On." He credited it to The Carter Family, who first recorded it in 1934. Old & In The Way's version is similar to Monroe's but the words to the third verse, "If I was a dealer...," are unique to them. Here are the lyrics they sing: WORKING ON A BUILDING (as recorded by Old And In The Way) If I was a preacher, I tell you what I would do: I'd quit my preachin' And I'd work on a building, too. Chorus: I'm working on a building, I'm working on a building, I'm working on a building for my Lord, for my Lord! It's a Holy Ghost building, it's a Holy Ghost building, It's a Holy Ghost building, for my Lord, for my Lord! (Chorus) If I was a drunkard, I tell you what I'd do: I'd quit my drinkin', And I'd work on a building, too. (Chorus) If I was a dealer I tell you what I would do: I'd quit my dealin' An' I'd work on the building, too. (Chorus) |
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12 Nov 08 - 08:44 PM (#2492346) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: Q (Frank Staplin) Workin' On the Building- p. 97, John W. Work, American Negro Songs and Spirituals. Workin' on the Building, p. 72, Odum and Johnson, 1925, "The Negro and His Songs. |
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13 Nov 08 - 04:11 AM (#2492518) Subject: RE: Working on a Building From: GUEST,VOlgadon Ho-munger = whore-mongerer? |
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03 Feb 09 - 01:17 PM (#2556312) Subject: RE: Origin: Workin' on the Building From: TinDor Working on a Building - Swan Silvertones Patty Loveless - Del McCoury - Working On A Building (Live) |
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03 Feb 09 - 02:55 PM (#2556396) Subject: RE: Origin: Workin' on the Building From: open mike yes i second the Marley's Ghost version. Mighty fine! they have moved since 2001---perhaps you have too?! http://www.cyberbites.com/MG/ http://www.marleysghosts.blogspot.com/ also bemused at the term munglin' that's a new one even though it is an old one.. oldest profession, and all... |
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04 Feb 09 - 08:39 AM (#2556970) Subject: RE: Origin: Workin' on the Building From: clueless don This song was also recorded by the bluegrass group The Seldom Scene, featuring John Duffy (RIP) on tenor. Don |
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22 Feb 11 - 06:23 PM (#3100690) Subject: RE: Workin' on the Building From: GUEST,Shea Hey can anybody tell me where I can get the sheet music for this song by marley's ghost?? I'd greatly appreciate it! |