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02 Oct 99 - 10:52 PM (#120184) Subject: If I had my way From: denealon@aol.com Need lyrics to If I Had My Way (Gary Davis; Peter, Paul and Mary). I can't get last couple of lines of verse three. Thanks! |
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03 Oct 99 - 02:12 AM (#120235) Subject: Lyr Add: IF I HAD MY WAY (from Peter, Paul & Mary) From: Joe Offer Hi - I found this at the Peter, Paul and Mary Website. -Joe Offer (lyrics sent by e-mail) IF I HAD MY WAY (Rev. Gary Davis) You read about Sampson; you read about his birth. If I Had My Way, Sampson and the lion got in attack. Delilah she was a woman; she was fine and fair. If I Had My Way, If I Had My Way, |
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15 Mar 13 - 12:42 AM (#3490548) Subject: If I Had My Way From: PHJim I just watched a lady called Elizabeth Cook sing on The Letterman show. She sang the song called "If I Had My Way" (I would tear this building down). She told Dave that it was written by Blind Willie Johnson. I had always assumed that Rev Gary Davis wrote this song. Was I mistaken? |
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15 Mar 13 - 02:02 AM (#3490560) Subject: RE: If I Had My Way From: Mark Ross They both did versions of it. Every version I've heard sounds like Rev. Gary Davis. Just found Blind Willie's version on Spotify, it's close to Rev. Davis' version but not quite the same. The Rev.'s guitar playing is much better. I would have to hear this version you're referring to to be able to tell. Mark Ross |
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15 Mar 13 - 03:02 AM (#3490570) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I had my way From: PHJim This is pretty much how she did it on Letterman. She even wore the same dress (nighty?) Elizabeth Cook's version |
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15 Mar 13 - 03:33 AM (#3490577) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I had my way From: open mike just watching this now...Elizabeth Cook...she has not sung it yet... from her E.P. Gospel Plow with members of gospel band.. |
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15 Mar 13 - 03:35 AM (#3490579) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I had my way From: open mike hmmm....Greg Brown had an album called Honey in the Lion's Head... |
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15 Mar 13 - 12:18 PM (#3490734) Subject: Lyr Add: IF I HAD MY WAY (Rev. Gary Davis) From: Jim Dixon Here's my transcription from a recording on Spotify. There are several extant recordings of Davis singing this song, made at various concerts and festivals. The words vary somewhat. IF I HAD MY WAY As sung by Rev. Gary Davis on "Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways" (2008) If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this buildin' down. If I had my way, Oh, if I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this buildin' down. Delilah she was a woman, fine and fair, Had good looks, God knows, and coal-black hair. Delilah gained old Sampson mind When the first he met this woman at the field this time. {Delilah she gained Sampson mind When the first he met this woman at the field this time.}* Delilah she set down on Sampson knee, Said, "Tell me where your strength lie if you please." She spoke so kind, God knows, she talked so fair, Sampson said his strength lie in his hair. She shaved his head clean as his hand And his strength come natural as any other man. If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this—ooh! If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this buildin' down. (Talk to me—yeah!—uh-huh—yeah—yeah—talk to it—yeah.) If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this buildin' down. You read about old Sampson how from his birth He was the strongest man that ever lived on earth. One day while Sampson was a-walkin' alone, He looked on the ground and saw an old jawbone. He stretched out his arm; God knows, it broke like thread, And when he got to movin' ten thousand was dead. If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this—. If I had my way, I would tear this buildin' down. Well, Sampson and the lion, he got in attack. Sampson he jumped up on the lion back. You read 'bout this lion had killed a man with his paws, But Sampson got his hands in the lion jaws. He reared(?) that beast until it killed him dead, And the bees made honey in the lion's head. If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this—ooh! If I had my way, If I had my way, If I had my way, I would tear this—ooh! [* I suspect Davis got confused at this point and repeated 2 lines to temporize. These words are mumbled the second time he sings them.] |
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20 Dec 18 - 05:50 PM (#3967564) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had My Way (Rev. Gary Davis) From: GUEST,Stuart Markus I've seen this song attributed to Rev. Gary Davis as author and composer, but also seen it attributed as a traditional song. Does anyone authoritatively know its provenance? Thanks, Stu |
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21 Dec 18 - 06:45 AM (#3967656) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had My Way (Rev. Gary Davis) From: GUEST On the lyrics above, yes it's not exactly clear in either case but I think the Rev is singing Philistine (not field this time), and rid the beast (as in I would say rode the beast, not reared the beast). Pretty sure that is what Dave Van Ronk sings also who if I remember correctly did learn that song from Rev GD. |
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21 Dec 18 - 07:37 PM (#3967776) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Had My Way (Rev. Gary Davis) From: GUEST,anglo IIRC PP&M managed to indirectly persuade Rev Davis to say that he wrote it, so they could give him the royalties from their recording |