JOHN THE REVELATOR

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From Wikipedia

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"John the Revelator" is a traditional gospel blues call and

 response song. It has been called "one of the most powerful

 songs in all of pre-war acoustic music ... which

 has been hugely influential to blues performers".

  American gospel-blues musician Blind Willie Johnson

 recorded "John the Revelator" in 1930 and subsequently

 a variety of artists have recorded their renditions of the song,

 often with variations in the verses and music.

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The song's title refers to the Apostle John in his role as the

 author of the Book of Revelation. A portion of that book

 focuses on the opening of seven seals and the resulting

 apocalyptic events. In its various versions, the song quotes

 several passages from the Bible in the tradition of

American spirituals.

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Blind Willie Johnson version

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Blind Willie Johnson recorded "John the Revelator" during his fifth and final recording session for Columbia Records in Atlanta, Georgia on April 20, 1930. Accompanying Johnson on vocal and guitar is Willie B. Harris (sometimes identified as his first wife), who sings the response parts of the song. Their vocals add a "sense of dread and foreboding" to the song, along with the chorus line "Who's that a writin', John the Revelator" "repeated like a mantra".

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Johnson's lyrics reference a number of

 passages from the Bible:

[call] Well who's that writin'?

 [response] John the Revelator

Who's that writin'? John the Revelator

Who's that writin'? John the Revelator

A book of the seven seals

 Tell me what's John writin'? 

 Ask the Revelator

What's John writin'? Ask the Revelator

What's John writin'? Ask the Revelator

A book of the seven seals

Well ooh ooh why me, thousands cried holy

Bound for some, Son of our God

Daughter of Zion, Judah the Lion

He redeemeth, and bought us with his blood

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

John the Revelator, great advocator

Get's 'em on the battle of Zion

Lord, tellin' the story, risin' in glory

Cried, "Lord, don't you love some I"

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

Well Moses to Moses, watchin' the flock

Saw the bush where they had to stop

God told Moses, "Pull off your shoes"

Out of the flock, well you I choose

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

The song was released as one of the last singles by Johnson and
 is included on numerous compilations, including the 1952
 Anthology of American Folk Music.

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Son House version
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Delta blues musician Son House recorded several

 a cappella versions of "John the Revelator" in

 the 1960s. His lyrics for a 1965 recording

 explicitly reference three theologically

 important events: the Fall of Man, the Passion

 of Christ, and the Resurrection.

 This version was included on the 1965 album The Legendary Son House: Father of the Folk Blues (Columbia).

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[call] Who's that writin'?

 [response] John the Revelator

Tell me who's that writin'?

 John the Revelator

Tell me who's that writin'?

  John the Revelator

Wrote the book of the seven seals

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 Who's that writin'? 

 John the Revelator

Tell me who's that writin'?

 John the Revelator

Well who's that writin'?

 John the Revelator

Wrote the book of the seven seals

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You know God walked down in the cool of the day

Called Adam by his name

And he refused to answer

Because he's naked and ashamed

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

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You know Christ had twelve apostles

And three he led away

He said, "Watch with me one hour,

'till I go yonder and pray."

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

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Christ came on Easter morning

Mary and Martha came down to see

He said, "Go tell my disciples

To meet me in Galilee."

[Repeat verses 1 & 2]

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