Sooner or later another and greater John the Baptist is due to arise
proclaiming “the kingdom of God is at hand” — meaning a return to the
high spiritual concept of Jesus, who proclaimed that the kingdom is the
will of his heavenly Father dominant and transcendent in the heart of
the believer — and doing all this without in any way referring either to
the visible church on earth or to the anticipated second coming of
Christ. There must come a revival of theactual teachings of
Jesus, such a restatement as will undo the work of his early followers
who went about to create a sociophilosophical system of belief regarding
the fact of Michael’s sojourn on earth. In a short time the teaching of this story about
Jesus nearly supplanted the preaching of Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom.
In this way a historical religion displaced that teaching in which Jesus
had blended man’s highest moral ideas and spiritual ideals with man’s
most sublime hope for the future — eternal life. And that was the gospel
of the kingdom. THE URANTIA BOOK 170:5.19(1866.2)
"John the Revelator" is a traditional gospel bluescall 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 . 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).
She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee Just as her father came across the sea . She heard about a place people were smilin' They spoke about the red man's way, and how they loved the land And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide . Down in the crowded bars, out for a good time, Can't wait to tell you all, what it's like up there And they called it paradise I don't know why Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high . Then the chilly winds blew down Across the desert through the canyons of the coast, to the Malibu Where the pretty people play, hungry for power to light their neon way and give them things to do . Some rich men came and raped the land, Nobody caught 'em Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus, people bought 'emAnd they called it paradise The place to be They watched the hazy sun, sinking in the sea . You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina just like the missionaries did, so many years ago They even brought a neon sign: "Jesus is coming" Brought the white man's burden down Brought the white man's reign . Who will provide the grand design? What is yours and what is mine? 'Cause there is no more new frontier We have got to make it here We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds, in the name of destiny and the name of God . And you can see them there, On Sunday morning They stand up and sing about what it's like up there They call it paradise I don't know why You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye
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In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone,
Eagles member Don Henley said:
"The Last Resort, on Hotel California, is still one of my favorite songs... That's because I care more about the environment than about writing songs about drugs or love affairs or excesses of any kind. The gist of the song was that when we find something good, we destroy it by our presence - by the very fact that man is the only animal on earth that is capable of destroying his environment. The environment is the reason I got into politics: to try to do something about what I saw as the complete destruction of most of the resources that we have left. We have mortgaged our future
for gain and greed."
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From songfacts.com
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. Because of copyright issues, the video below is just audio - no images. But it directs your attention to the ear, while you read the song. .
. "ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER" .
"There must be some way out of here" said the joker to the thief "There's too much confusion", I can't get no relief Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth None of them along the line know what any of it is worth. . "No reason to get excited", the thief he kindly spoke "There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late". . All along the watchtower, princes kept the view While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too. Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
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"CHANGE IN THE WEATHER"
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Change in the weather, change in the weather Somethin's happenin' here Change in the weather, change in the weather People walkin' round in fear . You better duck and run Get under cover 'cause the change has come Storm warning, and it looks like rain Be nothin' left after the hurricane This here's a jungle, ain't no lie Look at the people, terror in their eyes Bad business comin', can't be denied They're running with the dogs, afraid to die .
Change in the weather, change in the weather Somethin's happenin' here
Change in the weather, change in the weather People walkin' round in fear
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You best believe it's true The levee's busted, badness comin' through Oh no, there ain't no place to hide Reach out and pluck you, take you for a ride Sea of frustration, take everything in sight Won't be no blessing if we make it through the night Down on your knees, go ahead and pray But every demon has to have his day
. Change in the weather, change in the weather Somethin's happenin' here Change in the weather, change in the weather People walkin' round in fear, well Oh, God
. High noon, I can't believe my eyes Wind is ragin', there's a fire in the sky Ground shakin', everything comin' loose Run like a coward but it ain't no use Edge of the river, it's an ugly scene People gettin' pushed, people gettin' mean The change is comin' and it's gettin' late Ain't no survivin', and there ain't no escape .
Change in the weather, change in the weather Somethin's happenin' here, well Change in the weather, change in the weather People walkin' round in fear, oh . Change in the weather, change in the weather Somethin's happenin' here, well Change in the weather, change in the weather People walkin' round in fear, well Oh, no
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"EVE OF DESTRUCTION"
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The eastern world, it is exploding Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’ You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’ You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’ And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’ . But you tell me Over and over and over again, my friend Ah, you don’t believe We’re on the eve Of destruction. . Don’t you understand what I’m tryin’ to say Can’t you feel the fears I’m feelin’ today? If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin’ away There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave [Take a look around ya boy, it's bound to scare ya boy] . And you tell me Over and over and over again, my friend Ah, you don’t believe We’re on the eve Of destruction. . Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’ I’m sitting here just contemplatin’ I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation. Handful of senators don’t pass legislation And marches alone can’t bring integration When human respect is disintegratin’ This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’.
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And you tell me Over and over and over again, my friend Ah, you don’t believe We’re on the eve Of destruction. . Think of all the hate there is in Red China Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama You may leave here for 4 days in space But when you return, it’s the same old place The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace
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And you tell me
over and over and over and over again,
my friend You don’t believe We’re on the eve Of destruction Mm, no no, you don’t believe We’re on the eve Of destruction.
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"UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD"
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Haven't seen you in quite a while I was down the hold just passing time Last time we met was a low-lit room We were as close together as a bride and groom We ate the food, we drank the wine Everybody having a good time Except you You were talking about the end of the world
. I took the money I spiked your drink You miss too much these days if you stop to think You lead me on with those innocent eyes You know I love the element of surprise In the garden I was playing the tart I kissed your lips and broke your heart You...you were acting like it was The end of the world.(Love...love...) . In my dream I was drowning my sorrows But my sorrows, they learned to swim Surrounding me, going down on me Spilling over the brim Waves of regret and waves of joy I reached out for the one I tried to destroy You...you said you'd wait 'til the end of the world
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"LAND OF CONFUSION"
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I must've dreamed a thousand dreams Been haunted by a million screams But I can hear the marching feet They're moving into the street. . Now did you read the news today They say the danger's gone away But I can see the fire's still alight There burning into the night. . There's too many men Too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Can't you see This is a land of confusion. . This is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth living in. .
Ooh Superman where are you now When everything's gone wrong somehow The men of steel, the men of power Are losing control by the hour. .
This is the time This is the place So we look for the future But there's not much love to go round Tell me why, this is a land of confusion. .
This is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth living in. .
I remember long ago - Ooh when the sun was shining Yes and the stars were bright All through the night And the sound of your laughter As I held you tight So long ago - .
I won't be coming home tonight My generation will put it right We're not just making promises That we know, we'll never keep. .
Too many men There's too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Can't you see This is a land of confusion.
.Now this is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth fighting for. . This is the world we live in And these are the names we're given Stand up and let's start showing Just where our lives are going to.
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"PEOPLE GET READY"
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People get ready, there's a train a comin' You don't need no baggage, you just get on board All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin' Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord . People get ready for the train to Jordan It's picking up passengers from coast to coast Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em There's hope for all among those loved the most. . There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne . So people get ready, there's a train a comin' You don't need no baggage, you just get on board All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin' Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord .
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"A FACE IN THE CROWD"
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Before all of this ever went down In another place, another town You were just a face in the crowd You were just a face in the crowd Out in the street walking around A face in the crowd
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Out of a dream, out of the sky Into my heart, into my life And you were just a face in the crowd You were just a face in the crowd Out in the street, thinking out loud A face in the crowd
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Out of a dream, out of the sky Into my heart, into my life And you were just a face in the crowd You were just a face in the crowd Out in the street, walking around
A face in the crowd . Face in the crowd A face in the crowd A face in the crowd
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