| Run, Come, See Maritime-themed Gospel Song Blind Blake (Blake Alphonso Higgs) (1915-????) |
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It was nineteen hundred and twenty nine, (Response) Run come see, run come see, I remember that day pretty well, it was nineteen hundred and twenty nine (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. That day they were talkin' 'bout a storm on the islands (Response) Run come see, run come see, My God, it was a beautiful mornin'; they were talkin' 'bout a storm on the islands (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. That day there were three ships leavin' out the harbor (Response) Run come see, run come see, It was the Ethel, the Myrtle 'n' the Pretoria, there were three ships leavin' out the harbor (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. These ships were bound for a neighboring island (Response) Run come see, run come see, With mothers and children on board, 'em, the Ethel, the Myrtle 'n' the Pretoria, (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. Now when the Pretoria was out on the ocean, (Response) Run come see, run come see, Rocking from side to side, yes, the Pretoria was out on the ocean, (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. My God, when the first wave hit the Pretoria (Response) Run come see, run come see, The mothers grabbin' hold unto the children, when the first wave hit the Pretoria (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. My God, there were thirty-three souls in the water (Response) Run come see, run come see, They were swimming and praying to the good Lord, there were thirty-three souls in the water (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. My God, now George Brown he was the captain (Response) Run come see, run come see, He shouted my children now come pray, he said, "Come now, witness your judgment" (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. It was nineteen hundred and twenty nine, (Response) Run come see, run come see, I remember that day pretty well, it was nineteen hundred and twenty nine, (Response) Run come see, Jerusalem. |
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This song is often listed as "Traditional," but the author is contemporary, if somewhat obscure. There is a very good biographical article about Blind Blake here. These lyrics are based on my best recollection of John Townley's rendition of this song on "Classic Maritime Music from Smithsonian Folkways." — Dean |
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