The first time I ever heard this song was about 10 years ago. My mom, sister, nieces, several cousins and my favorite aunt (Doris) were all in town to sing at a Hymn Sing that some friends of mind host every year. It is always held at this cool old barn on the grounds of the Belle Meade Plantation. We were trying to figure out what to sing when my mom started singing this song that I have never heard before but was immediately drawn in. The lyric is pretty frank…” if i was a drunkard, I tell you what I would do, I’d stop all my drinking and start working on a building with you” It took me back to an era, before political correctness and hand holding parishioners was such a concern… you can feel a few sparks from the hell fire and brimstone in it. I think the honesty of this song is something that is lacking in our culture today… I have to ask if we have gone soft in many ways because we can no longer bare to hear the truth, when it is in fact, a tough pill to swallow. Our research and online digging has deemed the writer unknown. It has been recorded by several artists down through the years there are actually two different old songs, with this title) The Cowboy Junkies, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, John Fogerty and a few others.. All great versions.
Hope you enjoy this one;-)
Blessings,
Cindy
Comments
I grew up with this one and we still sing it from time to time
If I was a sinner, I tell you what I’d do: I’d quit my way of sinning and work on the building too!