Gospel Song – John the Revelator
Gospel Song – John the Revelator.
This classic blues gospel song was first recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1930. Between the bad recording and the complex wording of the lyrics, the song was pretty much forgotten after a few years. But the legendary Delta bluesman, Son House, revived public interest in the song in the mid sixties during the “blues revival,” when he revised the lyrics and performed it a capella in concert. John the Revelator was soon one of the top blues songs ever recorded, and was even said to be “one of the most influential songs of the 20th century.”
LYRICS
Refrain: Tell me who’s that writin’? John the Revelator! (3x); Wrote the book of the Seven Seals.
1. You know God walked down in the cool of the day, called Adam by his name. But he refused to answer, because he was naked and ashamed.
Refrain
2. You know Christ had twelve Apostles, and three He led away. He said, “Watch with me one hour, till I go yonder and pray.”
Refrain
3. Christ came on Easter morning, Mary and Martha came down to see. He said, “Go and tell my disciples to meet me in Galilee.”
Refrain
Son House was born into a family of seventeen children in the Mississippi delta at the turn of the 20th century. He was raised in a church-going family, and he felt the call to be a preacher at a young age. He preached his first sermon at 15 years of age. During his long life, Son felt the tension between his Christian faith and the allure of the blues lifestyle. Finally in 1943 he gave up the blues and retired from his music career. He remained retired for 20 years, until some young blues musicians rediscovered him in New York. His career was revived and he became internationally famous for his blues singing and guitar work. Son House recorded John the Revelator in 1965, which popularized Blind Willie’s song for blues musicians everywhere. His biggest hit was “Preachin’ the Blues, and he was voted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Son House died in 1988.
John the Revelator‘s refrain refers to St. John, the writer of the book Revelation. But then, in the tradition of African American spirituals, House’s lyrics refers to many different Bible passages. House’s version of the song was by far the most popular version, and his lyrics allude to the Fall, Gethsemane, and the Resurrection. This song is a classic call and response format, and has influenced blues performers since the 1960’s. As sung by blind Willie Johnson, the song was written in a more ominous sense of impending doom. This is reflected in the reference to the seven seals of Revelation. St. John wrote that the seals could only be opened by “the Lamb,” Jesus Christ. Included in these seven seals were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, representing war, famine, plague, and natural disasters. The seals were understood to be the consequences of mankind’s sinfulness, and the Horsemen of the seals pointed to the threats of judgment spoken of by God in Revelation. It’s interesting that Son House wanted to turn the song from one of doom to one of joy.
Son House’s version is not quite so eerie or burdened by the threat of judgment. House closed his set of lyrics with the triumph of the Resurrection. This song has been performed as a lament and as a pure expression of joy, as folk blues, New Orleans jazz, and with a full gospel choir. I have provided links to these three different artistic interpretations in this article. The gospel choir was in the film Blues Brothers 2000. Enjoy all three versions.