September, 2008
“There’s good in the bad and bad in the good”
“Soul of a Convict and other great prison Songs” Porter Wagoner RCA Victor 1966. Living in Stereo has this nice post about Porter funeral service.
Listen and sing along:
(Will he take the soul of a convict could I be one of those he choosed)
I was taught the Bible from childhood at my mother’s knee I learned to pray
I was taught of God and all his goodness and the devil and his evil ways
There’s good in the bad and bad in the good and there’s none that’s free from sin
But there’s some questions I’ve wondered about
What happens to the men who die in the pen
Just imagine yourself the judge God Almighty as you gaze over all these men
When death takes its toll what becomes of the soul of the men who die in the pen
Do you think of God that’s true and just could look from his heavenly throne
And be pleased to see men placed in chains and stripes
And tucked from their loved ones at home
Worked until they’re completely exhuasted and your soul cries out in vain
Fed like a hog and treated like a dog and at night to the bed you’re chained
Worked from sunup to sundown through all kinds of weather
And if you don’t do the things just right you get introduced to the leather
Now you see it’s not the pain I mind so much as I’m stretched out on the floor
It’s just the thought that I can’t do my part that’s what breaks my heart
You see I’m just not man enough anymore
Oh there are a lotta other things I could tell you that you’d marvel at and say
Why I didn’t know in those modern times they treated men that way but they do
That’s why I ask you do you think that God could turn with a sneer and frown
At the men who die in the pen do you think he’ll turn us down
I believe there’s a heaven and a hell and in God I put my trust
That’s why I’m askin’ these questions I believe he’s true and just
And I just imagine he’ll tell me as we meet at the golden stairs
Hell’s not just meant for some of the men who die in the pen
But for some who have mistreated them there
You see we’re payin’ for the mistakes we made in our sins
As we’ve had our troubles in life
Because we’re the underdogs of humanity and surely God won’t make us pay twice
I believe on that Day of Judgement he’ll have this convict called in
And he’ll say it’s true hell’s not for you you had your hell in the pen
Dame on!
“Music For Big Dame Hunters” Crown Records “Sounds on a Thousand Strings” Pin-up queen Irish McCalla, “Sheena, Queen of the Jungle”
Mao sounds!
Nice one from lp cover lover, Michael Chorney in Lincoln, Vermont who writes: “Love your site. Heres a classic – Maoist children songs (note they are holding rifles.) Contains the hit “Criticize Lin Piao and Discredit Him Completely” (Lin Biao (also Piao) was a famous revolutionary general who rose to become Mao’s anointed successor, but died in a 1971 plane crash after what appeared to be a coup against Mao)
The soul patrol
Joe and Bill “No Time For Religion” From lp cover lover, Kid Fez who wrote: “I really love your site and I end up checking it every day – here’s one I found while I was evacuated for Hurricane Gustave last week. This one’s on SSE ( ” Sermon & Song Evangelism ” ) Records, from 1979. The music on this record is absolutely awful, and not in a funny or interesting way either – these guys were trying out that faux-country Dukes Of Hazzard aesthetic that was so popular then. Anyway, keep up the good work!”