“All My Trials”
Description
"If religion were a thing that money could buy, The rich would live and the poor would die. All my trials, Lord, soon be over. Too late, my brothers, too late but never mind." The weary singer looks forward to victory after death
Notes
The Jackson/Rucell recording, from 1954, is classified here in near-desperation; it consists primarily of the single floating verse "The tallest tree in Paradise/The Christians call it the Tree of Life" (also found in "Is Your Lamps Gone Out?"), plus the chorus "Hey brother with a hey/Hey, sister with a hey-ey-ey/Jes' take a little bottle and let's go home/Yes, my Lord." - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "Little David, Play on Your Harp" (floating lyrics)
- cf. "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" (lyrics)
- cf. "Noah's Ark" (lyrics)
- cf. "Zek'l Weep" (floating lyrics)
- cf. "Is Your Lamps Gone Out?" (lyrics)
- cf. "Tell All the World, John" (lyrics)
- cf. "Wild Rover No More" (floating lyrics)
Recordings
- Rev. Lewis Jackson & Charlotte Rucell, "Tallest Tree in Paradise" (on MuSouth07)
- Pete Seeger, "All My Trials" (on PeteSeeger31)
References
- BrownIII 644, "Tree in Paradise" (3 short texts; the "A" version combines "Few Days" with a "Tree in Paradise" text; "B" is too short to classify easily; "C" seems to be mostly "All My Trials"; there may also be influence from "Is Your Lamps Gone Out" or the like)
- Silber-FSWB, p. 359, "All My Trials" (1 text)
- DT, ALLTRIAL*
- Roud #11938
- BI, FSWB359B