Take Your Stand

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"Take Your Stand"
Johnson-TakeYourStand.jpg
Single by Blind Willie Johnson
Releasedc. 1930
RecordedNew Orleans, Louisiana, December 11, 1929
GenreGospel blues
Length3:02
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Unknown

"Take Your Stand" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson (vocals and guitar) and Willie B. Harris (vocals), who is thought to have been his first wife.[1][2] Johnson sings throughout in his "growl" (false bass) voice. The lyrics and melody are similar to that of Charley Patton's "Prayer of Death Pt. 1" recorded earlier in 1929. The composer is unknown; the song may be traditional.

Johnson's version was released as the B-side of his final single, later than several songs recorded in April 1930.[2] It therefore seems likely that it was released in 1930.

The song consists of several verses with slightly varied words. The singer exhorts the listener to "take a stand, pray for me, shake my hand, tell the truth, keep the faith, preach the Word, and run the race". He then promises to meet him or her on the Kingdom's shore. In context, the Word is the Word of God as revealed in the Bible, and the Kingdom is the Kingdom of God.

Recordings[]

Other songs[]

These songs with related titles may be different from the song which is the subject of this article; additional words in each of their titles do not appear in Johnson's version, suggesting that the difference is likely to be real:

  • 1989 – "Take Your Stand, Trucker!" by Waltons, on the album Truck Me Harder [6][7]
  • 1998 – "Take a Stand 'Put Your Hand in the Hand'" by Henry "Buzz" Glass, on the album Circle and Line Dances, Vol. 1 [8]
  • 2008 – "Take Your Stand (I Have the Victory)" by Morrow-Miles, on the album Your Grace & Mercy [9]

This song with a related title is different to the song which is the subject of this article:

  • 2008 – "Rise Up and Take Your Stand" by Busy Signal, on the album Dead U Dead Riddim [10]

References[]

  1. ^ Blakey, D. N. (August 8, 2007). Revelation: Blind Willie Johnson: The Biography. Lulu Enterprises. ISBN 978-1430328995.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Blind Willie Johnson discography". Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  3. ^ Blind Willie Johnson: Take Your Stand at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  4. ^ Glenn Kaiser: Take Your Stand at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Glenn Kaiser – Ripley County Blues at Discogs
  6. ^ Waltons: Take Your Stand, Trucker! at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  7. ^ Waltons – Truck Me Harder at Discogs (list of releases)
  8. ^ Henry Buzz Glass: Take a Stand "Put Your Hand In the Hand" at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  9. ^ Morrow-Miles: Take Your Stand (I Have the Victory) at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  10. ^ Busy Signal / Al Pancho: Rise Up and Take Your Stand at AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2015.


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