- Version 1:
Oh, I'm gonna get me a religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.
Oh, I'm gonna get me a religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.
I'm gonna be a Baptist preacher, and I sure won't have to work.
Oh, I'm preach these blues, and I want everybody to shout.
Umh, I want everybody to shout.
I'm gonna do like a prisoner, I'm gonna roll my time on out.
Oh, 'way in my room, I bow down to pray.
Oh, in my room I bow down to pray.
Weel, the blues come 'long and they blown my spirit (babe) away.
Oh, I wish I had me a heaven of my own (spoken: Great God almighty!).
Umh, heaven of my own.
Well, I'd give all my women a long, long, happy home.
Well, I love my baby, just like I love myself,
Umh, just like I love myself.
Well, if she don't have me, she won't have nobody else.
Well, I'm a poor man, I'm gonna kneel down in prayer.
Oh, I'm a poor man, gonna kneel down in prayer.
Well. I guess I'm gonna do my preachin' ---.
Now, I met the blues this morning walking just like a man.
Umh, walking just like a man.
I said "Good morning blues, now gimme your right hand".
Now, there's nothing now baby, lord, that's gonna worry my mind.
Umh, now that's gonna worry my mind.
Oh, to satisfy, I got the longest line.
Oh, I got to stay on the job, I ain't got no time to lose.
Umh, I ain't got no time to lose.
I swear to God, I got to preach these gospel blues (spoken: Great God Almighty!)
Oh, I'm gonna preach these blues until my feet have set down.
Oh, I'm gonna preach these blues now, until my feet have set down.
Well, It's very (constructive) I want you to jump straight up and down.
Version 2:
Yes, I'm gonna get me religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.
Yes, I'm gonna get me religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.
You know I wanna be a Baptist preacher, just so I won't have to work.
One deacon jumped up, and he began to grin.
One deacon jumped up, and he began to grin.
You know he said, "One thing, elder. I believe I'll go back to barrelhousin' again".
One sister jumped up, and she began to shout.
One sister jumped up, and she began to shout.
"You know I'm glad this corn liquor's goin out".
Another deacon jumped up and said, "Why don't ya hush?"
Another deacon jumped up and said, "Why don't ya hush?"
"You know you drink corn liquor and your lie's a horrible stink".
One sister jumped up and she began to shout.
One sister jumped up and she began to shout.
"I believe I can tell ya'll what it's all about".
Another sister jumped up, she said, "Why don't ya hush?"
Another sister jumped up, she said, "Why don't ya hush?"
"You know he's abandoned, and you outta hush your fuss".
I was in the pulpit, I's jumpin up and down.
I was in the pulpit, I's jumpin up and down.
My sisters in the corner, they're hollerin Alabama bound.
Grabbed up my suitcase and I took off down the road.
Grabbed up my suitcase and I took off down the road.
I said, "Farewell church, may the good Lord bless your soul".
You know I wish I had a heaven of my own.
You know I wish I had a heaven of my own.
I'd give all my women a good ol' happy home.
I'm gonna preach these blues and I'm gonna choose my seat and sit down.
I'm gonna preach these blues and I'm gonna choose my seat and sit down.
But, when the Spirit comes, I want you to jump straight up and down.
You know I's in the pulpit, I was jumpin straight up and down.
You know I was in the pulpit, I was jumpin straight up and down.
You know the sisters in the corner, they were hollerin' Alabama bound.