|
Battle-Ax/ He's a Battle-Ax
Traditioanl Old-Time, Gospel
ARTIST: John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Sung by Gussie Slater and Clifford Reed, Florida State Prison, Raiford, FL.
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: probably 1800s; First Recorded in 1939 John and Ruby Lomax
RECORDING INFO: Battle Ax
North Philadelphia Jrs Battle Ax Sharp 1961
Sallie Martin Singers God is a Battle Axe Specialty 1950
OTHER NAMES: "Battle Ax," "He's A Battle Ax"
SOURCES: Mudcat; John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; WFMU
NOTES: "Battle-Ax" or "He's A Battle-Ax" is taken from Gussie Slater and Clifford Reed, Florida State Prison, Raiford, FL. as part of John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. It was collected in a Raiford, Fla. Women's Dormitory. Sallie Martin Singers sing "God is a Battle Axe" on Specialty in 1950." It begins:
(He's a battle ax) 6X
(In, the time of a storm)
CHORUS: My God (He's a battle ax)
Is a battle ax (He's a battle ax)
My God (He's a battle ax)
Is a battle ax (He's a battle ax)
My God (He's a battle ax)
Is a battle ax (He's a battle ax)
In the time of a storm.
A more modern version with a vamp (repeated section) at the end was recorded by the North Philadelphia Jrs on the Sharp label in 1961 (see lyrics below).
BATTLE-AX John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Sung by Gussie Slater and Clifford Reed, Florida State Prison, Raiford, FL.
CHORUS: He's a battle-ax in a time of battle,
He's a battle-ax in a time of battle,
He's a battle-ax in a time of battle,
Shelter in a mighty storm.
Well, cain't no man do like Jesus,
Not a-mumblin' word did he say,
He jes' walked right down to Laz'rus grave,
An' he raised him from the grave.
Cho.
Well, Easter night he started back home,
Stopped in Jerusalem, pressin' along,
Spoke to the doctors, all precious in gold,
Doctors, can you heal a dyin' soul?
Cho.
Well, if it had not been for Adam,
There would not a-bin no sin,
Oh, Adam broke de law of God, (poor man)
Now we got a debt to pay.
Cho.
When Mary was seekin' for religion,
She was only twelve years old,
She was skippin' over hills an' mountains,
She knocked at Abraham's door.
Cho.
Well, A is for Almighty, that is true,
B is for baby like I an' you,
C is for Christ sent from God,
D is for Doctor man of all.
BATTLE AX- North Philadelphia Jrs; Sharp label; 1961
CHORUS: He's a battle-ax (in a time of battle),
He's a battle-ax (in a time of battle),
He's a battle-ax (in a time of battle),
Shelter in the time of a storm.
CHORUS
On Jordan's stromy bank I stand
And cast a wistful eye
To Caanan's shore, and a happy land
Where my possesions lie.
CHORUS
VAMP: Ride on,
Ride on
Ride on
He's a shelter in the time of a storm
VAMP:
VAMP:
He's a Battle Axe- Performed by Florida Mass Choir
Chorus: He's battle axe
In the time of a war
He's a battle axe
In the time of a war
He's a battle axe
In the time of a war
Shelter in the time of a story
Verse: Well you can't do like Jesus did
Not a mumbling word he said
He walked right down to Lazarus grave
And raised him from the dead
Gonna go down to that river
Gonna stand there like a man
Unbuckle my sword right off a my side
And stick it in the golden sand
Well, load my gun with the Holy Ghost
And I pull my trigger with prayer
King Jesus is my captain
And I'll shoot most any where
Shoot most any where
Father I stretch my hands to thee
No other help I know
If thou withdraw thyself from me
Oh whether shall I go.
He's A Battle Axe- Performed by Rev. Clay Evans & The African American Religious Connection (AARC)Mass Choir
Chorus: He'a battle axe (In the time of battle)
He'a battle aze (In the time of battle)
He'a batte axe ( In the time of battle)
Oh, he's (A shelter in the time of storm)
Verse: No man can do me like Jesus
No a mumbling word he said
Walk right down to Larzsus grave
And raise him from the grave.
Verse; When I get up in Heaven
I want you to be there too,
and when I cry out I been redeemed
I want you to say it too.
(I been redeemed)
Verse: There's one thing that I know I done wrong
I know I stayed in the widerness
just a little too long.
(He's a shelter in the time of storm)
(He's a shelter in the time of storm)
(He's a shelter in the time of storm)
(He's a shelter in the time of storm)
Repeat chorus
|