Crucifixion 
Spiritual- Reverend Gary Davis

Crucifixion

Traditional, Old-Time, Gospel;

"Crucifixion" was recorded by Arizona Dranes. It is an instrumental piano solo, not related to other versions.

"Crucifixion" is usually associated with Roland Hayes, "And He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word."

ARTIST: from Reverend Gary Davis album, A little More Faith

SHEET MUSIC:

CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel 

DATE: 1900s; 

RECORDING INFO: Crucifixion

Reverend Gary Davis

OTHER NAMES:

SOURCES:

NOTES: "Crucifixion" from Reverend Gary Davis [not the same song as J. Rosamond Johnson's 1944 "Crucifixion" which is an arrangement of Roland Hayes' song, "He Never Said a Mumbling Word"] is his personal tribute to his Savior in a song/sermon.


Crucifixion- (Reverend Gary Davis) Transcribed by Frank Basile 

Well, I done died one time
and I ain't gonna die no more
Well, I done died one time
and I ain't gonna die no more
Oh, glory, glory, hallelujah I done died one time
and I ain't gonna die no more

And the time that the Lord, with the disciples, set down and talked with them at the table. They were eating their last Passover together with one another. Said, "Out of you twelve, gonna be one that betray me." They were all sitting down there, enjoying themselves... That broke up their appetite because they didn't know who it was, you know. They begin to talk one to another. Wanted to know who it was. Some got so worried about the thing, said "let's ask him". One of them said "you ask him, maybe he'll tell you". They were all troubled, you know. A great table before them and they couldn't eat. Their appetite was gone. So, after a while, one went to him and asked him. I hear one of 'em asked him something like this, you know. "Who is it"? He said, "The one you see me give something out of the dish, that'll be the one that betray me." So they watched, to see who it was. While they were watching, it give them a better appetite to eat, you know. Tell me my Lord spoken these words like this. Let me see what my Lord said:

It'd been good if that man had not been born
It'd been good if that man had not been born
Oh, glory, glory, hallelujah
It'd been good if that man had not been born

So he said to his disciples, "In a while, I'll be with you. In a while, I'll be gone." While he's settin' there talking, Peter began to understand this conversation, you know. He broke down and commenced to crying. I heard him say to him:

I will follow you, Lord, wheresoever you go
I will follow you, Lord, wheresoever you go
Oh, glory, glory, hallelujah
Lord, I'll follow you wheresoever you go

I heard my Lord say:

I'm going where you cannot go, oooh
I'm going where you cannot go
Oh, glory, oh, glory, hallelujah
Oh, Peter, I'm going where you cannot go

Peter made up his mind and he decided to go, anyhow. My Lord said, "Before the cock crows thrice, you will deny me." Said, "No, Lord, I'll prove to you that I'm a man... I'll fight for you. I will die for you". So he knowed that Peter didn't understand. Tell me that they brought them all the way to Jerusalem to try him. They were standing around the fire, warming, waiting for the courtroom to open. When the courtroom open, tell me they got my Lord in your guard. Set him down. Put him on the front row. And they tell me he was seeking for witnesses:
 

There was not a man to be found
There was not a man to be found
Oh, glory, glory, hallelujah
Oh, there was not a man to be found
And they smoted my Lord across the head with a reed
And they smoted my Lord across the head with a reed
Oh, glory be to God, hallelujah
Well, they smoted my Lord across the head with a reed

Planted seventy two thorns and placed them on his head
Planted seventy two thorns and placed them on his head
Oh, glory be to God, hallelujah
Planted seventy two thorns and placed them on my Lord's head

And they put him down and chosen him a tomb
Hey, put him down and chosen him a tomb
Oh, glory be to God, hallelujah
Oh, they put my Lord down and chosen him a tomb

Just before they got ready to put him down, he's sitting out there before Pilate. And they tell me, Pilate's wife said to him, "If you have anything to do with that man, I'm going to leave you." So, natural that a man don't want his wife to leave him. He didn't want to be guilty of an innocent man. I heard him calling:

Bring me a basin of water to wash my hands
Bring me a basin of water to wash my hands
Oh, glory be to God, hallelujah
Oh, bring me a basin of water to wash my hands

And I don't want to be guilty of a innocent man
Don't want to be guilty of a innocent man
Oh, glory be to God, hallelujah
Oh, don't want to be guilty of a innocent man

Talk to me, then...