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Dollar and the Devil/Two Rulers
Public Domain Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; Words: James Larkin Pearson in 1911
ARTIST: Recorded by Henry Whitter in 1924 (released in 1925)
YOUTUBE:
SHEET MUSIC:
CATEGORY: Traditional And Public-Domain Gospel;
DATE: 1911
RECORDING INFO: The Dollar and the Devil
Henry Whitter; Okeh 40352; 1925
Bill Cox
Frank and Jim McCravy in 1928
Lillian Crabtree in Overton County, Tennessee 1936
RELATED TO:
OTHER NAMES: "Weeping Saviour"
SOURCES: Meade
NOTES: "The Dollar and the Devil" or "Two Rulers" is a public domain song based on a poem originally called "Two Rulers [The Dollar and the Devil]" that was written by North Carolina poet-laureate James Larkin Pearson in 1911. It was first recorded by a Henry Whitter in 1924 (released in 1925). "The Two Rulers" was collected in 1936 by Lillian Crabtree in Overton County, Tennessee (Green 1970:47-48).
It was recorded by Frank and Jim McCravy in 1928 and again in 1930. They were from South Carolina and recorded during the 20s and 30s. Lonnie Glosson recorded it on a CD called "Live Show" and a cassette called "Smell the Roses."
Dixie Himmingbirds recorded a different version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC6dCWBei0o "When the Dollar rules the pulpit then the Devil rules the pews,
you've got to pay to serve the Lord "
Here's the version from 1932 Southern Music Publishing co. Inc:
THE DOLLAR AND THE DEVIL-1932 Southern Music Publishing
IN THIS WORLD of frill and fashion where the churches are so fine
And the trademark of religion is the classic dollar sign
There's a rule that never faileth and you'll always find it true
Where the dollar rules the pulpit there the Devil rules the pew
Chorus:
There may be a lot of singing and an awful lot of pray'r
And the sermon may be answered by an Amen here and there
But as sure as I'm a-talkin' and your taxes will come due
Where the dollar rules the pulpit there the Devil rules the pew
When the money gets to talking and the Master's voice is still
And the preacher swaps his sermon for a twenty dollar bill
That's the time old Mister Satan gets the churches in a stew
Where the dollar rules the pulpit there the Devil rules the pew
When religion goes a-begging and the Bible is forgot
And the preacher preaches nothing but a scientific rot
Then the faithful old believers they are getting mighty few
Where the dollar rules the pulpit there the Devil rules the pew
THE DOLLAR AND THE DEVIL- Don Miller
1. In this world of frill and fashion where the churches are so fine,
And the trademark of religion is the blessed dollar sign,
There's a rule that never faileth and always you'll find it true:
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
CHORUS: There may be a lot of singing and an awful lot of prayer,
And the sermon may be answered by an "amen" here and there,
But as sure as I am talking and your taxes will come due,
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
2. When the money gets to talking and the Master's voice is still,
And the preacher swaps his sermon for a twenty-dollar bill,
That's when the time Old Mister Devil gets the churches in a stew.
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
3. When religion goes a-begging and the Bible is forgot,
And the preacher preaches nothing but some scientific rot,
Then the faithful old believers are getting mighty few.
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
DOLLAR AND THE DEVIL- Henry Whitter; Album: Okeh 40352; Year: 1925
http://honkingduck.com/mc/listen/henry-whitter/dollar-devil
In this world of frill and fashion with Satan where the churches are so fine
And the trademark of religion is a classic dollar sign,
There's a rule that never fails and you'll always find it true:
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
When the money gets to talking and the Maker's voice is still,
And the preacher swaps his sermon for a twenty-dollar bill,
That's the time old master Satan gets his churches in a stew.
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
When religion gone a-begging and the Bible is forgot,
And the preacher preaches nothing but a scientific rot,
There the faithful old believers they are getting mighty few.
Where the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
There may be a lot of singing and an awful lot of prayer,
And the sermon may be answered with an Amen here and there
But as sure as Job's a Dutchman or old Shylock was a Jew,
When the dollar rules the pulpit, there the devil rules the pew.
[harmonica solos]
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