Listening All the Night Long- Songs & Ballads from Overton Co.
[Usually titled, I've Been Listening All the Night Long, this is an old-time gospel song sung in both white and black churches. This is a white gospel version. The spiritual was published in A Collection of Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies by Marshall William Taylor in 1882 (see text below). Cf. Lonesome Valley.
R. Matteson 2014]
Listening All the Night Long
Go read the third of Matthew,
Go read that chapter through,
It is the guide to Christians,
And tells them now to do.
Chorus: I've been listening all the night long,
Been listening all the day,
I've been listening all the night long,
To hear some sinner pray.
Some say John the Baptist,
Was nothing but a Jew,
But the Holy Scripture tells me,
He was a preacher, too.
The angels up in Heaven
Come three times a night,
To raise those diamond windows
To hear poor Daniel pray.
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Additional verse not given by Crabtree:
[There was a search in Heaven,
And all the earth around,
John stood in sorrow hoping,
A Savior could be found.]
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Lis'ning All the Night- From: A Collection of Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies - Page 63; Marshall William Taylor - 1882
1. Go read the third of Matthew,
And read the chapter through;
It is a guide to Christians,
To tell them what to do.
Chorus: I've been listening all the night long,
I've been listening all day;
I've been listening all the night long,
To hear some sinner pray.
2 In those days came John, the Baptist,
Into the wilderness,
A-preaching of the gospel,
Of Jesus' righteousness.
3 Then came to him the Pharisees,
For to baptized be;
But John forbade them, saying,
Repentance bring with thee.
4 Then I 'll baptize you freely,
When you confess your sin,
And own your Lord and Master,
And tell how vile you've been.
6 When John was preaching Jesus,
The all-atoning Lamb,
He saw the blessed Savior,
And said: "Behold the man"
6 Appointed of the Father,
To take away your sin,
When you believe in Jesus,
And own him for your king.