“A City Called Heaven”

I.D. Beck was an elder in the Mt Olivet Old Regular Baptist Church,

a congregation that met outdoors.

You can hear the sound of the crickets & babies making noise in the background

as he takes you on this incredibly personal journey.

Source Recordings:

“Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow” Elder I.D. Beck & congregation

recorded by Alan Lomax at the Mt Olivet Old Regular Baptist Church in Blackey, KY –

Sept. 6, 1959 *

“Everybody Talkin’ ’bout Heaven” The Georgia Sea Island Singers

recorded by Alan Lomax – 1959 *

Musicians:

Andy Baker – trombone

Alan Berliant – bass

Orbert Davis – muted trumpet

Kat Eggleston – hammer dulcimer

Jim Gailloreto – saxes, clarinet & flute

Larry Glazier – cello

Pete LaBella – violin

Curt Morrison – electric guitar

Steve Mullen – piano, organ, synth, & drum programming

John Rice – archtop slide guitar, lap steel, fiddle, banjo & dobro

Jeff Thomas – drums & percussion

Group Vocals:

Cynthia Butts

Joan Collaso

Steve Mullen

Clara Smith

Herbert Walker

Sonja Whitmore

Lead Vocal – I.D. Beck “Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow” & the Georgia Sea Island Singers – “Everybody Talkin’ bout Heaven”

Ambience – (Mt Olivet Old Regular Baptist Church)

*  “A City Called Heaven” contains interpolations of “Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow” performed by I.D. Beck and recorded by Alan Lomax; and “Everybody Talkin’ Bout Heaven” performed by the Georgia Sea Island Singers and recorded by Alan Lomax.  Published by Global Jukebox Publishing (BMI).  Courtesy of The Alan Lomax Archive.

“A City Called Heaven”

(lyrics)

heaven, heaven

everybody talkin’ bout heaven

I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow

cast out in a wide world to roam

I have no promise of tomorrow

I’ve started to make heaven my home

I’ve started to make heaven my home

I’d rather that we’d sing a song

heaven, heaven

everybody talkin’ bout heaven ain’t goin’ there

heaven, heaven

gonna shout all over God’s heaven

I know I’m weak & unworthy

troubles roll round me so high

when friends & relations forsake me

and I know not where to roam

sometimes I’m tossed & I’m driven

my blood’s running cold & slow

but I’ve heard of a city called heaven

(heard of a city)

where mortals no more complain

(a city, a city called heaven)

I soon shall reach the bright glory

I’ve started to make it my home

started, I’ve started to make it

my home

home -  my home