“What Is / The Soul of a Man”

One of the most revered & influential slide guitar players of all time,

Blind Willie Johnson made his living singing & preaching

on the streets of towns & cities across the U.S.

He preferred to sing religious songs,

& is joined here by his wife, Willie B. Harris.

His recording of “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was the Ground” was one of the few pieces

chosen to go into space aboard the Voyager I in 1977.

Source recording:

“Soul of a Man” Blind Willie Johnson

recorded for Columbia Records on April 20th, 1930 – Atlanta, GA *

Musicians

Alan Berliant – bass

Andy Baker – trombone

Richie Davis – electric guitar

Orbert Davis – muted trumpet

Jim Gailloreto – saxes & clarinet

Larry Glazier – cello

Pete LaBella – violin

Curt Morrison – electric guitar

Steve Mullen – piano, organ, synth & drum programming

John Rice – acoustic slide guitar, lap steel & banjo

Rob Stone – harmonica

Jeff Thomas – drums & percussion

Group Vocals

Joan Collaso
Clara Smith
Robin Robinson

Blind Willie Johnson – vocal & guitar

Willie B. Harris – harmony vocals

*  The Soul of a Man as performed by Blind Willie Johnson under license from Sony Music Entertainment.

“What Is / The Soul of a Man”

(lyrics)

I want somebody to tell me,

answer if you can

I want somebody to tell me

just what is the soul of a man

I‘m going to ask the question

please answer if you can

if anybody surely can tell me

just what is, just what is the soul of a man

chorus

I traveled different countries

I’ve traveled to foreign lands

haven’t found nobody could tell me, tell me

just what about the soul of a man

chorus

I saw a crowd stand talkin’

I just came up in time

was hearin’ the lawyer, the doctor

well, a man ain’t nothin’ but his mind

chorus

I read the Bible often

I tries to read it right

and far as I can understand

a man is more than his mind

chorus

when Christ head into the temple

the people all stood amazed

was teachin’ the lawyer, the doctor

how to raise a man from the grave

chorus