the blind boys of alabama, “let my mother live,”
from: almost home, 2017
Like so many gospel group histories, the bands often survived beyond the length of common life spans, affording many personnel changes. What was retained with these changes across the decades is a steadfastness of vocal quality and myriad rhythmic evocations. Begun in 1939, the Blind Boys of Alabama followed the spirit hither and yon mostly in the Southern church circuit. But a notable assortment of modern players discovered their high altitude harmonies and employment with leading performers like Bonnie Raitt, Prince, Ben Harper, Prince and Tom Waits arrived. “Let My Mother Live” was written by Marc Cohn and produced by the consummate producer John Leventhal, whose guitar fills are impeccably on. The treasured vocalist Jimmy Carter pronounces the word “live” with a definitive soul. Is that riff the rolls along through the song like a lazy river, from the Allman Brothers “Midnight Rider”? This song grows in you. Repeated listens suggested for a sustenance that transcends religious affiliation. Unbelievers welcome!
“Members
Jimmy Carter
Ricky McKinnie
Joey Williams
Reverend Julius Love
Past members
Ben Moore
Clarence Fountain
Johnny Fields
George Scott
Olice Thomas
Vel Bozman Traylor
Reverend J.T. Hutton
Bishop Billy Bowers
Caleb Butler
Samuel Butler Jr
Roscoe Robinson
Charles Porter
Dwight Fields
Paul Beasley”
“Let my mother live til I get grown
Don’t leave me in a God-forsaken world all alone
Let my mother live til I get grown
I was just a boy when my daddy died
He got killed down in the mine in 1945
I remember people talkin’ while my momma cried
I was just a boy when my daddy died
Let my mother live til I get grown
Let my mother live til I get grown
Don’t leave me in a God-forsaken world all alone
Let my mother live til I get grown
The Lord puts nothing on you that you can’t bear
When the
burdens that you carry just don’t seem fair
Heartaches and misery are everywhere
The Lord puts nothing on you that you can’t bear
Let my mother live til I get grown
Let my mother live til I get grown
Don’t leave me in the God-forsaken world all alone
Let my mother live
Let my mother live
Let my mother live til I get grown
”