Released 1930 (1930) Genre Gospel blues | Format 10-inch 78 rpm record Length 3:17 | |
B-side "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" Recorded Atlanta, Georgia, April 20, 1930 | ||
"John the Revelator" is a traditional gospel blues call and response song. Music critic Thomas Ward describes it as "one of the most powerful songs in all of pre-war acoustic music ... [which] has been hugely influential to blues performers". American gospel-blues musician Blind Willie Johnson recorded "John the Revelator" in 1930 and subsequently a variety of artists have recorded their renditions of the song, often with variations in the verses and music.
Contents
The song's title refers to John of Patmos (or traditionally John the Apostle) in his role as the author of the Book of Revelation. A portion of that book focuses on the opening of seven seals and the resulting apocalyptic events. In its various versions, the song quotes several passages from the Bible in the tradition of American spirituals.
Blind Willie Johnson version
Blind Willie Johnson recorded "John the Revelator" during his fifth and final recording session for Columbia Records in Atlanta, Georgia on April 20, 1930. Accompanying Johnson on vocal and guitar is Willie B. Harris (sometimes identified as his first wife), who sings the response parts of the song. Their vocals add a "sense of dread and foreboding" to the song, along with the chorus line "Who's that a writin', John the Revelator" "repeated like a mantra".
Johnson's lyrics reference a number of passages from the Bible:
[call] Well who's that writin'? [response] John the Revelator Who's that writin'? John the Revelator Who's that writin'? John the Revelator A book of the seven seals [call] Tell me what's John writin'? [response] Ask the Revelator What's John writin'? Ask the Revelator What's John writin'? Ask the Revelator A book of the seven seals Well who art worthy, thousands cried holy Bound for some, Son of our God Daughter of Zion, Judah the Lion He redeemeth, and bought us with his blood [Repeat verses 1 & 2] John the Revelator, great advocator Get's 'em on the battle of Zion Lord, tellin' the story, risin' in glory Cried, "Lord, don't you love some I" [Repeat verses 1 & 2] Well Moses to Moses, watchin' the flock Saw the bush where they had to stop God told Moses, "Pull off your shoes" Out of the flock, well you I choose [Repeat verses 1 & 2]The song was released as one of the last singles by Johnson and is included on numerous compilations, including the 1952 Anthology of American Folk Music.
Son House rendition
Delta blues musician Son House recorded several a cappella versions of "John the Revelator"in the 1960s. His lyrics for a 1965 recording explicitly reference three theologically important events: the Fall of Man, the Passion of Christ, and the Resurrection.
[call] Who's that writin'? [response] John the Revelator Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator Wrote the book of the seven seals [call] Who's that writin'? [response] John the Revelator Tell me who's that writin'? John the Revelator Well who's that writin'? John the Revelator Wrote the book of the seven seals You know God walked down in the cool of the day Called Adam by his name And he refused to answer Because he's naked and ashamed [Repeat verses 1 & 2] You know Christ had twelve apostles And three he led away He said, "Watch with me one hour, 'till I go yonder and pray." [Repeat verses 1 & 2] Christ came on Easter morning Mary and Martha came down to see He said, "Go tell my disciples To meet me in Galilee." [Repeat verses 1 & 2]This version was included on the 1965 album The Legendary Son House: Father of the Folk Blues (Columbia). An alternate version from the same session is found on the 1992 reissue Son House — Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions (Columbia).
Renditions by other artists
"John the Revelator" has been recorded by numerous musical artists, including Thee Headcoats, Jay Boy Adams, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Trey Anastasio Band, Beck, Frank Black, A. A. Bondy, Nick Cave, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Golden Gate Quartet, Gov't Mule, the Indelicates, Phil Keaggy, John Mellencamp, Lee Roy Parnell, R.E.M., Benjamin Siksou (in his musical show Valises Blues), the Silencers, Cameo, Curtis Stigers, Steve Vai, Joe Grushecky, the Growl, the Sword, Tom Waits (for a 2016 tribute album to Blind Willie Johnson), and Gillian Welch. James Brown, Taj Mahal, and Sam Moore recorded a version for the film Blues Brothers 2000, which includes an additional verse written for the movie and performed by Joe Morton. A performance by Curtis Stigers and the Forest Rangers' is heard during an episode of the television series Sons of Anarchy. The traditional song has inspired similarly titled songs by Depeche Mode and Dave Matthews Band, as well as the White Stripes' "Cannon" and Clutch's "Profits of Doom".