Released c. 1930 | Format 10" 78rpm single Length 3:02 | |
A-side "Sweeter as the Years Roll By" Recorded December 11, 1929 in New Orleans, LA | ||
"Take Your Stand" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson (vocals and guitar) and Willie B. Harris (vocals), who is thought to have been his first wife. Johnson sings throughout in his "growl" (false bass) voice. The composer is unknown; the song may be traditional.
Contents
Johnson's version was released as the B-side of his final single, later than several songs recorded in April 1930. It therefore seems likely that it was released in 1930.
The song consists of several verses with slightly varied words. The singer exhorts the listener to: take a stand, pray for me, shake my hand, tell the truth, keep the faith, preach the Word, and run the race; and promises to meet him or her on the Kingdom's shore. In context, the Word is the Word of God as revealed in the Bible, and the Kingdom is the Kingdom of God.
Recordings
Other songs
These songs with related titles may be different from the song which is the subject of this article; additional words in each of their titles do not appear in Johnson's version, suggesting that the difference is likely to be real:
This song with a related title is different to the song which is the subject of this article: