"Lift Him Up That's All" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1927 by Washington Phillips. It is a solo performance, with Phillips' vocals and zither.[2]
| "Lift Him Up That's All" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Washington Phillips | |
| Recorded | Dallas, Texas, December 2, 1927 |
| Genre | Gospel blues |
| Length | 3:31 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Unknown |
| Producer(s) | Frank B. Walker[1] |
Description edit
The verses tell the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, found in the Gospel of John at 4:4-30.
The refrain draws from the Gospel of John at 12:32, often interpreted as a prophecy of the Crucifixion and/or the Resurrection of Jesus:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
and runs as follows:[3]
Oh, lift Him up, that's all,
Lift Him up in His word,
If you'll tell the name of Jesus everywhere,
If you'll keep His name a-ringin' everywhere that you go,
He will draw men unto Him.
The song seems to have fallen into obscurity until revived in 2002 by the bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley.[citation needed]
Recordings edit
- 1927 – Washington Phillips, Columbia Records single [4][5][6]
- c. 1928[clarification needed] – Blind Benny Paris and Wife,[7] Victor Records(?)[8] single
- 2002 – Ralph Stanley, "Lift Him Up, That's All" [9][10] on the album Ralph Stanley
- 2011 – Ralph Stanley, "Lift Him Up, That's All" [9] on the album A Mother's Prayer [11]
Other songs edit
The refrain has some resemblances to that of the 1903 hymn "Lift Him Up" by Johnson Oatman, Jr., but the music and verses are different.[12]
See also edit
- "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well", a different gospel song on the same Biblical story
References edit
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (December 29, 2002). "Exhuming the Legend of Washington Phillips". Austin Statesman. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ "Washington Phillips discography". wirz.de. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ "Washington Phillips Lift Him Up That's All Lyrics". Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ George Washington Phillips: Lift Him Up That's All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ A.C. Forehand / Blind Mamie Forehand / George Washington Phillips: Lift Him up That's All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Lift Him Up That's All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Blind Benny Paris and Wife: Lift Him Up That's All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ "Blind Benny Paris and Wife (Vocal group)". ucsb.edu. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ a b Ralph Stanley: Lift Him Up, That's All, Composed by Washington Phillips at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Ralph Stanley: Lift Him Up That's All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Deming, Mark. Ralph Stanley: A Mother's Prayer at AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ "Lift Him Up (Oatman)". nethymnal.org. Retrieved August 23, 2015.