Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)

(Corey Harris lyrics variation)

Words & Music by:

Robert Johnson

Arr: Eddie James "Son" House

Oh, I'll get my religion, join the Baptist Church.

Well, I'm gonna be a Baptist preacher;

Well, well, so I won't have to work.

Oh, I wish I had me a heaven of my own.

Yeah, I'd give all my women - what?! - a long, long happy home.

Well, I met the blues this morning.

[spoken: What was he doin', now?]

He was walking like a man.

Well, I met the blues walkin' like a man.

[Yeah?! What'd ya tell him?]

Well, I said, "Good morning, blues," [spoken: What?!]

"Why not give me your right hand?"

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO:

[spoken verse:]

Yeah, I saw the devil one morning, walking like a natural man.

He had a badge on his chest and a pistol in his hand.

Whooooaaa-oh-oa!!!!

Whoa! I went in my room; you know, I bowed down to pray.

Oh, I went in my room; I bowed down to pray.

[spoken: Tell 'em what happened!]

But the womens and the whiskey, [spoken: Good God!]

Well, they blowed my spirit away!

Well, I'm gonna preach these blues, shoot my seed and set down.

But when the spirit comes, I want you to jump straight up & down.