I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge
"I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge" | |
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Single by Blind Willie Johnson | |
Recorded | Dallas, Texas, December 5, 1928 |
Genre | Gospel blues |
Length | 3:21 |
Label | Columbia |
Songwriter(s) | Unknown |
"(I'm Gonna Run to) The City of Refuge" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1928 by Blind Willie Johnson, with backing vocals by Willis B. Harris, who may have been his first wife.[1] It is an adaptation of the traditional song "You Better Run".[citation needed]
The earliest known recording of the song (titled "You Better Run") was by Wiseman Sextette, c.1923.[2]
The title relates to the Biblical concept of Cities of Refuge, where people accused of manslaughter could escape vengeance. The chorus consists of the title, repeated several times, often in call-and-response format. The verses differ widely from one artist to another. Johnson's version refers to Saint Peter preaching; to the Holy Ghost; to Book of Revelation 12:13 ("And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child"); and to the Last Supper.[citation needed]
Other recordings
"I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge"
- 2004 – 7 & 7 Is, on the album Fun with Sound
"City of Refuge"
- 1988 – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, on the album Tender Prey
- 2008 – The 77s, on the album Holy Ghost Building (a different version from that released in 2004 by 7 & 7 Is)
- 2011 – Abigail Washburn, on the album City of Refuge
"You Better Run"
- 1934 – Louis Washington, unreleased [2]
- 1965 – C. J. Johnson, on the album of the same name.[3]
- 1972 – Elvis Presley with J. D. Sumner and the Stamps, on the album Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
References
- ^ "I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^ a b Haymes, Max. "Roots of Blind Willie Johnson – Part 1". Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015. Also lists other recordings of the song.
- ^ C. J. Johnson: You Better Run at AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
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(chronological)
- "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed" / "I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole"
- "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" / "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine"
- "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" / "If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down"
- "I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge"
- "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" / "Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying"
- "God Don't Never Change" / "Let Your Light Shine on Me"
- "Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King" / "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond"
- "God Moves on the Water" / "Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There"
- "John the Revelator" / "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond"
- "The Rain Don't Fall on Me" / "Trouble Will Soon Be Over"
- "Praise God I'm Satisfied" / "When the War Was On"
- "Can't Nobody Hide from God" / "If It Had Not Been For Jesus"
- "The Soul of a Man" / "Church, I'm Fully Saved To-Day"
- "Go with Me to That Land" / "Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right"
- "Take Your Stand" / "Sweeter as the Years Roll By"
- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (1993)
- The Soul of a Man (2003)
- American Epic: The Best of Blind Willie Johnson (2017)
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