Sunday, February 8, 2015

"When the storm of life is raging..."

From Bob Dylan's speech at the MusiCares benefit:
.... The Blackwood Bros. have been talking to me about making a record together. That might confound expectations, but it shouldn't. Of course it would be a gospel album. I don't think it would be anything out of the ordinary for me. Not a bit. One of the songs I'm thinking about singing is "Stand By Me" by the Blackwood Brothers. Not "Stand By Me" the pop song. No. The real "Stand By Me."

The real one goes like this:
When the storm of life is raging / Stand by me / When the storm of life is raging / Stand by me / When the world is tossing me / Like a ship upon the sea / Thou who rulest wind and water / Stand by me

In the midst of tribulation / Stand by me / In the midst of tribulation / Stand by me / When the hosts of hell assail / And my strength begins to fail / Thou who never lost a battle / Stand by me

In the midst of faults and failures / Stand by me / In the midst of faults and failures / Stand by me / When I do the best I can / And my friends don't understand / Thou who knowest all about me / Stand by me
That's the song. I like it better than the pop song. If I record one by that name, that's going to be the one. I'm also thinking of recording a song, not on that album, though: "Oh Lord, Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." .... [more]
There are two more verses that follow the ones Dylan quoted:
In the midst of persecution / Stand by me / In the midst of persecution /  Stand by me / When my foes in battle array / Undertake to stop my way / Thou who saved Paul and Silas / Stand by me

When I'm growing old and feeble / Stand by me / When I'm growing old and feeble / Stand by me / When my life becomes a burden / And I'm nearing chilly Jordan / O thou lily of the valley / Stand by me

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