SERMON: John the Baptist (singing sermon)

Sung by Rev. Moses Mason, on Anthology of American Folk: A Folkways Anthology

Written by Johnny Parth

(On YouTube there is a performance under “Rev. Moses Mason — John the Baptist & lyrics”; and another by Neko Case, called John Saw that Number.)

(Lyrics differ.)

John done saw that number, 
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.

Inculcating John The Baptist,
Preaching in the wilderness
All the children came from east
Came from the east,
For the kingdom of heaven
It ain’t for this is he
That was spoken of by the prophecy, yeah.
The voice of one
Crying in the wilderness so badly.
Stayed away all day Lord,
It made him sadly stayed insane.
John had a raiment of camel hide
and a leather girdle, not his own.

John done saw that number, 
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
Crying “holy, holy, holy my Lord God, holy!”

Jesus came from Nazarene unto Galilee
To be baptized of John in Jordan.
And John said unto Him, “Come and talk to me,
I need to be baptized of Thee.”
And Jesus said unto John, “Suffer it to be so for
Thus it becomes us to fill all righteousness.”

John done saw that number, 
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
Crying “How long, how long,
How long my Lord, oh how long.”

After Jesus was baptized of John,
Straightaway out of the waters,
Looked and saw heavens open.
And the spirit of God came down and lit a bow on Him.
And Jesus was carried up into the mountain
To be tempted, all-forsaken.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,
The tempters came unto him and said,
“If Thou be the Son of God, cast thy weight
‘Cause he’s going to be a burden.”

Jesus said unto John
“Get behind me, for it is written
Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God
But him only thou should obey.”

John done saw that number, 
Way in the middle of the air.
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.