Sunday, August 14, 2016

Two Examples Of The Spiritual "Somebody's Knocking At Your Door" (Franklin Willis, Rev. James Cleveland)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on songs with the lyrics "Somebody's Knocking At Your Door" or similar titles.

Part I of this series showcases one YouTube sound files of the African American Spiritual "Somebody's Knocking At Your Door" by Franklin Willis and one gospelized version of that Spiritual by Rev. James Cleveland and a choir.

Standard lyrics for this song are also included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/nathaniel-bassey-someones-at-door-gospel.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the song "Someone's at the Door" by Nigerian vocalist Nathaniel Bassey.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song and thanks to Franklin Willis, Rev. James Cleveland and all those who are showcased in these sound files. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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STANDARD LYRICS- SOMEBODY'S KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR
(unknown composer/s African American Spiritual)

Somebody’s knocking at your door,
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door.

1. Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knocking at your door.
Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door

2. Can’t you hear Him?
Somebody’s knocking at your door.
Can’t you hear Him?
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door.
3. Answer Jesus,
Somebody’s knocking at your door.
Answer Jesus,
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/_music_lyrics.cfm?bandid=5650&songID=12728982&keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=530&width=530

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Somebody's Knocking At Your Door



Franklin Willis, Uploaded on Jun 1, 2008

Franklin Willis sings Negro Spiritual.
Arr. Robert Nathaniel Dett

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Example #2: Somebody's Knocking-James Cleveland Parts 1 and 2



Ken G, Published on Sep 27, 2014

I don't know why this isn't up on YouTube, but here it is.
-snip-
This example can also be categorized as Gospel as it is a gospelized version of that African American Spiritual.

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This concludes Part I of this series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

4 comments:

  1. Is this spiritual based on the text in the Book of Revelations. “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

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    Replies
    1. Hello, slam2011.

      I'd also guess that was the source of this Spiritual. But I don't think that there's any documentation to confirm that.

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    2. True. The sources of spirituals are as ill-documented as most real history.
      Does make me wonder if this influenced Bob Dylan's 'Knockin on Heaven's Door'? Could always email him and ask I suppose:)

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    3. Well Bob Dylan's song is about knocking on Heaven's door and the other song/s are about Jesus knocking on the door to people's houses. So...I don't think they are the same :o)

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