Message Board Archive: Thread Number 96

This is my take on the lyrics to "Oh Death". There is a great deal of
"call and response" in this song which I have not attempted to
transcribe. This is simply a rough outline of the text of the song.
Corrections are welcome (even expected).
Just look, just look
Just look what the Lord done done 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
It was soon one mornin'
When Death come in the room 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
Oh hush, Oh hush
Somebody is callin' me 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
It was soon one mornin'
When Death come in the room 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
Oh Death, Oh Death
That stole my mother and gone 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
Don't you move my pillow
Till you turn my bed around
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
Oh hush, Oh hush
Somebody is callin' me 3x
Lord I know, Lord I know my time ain't long
Transcribed by:
Frank Basile

Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:24:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: hclewman@mindspring.com (Harry Lewman)
Subject: My way of singing "Oh Death" lyrics and recording
Message Number: 96.1

The way I think the song works so effectively is taking the point of
view of an old man whose wife, Annie, just died.

As you all know, songwriting works best when telling a story, and the
line:

Don't you move my pillow, don't you turn my bed around

Seems to be spoken by the old man to someone who is trying to help him
get on with his life, clean up his room, make his bed , etc.

Oh Hush, somebody is a' callin' you (not me) I think of as an aside or
admonishment from the old man, trying to scare off the person who would
help him, or those listening to the story.

I sing it as "Oh Death done stold my Annie and gone."

Please feel free to listen to a recorded excerpt of mine at
http://www.hlmusic.com/ohdeath.htm