#SongLyricSunday : Take Me To The River



 Time again for Song Lyric Sunday! 

The Idea was formed by Helen @ This Thing Called Life One Word At A Time. She has presented us with the word prompt of TAKE/TAKING for this week.


In 1973, Al Green sat down with his guitarist Mabon ‘Teenie’ Hodges and wrote this song. The two of them had rented a house in Arkansas for the sole purpose of writing new material for Green’s upcoming album, Al Green Explores Your Mind.  On the album, Green dedicates the song to his cousin, Little Junior Parker. Green states “he's gone on but we'd like to kinda carry on in his name.."

It is interesting to note that many people have attached this song to Green’s earlier religious convictions. But when he became pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in 1976, he stopped performing the song.

The song has been covered a few times, most notably by the Talking Heads.

Take Me to the River

I don't know why I love her like I do
All the changes you put me through
Take my money, my cigarettes
I haven't seen the worst of it yet

I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me to the river, dip me in the water

Washing me down, washing me down
I don't know why you treat me so bad
Think of all the things we could have had
Love is an ocean that I can't forget
My sweet sixteen I would never regret

I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Push me in the river, dip me in the water

Washing me down, washing me
Hug me, squeeze me, love me, tease me
Till I can't, till I can't, till I can't take no more of it
Take me to the water, drop me in the river
Push me in the water, drop me in the river

Washing me down, washing me down
I don't know why I love you like I do
All the troubles you put me through
Sixteen candles there on my wall
And here am I the biggest fool of them all

I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay
Take me to the river and drop me in the water
Dip me in the river, drop me in the water
Washing me down, washing me down.

Songwriters: AL GREEN,MABON LEWIS HODGES
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.,Universal Music Publishing Group
For non-commercial use only.
Data from: LyricFind






Check out Helen’s post for rules for participating in this musical word prompt blog hop.









Comments

  1. I like this version and the Talking Heads version. It's got a very catchy melody!

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    Replies
    1. Both great versions. Thanks for stopping in.


      ~Mary

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  2. My late dad loved this song - great memories! Thanks for the share. :)

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Felicia.

      Appreciate you stopping by.

      ~Mary

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  3. Superb choice - I have not heard this for years! Love Al Green!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      There were so many good choices to go with today. This one just called out to me.

      ~Mary

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  4. I know I've heard this song before, but not sure which version. I do like this one, though. :D

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    Replies
    1. I think I'm more familiar with Talking Heads version, but I thought this was nice as well.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  5. This is great! Never knew Al Green wrote it; always thought it was a Talking Heads original. Love this one, too!

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    Replies
    1. I did too, until I did a little bit of research before writing the post :)

      Thanks for dropping in.

      ~Mary

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  6. I don't remember hearing this before, but it's a good one. :)

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    Replies
    1. I agree. Glad I was able to pick on you liked.

      ~Mary

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  7. I honestly had never heard this version before and didn't know Al Green wrote it. Which is strange because I loved all his music. I really like this version probably as much as the Talking Heads cover

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    Replies
    1. I agree. It was a great find.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      ~Mary

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  8. I think someone else used this and included The Talking Heads' and Syl Johnson's. It's a great song!

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    Replies
    1. I saw that. It would make a great battle, don't you think? I consulted the master list of battles and there have been two battles done in the past. There have been two battles using the song, but none have used Syl Johnson. I may put this on a back burner for a later day :)

      ~Mary

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  9. I've always enjoyed Al Green's sounds and this is one of my favorites... Great voice.

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