Le 7 février 1958, Armstrong achève de graver « The Good Book » à New-York (du 4 au 7 février 1958). C’est un monument du Negro spiritual qui fera date et s’imposera vite comme une référence.
« The Good Book » peut être considéré comme un message définitif, une prière magistrale qui s’élève vers l’Éternel. Ce chrétien fervent avait appris à chanter le gospel à l’église de la Nouvelle-Orléans avec son arrière-grand-mère. C’est par ce sublime disque qu’il rendra le témoignage le plus poignant à son peuple.
Il n’a pas hésité à utiliser sa notoriété pour présenter au public blanc tout un pan de sa culture intime, celle des églises noires du Sud. Loin d’être anecdotique dans sa carrière foisonnante, cet album constitue une pièce-maîtresse dans l’œuvre du trompettiste.
Léopold Sédar Senghor avait trouvé les mots justes : « C’est tour à tour, la voix de la foudre, de la tornade, de la mer sur les rochers, de la source sur l’herbe. La voix du gorille et la voix de la tourterelle… C’est la voix de l’aube du monde, la voix de Dieu créant le monde en images modulées, en images rythmées. »
TOUS LES TEXTES :
SIDE ONE
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Sometimes I'm up, sometimes
I'm down, oh, yes Lord
Sometimes I'm almost
To the ground, oh yes, Lord
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Anybody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
If you got there before
I do, oh yes Lord
Tell all my friends, I'm
Coming too, oh yes Lord
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Although you see me
Goin' on so, oh yes
I have my trials, here below
Oh yes, Lord
Oh, nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Oh, glory, Hallelujah
Shadrack
The story of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego
There was three children from the land of Israel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
They took a little trip to the land of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Nebudchanezzer was the king of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
He took a lot of gold, and made an idol
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the trombone"
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the clarinet"
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the horn
You must fall down and worship the idol"
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
But the children of Israel would not bow down
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
I said, you couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
So the king put the children in the fiery furnace
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Eleven times hotter, hotter than it ought to be
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Burned up the soldiers that the king had put there
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
But the Lord sent an angel with the snow-white wings
Down in the middle of the furnace
Talkin' to the children 'bout the power of the Gospel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Well, they couldn't burn a hair on the head of
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Laughin' and talkin' while the fire jumpin' 'round
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Old Nebudchanezzer called, "hey there!"
When he saw the power of the Lord
And they had a regal time in the house of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Oh, Abednego
Go down Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell all pharaoes to
Let my people go!
When Israel was in Egypt land
Let my people go!
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
Let my people go!
So the God said: go down, Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell all pharaoes to
Let my people go!
So moses went to Egypt land
Let my people go!
He made all pharaoes understand
Let my people go!
Yes the lord said: go down, Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell all pharaoes to
Let my people go!
Thus spoke the lord, bold Moses said:
-let my people go!
if not I'll smite, your firstborn's dead
-let my people go!
God-the lord said : go down, Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell all pharaoes to
Let my people go!
Tell all pharaoes
To let my people go
Rock my soul
Why don't you rock my so ul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham) Oh, rock my soul
I would not be a sinner I'm tellin' you the reason why
I'm afraid my Lord might call me Great God, and I wouldn't be ready to die
Hmm, baby, won't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham) Oh, rock my soul
I would not be a liar I'm tellin' you the reason why
I'm afraid my Lord might call me Great God, and I wouldn't be ready to die
Hmm, baby, won't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Oh, rock my soul
I would not be a back biter I'm tellin' you the reason why
I'm afraid my Lord might call me Great God, and I wouldn't be ready to die
Hmm, baby, won't rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Why don't you rock my soul? (In the bosom of Abraham)
Oh, rock my soul Rock my soul, rock my soul
Ezekiel saw the wheel;
Way up in the middle of the air.
Now Ezekiel saw the wheel in a wheel;
Way in the middle of the air.
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lordy;
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
In the wheel in the wheel in the wheel good Lord;
Way in the middle of the air.
Who's that yonder dressed in white?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children of the Israelites:
Way in the middle of the air.
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lordy;
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
In the wheel in the wheel in the wheel good Lord;
Way in the middle of the air.
Who's that yonder dressed in red?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children that Moses led:
Way in the middle of the air.
Ezekiel saw the wheel;
Way up in the middle of the air.
Now Ezekiel saw the wheel in a wheel;
Way in the middle of the air.
Who's that yonder dressed in black?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children runnin' back:
Way in the middle of the air.
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith, good Lordy;
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
In the wheel in the wheel in the wheel good Lord;
Way in the middle of the air,
Way in the middle of the air.
On my way now, got on my traveling shoes
Well, I'm on my way now, got on my traveling shoes
Them shoes now, got on my traveling shoes
Oh, child got on my traveling shoes
Well, I went to the church, I walked right in
The saints began to pray and the Lord came in
I went to the alter, didn't find a fault
The saints began to pray and the fires did halt
Well, I went to the valley, didn't go to stay
My soul got empty and I stayed all day
I went to the river and walked right in
The saints were all saying, "wash away your sins"
On my way now, got on my traveling shoes
Yes, I'm on my way now, got on my traveling shoes
Goin' home now, got on my traveling shoes
Goin' home now, got on my traveling shoes
I'm on my way now, got on my traveling shoes
On my way
Yes, I'm about to leave you on my way
I'm wearing my traveling shoes on my way
Yes, I'm going home where things are always good
SIDE TWO
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna study, study, war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Yes, laid down ?
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
God is tiding on no more
No more
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home
A band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
(Chorus)
If you get there before I do
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all my friends I'm coming too
Coming for to carry me home
(Chorus)
Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul feels heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
(Sometimes)
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long ways from home
A long ways from home
Do believe us?
A long ways from home
A long ways from home
Yes, sometimes I feel like a motherless child
(Why?)
Why? 'Cause nothin' ever happens
(Nothin')
Well, nothin' good
(So what's good?)
You know to have a ball, man
(You sick?)
No
(Hungry?)
No, man
I just had myself a whole mess of black-eyed peas and rice
(Long way, long way)
(See what I mean?)
I did; I am a long ways from home
But things could be worse, sure could
Jonah and the whale
Jonah was a man who got a word from the Lord
"Go and preach the Gospel to the sinful land"
But he got on a ship and he tried to get away
And he ran into a storm in the middle of the sea
Now the Lord, He made the waves just roll so high
The ship begin to sink and they all begin to cry
So they pulled old Jonah out of the hold
And they dumped him in the water just to lighten up the load
Now the Lord made a whale, long and wide
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
And he swallowed up Jonah, hair and hide
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Now Jonah started to pray in the belly of the whale
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
He repented of his sins like a man in jail
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Now Jonah must've been a bad man; he must of been a sinner
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
'Cause when the whale got him down, he didn't like his dinner
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Well, he swum around the ocean, sick as he could be
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
And after three days, whoops, he had to set him free
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish, mmm?
So the whale spit Jonah out onto dry land
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
And he went on to preaching like a righteous man
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
Then the people quit their sins when they heard him in the town
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish?
So when you hear the call, don't you turn the Gospel down
Lord, Lord, wasn't that a fish, hmmm?
Didn't it Rain
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Oh it rained forty days
And it rained forty nights
There was no land no where in sight
God send the angel to spread the news
He haste his wings and away he flew
To the East to the West
To the North to the South
All day all night how it rained how it rained
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Some at the window some at the door
Some said Noah can't you take a little more
No no said Noah no no my friends
The nature got to keep you can't get in
I told you I told you a long time ago
You wouldn't hear me you disobey me
Lord send the angel a warning to you
It began to rain and now you are through
Well it rained forty days
Forty nights without stopping
Noah was glad
When the rain stopped dropping
Knock at the window knock at the door
Come on brother Noah
Can't you take any more
No no my brothers you are full of sin
God has the key you can't get in
Would you listen how it rained
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Don't carry nothing but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train;
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train;
This train don't carry no gamblers,
Liars, thieves, nor big shot ramblers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no liars, this train;
This train don't carry no liars, this train;
This train don't carry no liars,
She's streamlined and a midnight flyer,
This train don't carry no liars, this train.
This train don't carry no smokers, this train;
This train don't carry no smokers, this train
This train don't carry no smokers,
Two bit liars, small time jokers,
This train don't carry no smokers, this train.
This train don't carry no con men, this train;
This train don't carry no con men, this train;
This train don't carry no con men,
No wheeler dealers, here and gone men,
This train don't carry no con men, this train.
This train don't carry no rustlers, this train;
This train don't carry no rustlers, this train;
This train don't carry no rustlers,
Sidestreet walkers, two bit hustlers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.