# Mary, Don't You Weep **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106 "2013-02-02T06:02:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scruffycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scruffycat/32/200_2.png) [@scruffycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scruffycat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/21 "2013-02-02T19:24:20Z")
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBoP70A7Q0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBoP70A7Q0) It’s my favourite version of this song, just slightly edging out Blind Willie Johnson’s by a whisker. Makes the hair on my neck stand up. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/22 "2013-02-02T20:18:20Z")
One of my favorite songs ever, People Get Ready. [The Chambers Brothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBOqSAcwYGU) do my favorite version, but I also love this live version by[Al Green](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8NWqO85P6Y). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/23 "2013-02-03T02:23:01Z")
I write liberty-movement songs (You can hear some in the movie _Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree_), and keep going back to Gospel numbers to base contrafacta upon, despite my cranky atheism, because they’re so moving, inspirational, and possessed of proven staying power. It sure worked for the Civil Rights movement–which, by the way, rewrote “Mary, Don’t You Weep” as “If You Don’t Find Me at the Back of the Bus.” Here’s an example of a song to be sung outside the courthouse while passing out pamphlets: **CRASH THE SYSTEM (DON’T TAKE THE PLEA DEAL)** (loosely to “Wade in the Water”) COPYRIGHT MR 2012 by Sam A. Robrin. Creative Commons, blah, blah, woof, woof. Go ahead and use it (hey, I lifted the melody), but if you make a little money on it, I want some! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTdD9BItBWk) ``` CHORUS: Don't take the plea deal, Victims of the so-called "Justice system." Don't take the plea deal. We can crash the system if we take a stand. ``` See that lady on the YouTube vids? _Don’t take the plea deal._ She took the plea deal, and still lost her kids. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ VERSES: (The verses are designed to be sung by the lead “h’ister”; the choir sings “Don’t take the plea deal” following the first line, and “We can crash the system if we take a stand” following the second line. The chorus is repeated following each verse. To conclude, the chorus is sung like a verse, followed by one last chorus.) I took the deal when they threatened and begged— _Don’t take the plea deal._ Pleaded guilty, then the Court reneged. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ You’ve heard their cliches your whole life through. _Don’t take the plea deal._ What kind of system does that to you? _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ See that man in the long black robe? _Don’t take the plea deal._ He thinks he’s God—and he thinks you’re Job. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ So many laws now on the books, _Don’t take the plea deal._ The system’s made all of us into crooks. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ Ministers, teachers, kids, grandmaws— _Don’t take the plea deal._ Every day, each one breaks three laws. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ We’re told the best system is the one right here. _Don’t take the plea deal._ Well, there’s no love where there’s this much fear. _We can crash the system if we take a stand._ ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/24 "2013-02-03T04:58:13Z")
Yeah, I’m hardly religious but I do love gospel music. Anyone remember the documentary [Say Amen, Somebody](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086245/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3)? Great stuff. [Here is another version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4IHL8uWcUs) of Mary Don’t You Weep by John Fogerty with an all-star band (from the 80s, after _Centerfield_ came out). Some fine vocal harmonies by Bobby King & Terry Evans, who recorded with Ry Cooder. I don’t know who the other backup singers are. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/25 "2013-02-03T05:10:27Z")
Forgot to add this link: [Rhythm, Blues, Soul & Grooves](http://www.amazon.com/Rhythm-Blues-Grooves-Bobby-Terry/dp/B0000002YU/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1) by Bobby King & Terry Evans is worth picking up. No gospel music on it, however. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/26 "2013-02-03T18:39:45Z")
_Soundtrack for a Revolution_ is another movie worth watching, and is available for streaming on NetFlix. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/27 "2013-02-03T19:39:26Z")
[Oh Happy Day](http://youtu.be/CNQXQKflJNA), The Edwin Hawkins Singers. I was gonna say it’s mostly a sense memory thing because of when it came out (1969), but listening to it again, it stands on its own. I think a shorter version played on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/28 "2013-02-03T21:12:14Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Yeah, I’m hardly religious but I do love gospel music. Anyone remember the documentary [Say Amen, Somebody](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086245/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3)? Great stuff. > > [Here is another version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4IHL8uWcUs) of Mary Don’t You Weep by John Fogerty with an all-star band (from the 80s, after _Centerfield_ came out). Some fine vocal harmonies by Bobby King & Terry Evans, who recorded with Ry Cooder. I don’t know who the other backup singers are. You **Say Amen, Somebody?** I was fortunate enough to interview Georgia Tom (AKA The Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey) in the early 1970’s … and his old runnin’ buddy Tampa Red. See: [http://http://teemings.net/series\_2/issue\_02/georgia\_tom.html](http://http://teemings.net/series_2/issue_02/georgia_tom.html) I’m still pretty atheistic … a hard habit to break, but my life sure has been interesting! I’m partial to shape note music, Methodist Wesleyan hymns, old English & French Christmas carols … something about the harmonies. And the Soul Stirrers. Otis Clay. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/29 "2013-02-04T01:44:12Z")
I was raised in the church but just haven’t gone as an adult. But on the few occasions I’ve heard _Just As I Am_ since, it still makes me want to throw myself down at the altar. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/30 "2013-02-04T06:09:30Z")
Mr. Springsteen does a great version of [When the Saints go Marching In](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Nrl-5Ker4) and he does a very different of Mary don’t you weep no more and from the same album [Jacob’s Ladder.](http://youtu.be/Mb4Q2-GhfaU) I love the Dirty Dozen Brass Band album Funeral for a Friend. And of course [this song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ8XkY6Too0) from The Color Purple makes my non-existent soul make a joyful noise. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/31 "2013-02-04T06:36:37Z")
[Down to the River to Pray](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQoTH6LQpak) makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/32 "2013-02-04T11:00:04Z")
[Steeleye Span’s Gaudete](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDc2FD-vy8M). I’ve loved it forever; Maddie Prior has a simply amazing, clear voice. Bruce Springsteen’s version of _[Mary Don’t You Weep](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmL8gWgZz0A)_ is also worth a listen! Very different interpretation from Aretha’s. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/33 "2013-02-04T17:16:57Z")
How about [“I Wish I Had Answered”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j1iyimzhhg) by the Staple Singers. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/34 "2013-02-04T18:14:31Z")
Most of the “Old Negro Spirituals” do it for me. I’m also partial to “Amazing Grace” and especially “Will the Circle be Unbroken”,\*\* especially\*\* as sung by Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GccfFkbzjrc/hqdefault.jpg "Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon Will The Circle Be Unbroken") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GccfFkbzjrc) Can the church say amen? mmm hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106/35 "2013-02-04T18:29:29Z")
For the duration of [Down There By the Train](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTT8O_LslzQ) (written by Tom Waits) I actually think I believe in an afterlife. Also, [Full Force Gale](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PGndxMdWOs) by Van Morrison gets this atheist’s blood a-pumping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-dont-you-weep/649106.md?page=1)