I do like the old blues standards, and I love some of the modern takes on them – the music’s just my style. One song that’s been covered well recently is Son House’s Preachin’ Blues. It struck me for two reasons, firstly, the modern take was very well done, simple, but striking; but, secondly, it talks about joining a Baptist church and preaching, both of which I have done 🙂

Of course, as with so many songs written by those who know nothing of true religion the lyrics are suspect in many ways. I found myself wanting to tweak in a more uplifting direction. Anyway, without further ado, my admittedly naive replacement lyrics, moving from Preachin’ Blues, to Preachin’ Good News.

Well, I got me some religion
Gone and joined a Baptist church
Well, I got me some religion
Gone and joined a Baptist church
Now I’m one of their preachers
Down at that Baptist Church

Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
There I’ll worship Jesus
In my eternal happy home

Well I’m gonna preach Good News
Tell it like the Bible says
Well I’m gonna preach Good News
Tell it like the Bible says
‘Cause that’s the Gospel, people,
Gonna preach it all of my days

Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
There I’ll worship Jesus
In my eternal happy home

So if you’ve got those blues
Don’t know how to make it right
So if you’ve got those blues
Don’t know how to make it right
Just turn your eyes to Jesus
He is our Gospel Light

And you’ll know you’ve got a heaven
A heaven where you belong
And you’ll know you’ve got a heaven
A heaven where you belong
There you’ll worship Jesus
In our eternal happy home.