Generating page narration, please wait...
World War II to the Civil Rights Movement
Discover Music
Discover Video
Keywords
Listening Guides
References

Memphis/Southern Soul 2: Song Comparison: "It Must Be Jesus" and "I Got a Woman"


Table 20.1: Comparison of "It Must Be Jesus" with "I Got a Woman"
Title: "It Must Be Jesus"    (1954)
Performer: The Southern Tones
Title: "I Got a Woman"  (1955)
Performer: Ray Charles
LYRICS
The lyrics are about Jesus. He (Jesus) is taking names, healing people, He helps people with difficult circumstances.
LYRICS
The lyrics are about a woman. He says she is a very good woman, helps him financially, and loves him in all situations.
INSTRUMENTATION

    • Voices (quartet/quintet), guitar, and drums

 

 

INSTRUMENTATION

    • Voice, background singers, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, trumpets, trombones, and saxophones (i.e., a large band)

 

 

TEMPO

    • Moderate (slower than Charles's "I Got A Woman")

 

 

TEMPO

    • Fast (faster than The Southern Tones "It Must Be Jesus")

 

 

VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS

    • The lead singer uses his natural, full-throated, and sometimes falsetto voice; at times he shouts; He also performs vocal dramatically using crescendo, diminuendo, soft vs. shouts, ascending and descending melodic contours.

 

    • The background singers respond in harmony to the lead singer's call; from 01:34 to 02:28 the background singers "vamp in harmony" while the lead singer and bass singer perform a call-and-response pattern, and thus one can hear three separate parts.

 

 

VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS

    • The lead singer uses his natural, full-throated, and sometimes falsetto voice; at times he shouts; From 02:26 till the end of the song the lead singer vocally improvises as well as what appears to be singing lyrics extemporarily.

 

 

INSTRUMENT CHARACTERISTICS

    • The instruments are playing a minimal accompaniment (a typical characteristic in the male quartet singing style).

 

 

INSTRUMENT CHARACTERISTICS

    • The horn section plays a one bar response to the lead singer's call throughout the entire song.

 

    • A person plays the tambourine throughout most of the song.

 

    • At 01:05, there is a saxophone solo.

 

 

PERFORMANCE PRACTICES

    • The bass singer has a specific part (a typical practice in the male quartet singing style).

 

 

PERFORMANCE PRACTICES

    • The background singers handclap the backbeat throughout most of the song.

 

    • At 02:26, women are shouting response affirmations such as "yes," "alright," and "feel alright," to the lead singer's call.

 

 

A Change is Gonna Come

I was born by the river
In a little tent
Oh, and just like the river, I've been runnin'
Ever since
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will

Long Walk to D.C.

It's a long walk to DC but I've got my walking shoes on
I can't take a plane, passer train, because my money ain't that long
America we believe, oh that you love us still
So people I'm gonna be under to wipe away my tears