If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down

If I Had My Way I'd Tear This Building Down 3: 09
 Blind Willie Johnson
 (Joseph W. Johnson)
 Recorded Dec 3, 1927 Dallas, TX
 Originally released 1928
 Album: Dark Was The Night Columbia Records
 Transcription: [email protected]
 Well, if I had my way
 I had-a, a wicked mind
 If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
 Weh-ell!
 Delilah was a woman fine an' fair
 Her pleasant looks-a, her coal black hair
 Delilah gained old Samson's mind
 A-first saw the woman that looked so fine
 A-well went Timnathy, I can't tell
 A daughter of Timnathy, a-pleased him well
 A-Samson told his father, 'I'm goin a-a-a'
 (Help) me Lord
 If I had my way
 Well, if a had-a, a wicked world
 If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
 Weh-ell!
 Samson's mother replied to him
 'Can't you find a woman of your kind and kin?'
 'Samson, will you please your mother's mind?'
 Go'd and married that-a Philistine
 Let me tell you what, old Samson
 Well, he roared at the lion, the lion run
 Samson was the first man the lion attach
 He caught the lion and got upon his 'ack
 A-written that he killed a man with his
 And Sampson had his hand in the lion's jaws
 If I had my way
 If I had-a, a wicked world
 If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
 'Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me'
 'A-how an eater became forth meat?'
 'Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me'
 'A-how strong of it came forth sweet?
 Deliah, got his army after him
 Well, the bees made-a honey in the lion hair
 Well, if I had my way
 Well, if I had-a, a wicked world
 If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
 Sewed me tow knot, an' formed a plot
 Not many days 'fore Samson was caught
 A-bind this hands whilst a-walkin' along
 A-looked on the ground and found a lil' jawbone
 He moved his arm ropes, a-pop like thread
 Dropped those threads free, three thousand were dead
 Lord, If I had my way
 Well, if I had a, a wicked world
 If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down
 Weh-ell!
 Samson's trick though they never found out
 'Till they began to wonder about
 A-'till his wife sat up upon his knee
 'A-tell me where your strength lie, if you please?'
 Samson's wife she a-talked so fair
 Told his wife cut off-a his hair
 'Shave my head, clean as your hand
 'Till I become a natural man!'
 Lord, If I had my way
 Well, if I had a, a wicked world
 If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down.
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