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God Moves on the Water
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Wikipedia article
'God Moves on the Water' is a gospel blues song recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1929 and released on a 78 rpm record by Columbia Records.Columbia Records 14520-D
The song describes the sinking of RMS 'Titanic' and the consequent loss of life after it struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Its origins are obscure: topical songs are generally written soon after the event to which they relate. Johnson's lyrics call the ship's captain, E. J. Smith, A. G. Smith, which suggests an oral tradition. The fact that two of the earliest recordings, by Johnson in 1929 and by Mance Lipscomb in 1965, were made by Texans suggests an origin in that state.
The title may allude to the Book of Genesis at 1:2: "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters". If it does, the song may derive from an earlier gospel song, now lost.
Recordings
The following recordings are by notable musicians:
* 1929Blind Willie Johnson
* 196371Rory Block and Stefan Grossman, as an instrumental
* 1965Mance Lipscomb, live at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival
*1966Mance Lipscomb, live at the 1966 Berkeley Folk Music Festival
* 1972Stefan Grossman, as an instrumental
* 2000Guy Forsyth
* 2003Chris Jones and Steve Baker, on the album 'Smoke and Noise'
* 2003Chris Jones, on the album 'Roadhouses and Automobiles'
* 2004Mary Margaret O'Hara
* 2008Garrison Keillor, on the album 'A Prairie Home Companion 4th Annual Farewell Performance'
* 2009Charlie Parr, on the album 'Roustabout'
* 2011Charlie Parr, on the album 'Keep your Hands on the Plow'
* 2011"God Moves on Water" by Dead Rock West, on the album 'Bright Morning Stars'
* 2020Larkin Poe, on the album 'Self-Made Man'
References
Category:Blind Willie Johnson songs
Category:1929 songs
Category:Works about RMS Titanic
Category:Songwriter unknown
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