Touch The Hem Of His Garment

Written by Sam Cooke    [Venice-BMI]

Information

• In 1956 producer Bumps Blackwell was riding to a recording session when it became evident that Sam was not fully prepared. "Well, hand me the bible" Sam said. He skipped through it, read the story and made the song, right before the eyes of Blackwell (source: Portrait Of A Legend CD)
• the story is from the Book of Matthew

Version 1 - With The Soul Stirrers

Recorded on February 2, 1956 in probably the Master Recorders Studio in Hollywood by Art Rupe

Soul Stirrers   

• Sam Cook (lead)
• SR Crain (first tenor)
• RB Robinson (baritone)
• Jesse Farley (bass)
• Paul Foster (lead)
• Thomas Bruster (baritone)

Musicians    Bob King - guitar

MP3 at Amazon.com

Singles    Specialty 896 b/w Jesus Wash Away My Troubles (1956 - 27,300 copies sold)

Albums    

• In The Beginning
• The Man And His Music
• Portrait Of A Legend
• Sam Cooke With The Soul Stirrers
• The Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke
• 20 Greatest Hits
• The Two Sides Of Sam Cooke
• Specialty Profiles
• Chain Gang
• Wonderful

Lyrics

There was a woman in the bible days
She had been sick, sick so very long
When she heard that Jesus was passing by
So she joined the gathering throng
And while she was pushing her way through
Someone ask her what are you trying to do
She said if I would just touch the hem of his garment
I know I'll be made whole

She cried: Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord
Shed said if I could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I'll be made whole soon

She spend  her money here and there
Until she had no, had no more to spare
The doctors they done all that they could
But their medicine could do no good
When she touched him, the savior didn't see
But still he turned around and cried
Somebody touched me
She said it was I who just wanna touch
the Hem of your garment
I know I'll made whole right now
 

Covers

A Better Way	Wandered (2002)
Huriah Boynton	Uniquely Huriah (1991)
Choice	Greater Jumpin' Catfish (1996)
Dillard Crume & the New Soul Stirrers	Here I Am Again	part of a medley. MP3 at Amazon.com
Al Kooper
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver		MP3 at Amazon.com
Jimmy Maddox	Boogie Woogie Gospel II	MP3 at Amazon.com
Doug Quattlebaum	If You've Ever Been Mistreated
Ric Sandler	1 God 1 Planet	MP3 at Amazon.com
The Williams Brothers	Songs Mama Used To Sing IV	MP3 at Amazon.com