Were You There?

Arranged by S.R Crain

Historical Background    Jesus in the African-American church was more a Jesus that was both compassionate and suffering, the lines 'he never said a word' is a good example of that. Him hanging on the cross therefor was a strong image, especially since many African-Americans were also unjustly accused and killed. Earlier versions of 'Were You There?' have him nailed to a tree, which was never mentioned in the bible, but a familiar sight to many African-Americans because of the regular lynchings (this line is in the Tennessee Ernie Ford version). 

Other versions of the lyrics have 'Were you there when they laid him in the tomb' and/or 'Were you there when the sun refused to shine'. 

So far the Soul Stirrers rendition is the most soulful and fastest of the versions I've found.

Soul Stirrers   S. Roy Crain, Paul Foster, R.B. Robinson, Jesse J. Farley, T.L Bruster, Sam Cook

Recorded April 10 or 19, 1957 at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, probably by SR Crain

Musicians:    Evelyn Gay: Piano    /    Willie Webb: Organ    /    L.C. Cook: Drums

MP3 at Amazon.com

Singles    Specialty 907 b/w Sinner Run To Jesus (1957 - sold 8,200)

Albums    

• Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers 
• The Last Mile Of The Way    -    2 tracks, 1 with 4 false starts, 1 is take 5
• Sam Cooke With The Soul Stirrers
• The Two Sides Of Sam Cooke
• You Send Me (Timeless Collection)

Lyrics

them was going to Jerusalem
he met two strangers along the way
They were talking all about the crucifiction
They stopped and here's what he said, he asked them
Were you there when the crucified the Lord? (were you there?)
Were you there when the crucified the Lord?
He asked them were you there when the crucified the Lord?
And one of them told him
no, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
He said I was there. I was there when they crucified the Lord

A fellow said: I want you to tell me if you were there?
tell me did they really pierce him in the side that morn', O Lord
He said, if you were there
I wonder did they pierce the savior in the side

Sometimes it causes me to tremble
everytime I think about how they did the Lord
it makes me tremble
'cause I was there,
and they really pierced him in the side that morning

A fellow said: I want you to tell me if you were there?
if you were there kindly tell me
did he hang there and never say one word
Sometimes I have to tremble
everytime I think about how they done the Lord it makes me tremble
Cause I was there when they crucified the Lord