Reverend Butler came by My house last week He said, Have you got A little time to speak? He said, I am interested In your soul. Has it been saved, Or is your heart stone-cold? I said, Reverend, I'll have you know I was baptized Long ago. He said, What have you Done since then? I said, None of your Business, friend. He said, Sister Have you back-slid? I said, It felt good -- If I did! He said, Sister, Come time to die, The Lord will surely Ask you why! I'm gonna pray For you! Goodbye! I felt kinder sorry I talked that way After Rev. Butler Went away -- So I ain't in no mood For sin today.
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Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Madam and the Minister", appears in One-Way Ticket, first published 1949 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Betty Roe (b. 1930), "Madam and the Minister", published 1972 [ soprano and contrabass ], from Jazz Songs, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991), "Madam and the Minister", 1964, published 1975 [ high voice and piano ], from Madam to You, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-09-07
Line count: 33
Word count: 118