Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King

"Bye and Bye We're (or, I'm) Going to See the King" is a Christian song from the African-American musical tradition. It is known by a variety of titles, including "I Wouldn't Mind Dying (If Dying Was All)" and "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter". It was recorded seven times before 1930, using the preceding titles.

This article is about the traditional American Christian song. For the Bob Dylan song, see Bye and Bye.

"Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King"
Single by Blind Willie Johnson
Released1930 (1930)
RecordedNew Orleans, Louisiana, December 10, 1929
GenreGospel blues
Length2:53
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Unknown

It has been most often recorded in gospel or gospel blues style, but also in other styles such as country.

Description

The song consists of several four-line verses (quatrains) and a repeated refrain. The words both of verses and of refrain often differ from one artist to another. A standard feature is that the refrain consists of four lines, the first three of which are identical. Common variants of those three lines include "Bye and bye we're (or, I'm) going to see the King" and "Holy, holy, holy is His name". The fourth line almost always begins "(I) wouldn't (or, don't) mind dying". It concludes in various ways in different versions, for example "If dying was all", or "But I gotta go by myself", or "Because I'm a child of God".

"The King" is a title of the Christian God. Many versions include a verse which refers to the vision of the chariot in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 1. A line found in many versions, "He said he saw him coming with his dyed garments on", alludes to the Book of Isaiah at 63:1:

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?

"A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter"
Single by Washington Phillips
Released1930 (1930)
RecordedDallas, Texas, December 2, 1929
GenreGospel blues
Length3:06
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Washington Phillips
Producer(s)Frank B. Walker [1]

Titles like "Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King" and "I Wouldn't Mind Dying (If Dying Was All)" are taken from the refrain. The title of the 1929 version by Washington Phillips, "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter", whose verses differ markedly from other versions, was presumably chosen to indicate that he intended it as a companion song to his "Mother's Last Word to Her Son" of 1927. Blind Mamie Forehand's 1927 performance of "I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All" has been reissued on various Washington Phillips compilations, so Phillips is often confused to be the performer. YouTube has multiple videos doing just this, but Phillips never recorded this song, only his adaptation, "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter".

Recordings
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  • 1926 – Arizona Dranes, "Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King" [2][3][4] 10" 78rpm single Okeh 8438-B [5]
  • 1927 – Blind Mamie Forehand, "Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All" [6][7] 10" 78rpm single Victor 20574-A [8]
  • 1927 – Norfolk Jubilee Quartet, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All" [9] 10" 78rpm single Paramount 12630-B [10]
  • 1928 – Golden Leaf Quartet, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" [11] 10" 78rpm single Brunswick 7050 [12]
  • 1928 – Rev. I. B. Ware with Wife and Son, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying (but I Gotta Go by Myself)" [13][14] 10" 78rpm single Vocalion 1235 [15] Note: This performance credits "wife" as the vocal accompaniment to Ware. The female vocals sound identical to Blind Mamie Forehand's vocals on her 1927 release so she may be the "wife" in the credits.
  • 1929 – Blind Willie Johnson, "Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King" [16][17][18][19][20] 10" 78rpm single Columbia 14504-D [21][22]
  • 1929 – Washington Phillips, "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter" [23][24] 10" 78rpm single Columbia 14511-D [25][22]
  • 1932 – Carter Family, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" [26] 10" 78rpm single Victor 23807 [27]
  • 1939 – Carter Family, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" [28] radio broadcast [29]
  • 1939 – Smith Casey, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All" [30][31][32]
  • 1939 – The Dixie Hummingbirds, "Wouldn't Mind Dying" [33] 10" 78rpm single Decca 7667 [34]
  • 1956 – Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" [35][36][37][38][39] on the album Get on Board [40]
  • 1961 – Reverend Pearly Brown, "By and By (I'm Gonna See the King)" [41] on the album Georgia Street Singer [42]
  • 1965 – Mississippi Fred McDowell, "Bye and Bye"/"Wouldn't Mind Dying" [43][44]
  • 1981 – Flora Molton and the Truth Band, "Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King" [45][46] on the album Living Country Blues USA, Vol. 3 [47]
  • 1986 – R. Stevie Moore, "I Wouldn't Mind Dyin'" [48] on the album Glad Music
  • 1994 – Ben Harper, hidden track on the album Welcome to the Cruel World
  • 2002 – K. M. Williams, "Bye and Bye, I'm Goin' to See the King" [49] on the album Blind Willie's Hymns [50]
  • 2003 – John and Heidi Cerrigione, "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter" [51] on the album Wood Stoves and Bread Loaves [52]
  • 2003 – Davis Coen, "Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King" [53] on the album Cryin' the Blues [54]
  • 2004 – Crush Collision Trio, "Bye and Bye I'm Going to See the King" [55] on the album Cold in Hand [56]
  • 2005 – Flat Mountain Girls, "Wouldn't Mind Dyin'" [57] on the album Honey Take Your Whiskers Off [58]
  • 2006 – Catfish Keith, "Bye and Bye, I'm Going to See the King" [59] on the album Rolling Sea [60]
  • 2007 – Francesco Garolfi, "Bye and Bye, I'm Going to See the King" [61] on the album The Blues I Feel [62]
  • 2009 – Catfish Keith, "By and By I'm Going to See the King" [63] on the album Live at the Half Moon [64][65]
  • 2010 – Heaven And, "Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King " [66][67] on the album Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King [68][69]
  • 2010 – Willie Salomon, "By and By I'm Gonna See the King" on the album Let Your Light Shine [70]
  • 2011 – Catfish Keith, "By and By, I'm Going to See the King" [71] on the album A True Friend Is Hard to Find: Gospel Retrospective [72][73]
  • 2012 – Ryan McGiver, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" on the album Troubled in Mind [74]

Other songs

These songs have similar titles to the song which is the subject of this article, but are different from it and from each other:

  • 2010 – Jason Moon, "I Wouldn't Mind Dying Now" [75] on the album Naked Under All These Clothes [76][77]
  • "Bye and Bye When the Morning Comes"/"We'll Understand It Better Bye and Bye", a different gospel song
  • "We Shall See the King (When He Comes)", a different gospel song

See also

References
  1. Corcoran, Michael (December 29, 2002). "Exhuming the Legend of Washington Phillips". Austin Statesman. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  2. Arizona Dranes: Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  3. Arizona Dranes: Bye & Bye We're Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  5. "Okeh 8000 series numerical listing". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. A.C. / Blind Mamie Forehand: I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All, Pt. 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. A.C. / Blind Mamie Forehand: I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All, Pt. 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. "Victor matrix BVE-37962. Wouldn't mind dying if dying was all / Mamie Forehand". UCSB. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. Norfolk Jazz & Jubilee Quartet: I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. "Paramount Race Series; 12500–13000 (1927–1930)". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  11. Golden Leaf Quartet: I Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  12. "Brunswick 7000 Series Numerical Listing". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. Rev. I.B. Ware: I Wouldn't Mind Dying (But I Gotta Go by Myself) at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  14. Son / Rev. I.B. Ware / Wife: I Wouldn't Mind Dying (But I Gotta Go by Myself) at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. "1000–1500 (1926–1930)". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  16. Blind Willie Johnson: Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. Blind Willie Johnson: Bye and Be I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  18. Blind Willie Johnson: Bye and Bye I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  19. Blind Willie Johnson: Bye & Bye I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  20. Blind Willie Johnson: Bye and Bye I'm Goin ' to See the King, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  21. "Blind Willie Johnson discography". wirz.de. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  22. "COLUMBIA (USA) 14000D series Numerical Listing". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  23. George Washington Phillips: A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  24. A Mother's Last Words to Her Daughter at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  25. "Washington Phillips discography". wirz.de. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  26. The Carter Family: I Wouldn't Mind Dying, Composed by A.P. Carter at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  27. "Victor matrix BS-59026. I wouldn't mind dying / Carter Family". UCSB. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  28. The Carter Family: Last Letter/I Wouldn't Mind Dying, Composed by Jeanette Carter at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  29. Unterberger, Richie. The Carter Family: On Border Radio, Vol. 2: 1939 at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  30. Smith Casey / Pete Harris & Smith Casey: I Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  31. Leggett, Steve. Smith Casey at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  32. Smith Casey: I Wouldn't Mind Dyin' if Dyin' Was All at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  33. The Dixie Hummingbirds: Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  34. "7500–8000 series Numerical Listing". 78discography.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  35. Dorothy Love Coates / Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes: I Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  36. Dorothy Love Coates / Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes: I Wouldn't Mind Dying [Take 3, Composed by Dorothy Love Coates] at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  37. Dorothy Love Coates / Original G / The Original Gospel Harmonettes: I Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  38. Dorothy Love Coates / The Original Gospel Harmonettes: I Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  39. Dorothy Love Coates / Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes: I Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  40. "Get On Board – Dorothy Love Coates". amazon.com. ASIN B000000QMQ. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  41. Rev. Pearly Brown: By and By (I'm Gonna See the King) at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  42. "Reverend Pearly Brown discography". wirz.de. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  43. Mississippi Fred McDowell: Wouldn't Mind Dying at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  44. Fred McDowell – Good Morning Little School Girl at Discogs
  45. Flora Molton / Flora Molton & the Truth Band / The Truth Band: Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  46. Flora Molton & the Truth Band: Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  47. Flora Molton And The Truth Band – Living Country Blues USA Vol. 3 at Discogs
  48. R. Stevie Moore: I Wouldn't Mind Dyin', Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  49. KM Williams: Bye & Bye, I'm Goin' to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  50. KM Williams: Blind Willie's Hymns at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  51. John Cerrigione / John & Heidi Cerrigione: A Mother's Last Words To Her Daughter at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  52. John & Heidi Cerrigione: Wood Stoves and Bread Loaves at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  53. Davis Coen: Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  54. Davis Coen: Cryin' the Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  55. Crush Collision Trio: Bye and Bye I'm Going to See the King-Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  56. Crush Collision Trio: Cold in Hand at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  57. The Flat Mountain Girls: Wouldn't Mind Dyin' at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  58. The Flat Mountain Girls: Honey Take Your Whiskers Off at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  59. Catfish Keith: Bye and Bye, I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  60. Catfish Keith: Rolling Sea at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  61. Francesco Garolfi: Bye & Bye I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  62. Francesco Garolfi: The Blues I Feel at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  63. Catfish Keith: Medley: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground/By and by I'm Going to See the King, Composed by Catfish Keith at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  64. Live at the Half Moon at AllMusic. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  65. "Live at the Half Moon – Catfish Keith". amazon.co.uk. ASIN B0031DS40G. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  66. Heaven And: Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King, Composed by Zeitblom at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  67. Markus Detmer / Heaven And: Bye and Bye I'm Going to See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  68. Heaven And: Bye and Bye I'm Going To See the King at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  69. Anderson, Rick. Markus Detmer: 100 Jahre Einsamkeit: Marcus Detmer Plays Staubgold at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  70. "Let Your Light Shine". williesalomon.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  71. Catfish Keith: Medley: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground/By and By, I'm Going to See the King, Composed by Catfish Keith at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  72. Catfish Keith: True Friend Is Hard to Find: Gospel Retrospective at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  73. "True Friend Is Hard to Find: Gospel Retrospective – Catfish Keith". amazon.co.uk. ASIN B005W4S4C0. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  74. "Troubled In Mind – Ryan McGiver". amazon.co.uk. ASIN B005HZZKSA. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  75. Jason Moon: I Wouldn't Mind Dying Now at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  76. Jason Moon: Naked Under All These Clothes at AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  77. "Naked Under All These Clothes – Jason Moon". amazon.co.uk. ASIN B004A9Y4CM. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
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