- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Language
- English
- Comments
-
aka "Pure Religion", "True Religion". Traditional African-American spiritual first recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson (as by Deacon L. J. Bates) circa January 1926. The various performances typically always have floating lyrics but they all share the common "needing pure/true religion" theme with "hallelu" repeated at the end of most of the lines.
All I want is the pure religion, hallelu (x2)
All I want is the pure religion, pure religion take you home to heaven.
Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu.
Josh White's 1933 version starts -
You gonna need that pure religion, hallelu', hallelu'
Gonna need that pure religion, hallelu' - Licensing
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Versions
All I Want Is That Pure Religion written by [Traditional] English
| Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All I Want Is That Pure Religion | Deacon L. J. Bates (Blind Lemon Jefferson) | October 1926 | First recording in January 1926 First release |
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| Pure Religion | Blind Nesbit | January 1931 | |||
| Pure Religion | Joshua White | December 1933 | |||
| Pure Religion | Blind Gary Davis | December 1960 | |||
| Pure Religion | Charlie Parr and The Black Twig Pickers | December 10, 2010 |
True Religion written by Erik Darling English First half of song is "Who's gonna make up my dying bed when I die" lyrics then second half the traditional "Pure/True Religion" lyrics
| Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Religion | Erik Darling | December 1961 | First recording in 1961 First release Editor's cover song pick |
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| True Religion | The Weavers | February 1962 |
True Religion written by Jorma Kaukonen English
| Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Religion | Hot Tuna | 1972 | First release | ||
| True Religion | Charlie Parr | November 12, 2002 |