Sinners Or Saints? (Electric Version)

Story Behind The Song

I had the first two stanzas and the last stanza pretty much in my head for weeks before I wrote them down, and once I figured out the vocal melody and decided to do it as a rockabilly spiritual, the rest of the lyrics fell into place. All the names had t

Song Description

Punkabilly holy-ghost song praising famous musicians whose fame grew greater in death. The song straddles the line between blasphemy and parody, like some crazy rockabilly band took over the church choir for a day and decided to canonize their favorite d

Song Length 3:28 Genre Blues - Modern, Country - Rockabilly
Tempo Fast (151 - 170) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Exultant, Composed Subject Philosophy, Spirituality
Similar Artists Lyle Lovett, Social Distortion Language English
Era 2000 and later

Lyrics

SINNERS OR SAINTS

Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson
Rob?t Johnson
Showed me how to live my life

Traveled to the crossroads
Bore that cross for all his life
Robert Johnson
Why?d you have to die?

Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Cholly Parker
Needle took you in your prime

Down on fifty-seventh street
Bebop set us free
Charlie Parker
Died for you and me

Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
B?dy Holly
The Apostle of the Rhyme

Made into a martyr
?fore the age of twenty-three
Buddy Holly
Will you pray for me?

Sinners or Saints?
What they is or what they ain?t
Seems they always have to die
Before we all appreciate
Today?s sinners are tomorrow?s saints
Heaven or Hell?
I know that band would play so well
That I would gladly die today
If that?s the price I have to pay
To hear the sinners playin?
Like they?re saints

Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
Blessed the blues and set it free

Lit a fire at Woodstock
And he made some history
Jimi Hendrix
Played so soulfully

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Sold the soul of R&B

Curled lips & swingin? hips
Like a rabid country priest
Elvis Presley
Testified to me

Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
M?dy Waters
Can you wash away my strife?

Mannish Boy Messiah
Of the blues electrified
Muddy Waters
Can you hear my cry?

Sinners or Saints?
What they is or what they ain?t
Seems they always have to die
Before we all appreciate
Today?s sinners are tomorrow?s saints
Heaven or Hell?
I know that band would play so well
That I would gladly die today
If that?s the price I have to pay
To hear the sinners playin?
Like they?re saints

©2005, Steve Pasek

Lyrics Steve Pasek a.k.a. MrBiG Music David "Chainsaw" Dupont
Producer Steve Pasek a.k.a. MrBiG Publisher Blues Warrior Publishing / Bluesomatic Publishing
Performance David "Chainsaw" Dupont, gtr, Chris Robertson, drums, bg vocals, John Baker, bass, Patrick Dugan, keys, background vocals, Omar Coleman, harmonica, OnJaLee, backing vocals, Thelonius Assault, shouts Label Blues Warrior Records, 2007
This track is on 1 Member Playlists
Playlist Creator Playlist Name Date Added
beenjammin72 My Top Songs 4/14/2008

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