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I, John

Rating:
4.4 / 5

Words & Music: William Gaither

Oh well, I, John, he saw might numbers
A way up in the middle of the air
I, John he saw might numbers
Way in the middle of the air
Got to mighty move, John, you saw mighty numbers
Way up in the middle of the air

Well there were three gates in the east
And there were three gates in the west
Three gates in the north
Three gates in the south
And that makes twelve gates to the city all square wide

John, you saw might numbers way up in the middle of the air
Well John declared that he saw a man
He held twelve bright stars in his right hand
Well his eyes flashed fire like the burning sun
Old John got scared and he wanted to run
Well he wanted to run but his feet wouldn't go
Cause he felt the gospel cutting like a two-edged sword
And he heard a voice that said John, you take a look
And read what you see and then you write it in a book

And he saw twelve angels in the east
And there were twelve angels in the west
Twelve angels in the north,
Twelve angels in the south
That's a total of forty-eight angels to the city, four squared wide

Recordingdate: 1971/06/09, first released on: He Touched Me (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I, John:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with I, John.

sitdown revamped wrote on December 10, 2011
Elvis at his 1970's gospel best. Remember the backstage singing with the Sweets from "On Tour". Would like to see more informally recorded stuff like the on tour version...
Gorse wrote on November 08, 2012
A brilliant lively gospel number, with fantastic vocal backing and, great emotional singing from Elvis, oh boy did he really feel these songs. The scene where this appears in Elvis On Tour shows how everybody involved, truly loved singing gospel.
Deano1 wrote on December 24, 2013
A strong gospel number based on the Book of Revelation. One of the true stand-outs from the "He Touched Me" and one I never skip when listening to his sacred music. Great backing by the Imperials and impeccably performed by Elvis.
ElvisSacramento wrote on December 28, 2013
This is such a beautiful song and Elvis' renditions of it were all brilliant. Elvis truly loved singing gospel songs. No one will ever be able to sing gospel songs as well as Elvis sang them.
Cruiser621 wrote on January 25, 2019
Definite 5-star rating. The man really gets into it. Luv it when he does gospel like this.
JerryNodak wrote on January 26, 2019
My favorite up tempo track on the "He Touched Me" LP. 5 stars.
Steve V wrote on April 29, 2019
Very good. I prefer this type of gospel over the more chruchy type productions like How Great Thous Art
DerekH wrote on July 13, 2020
Elvis really gives this one the magic Elvis touch. He loved gospel music and on this recording it really shows.
bajo wrote on July 14, 2020
Three different sounding "gospel" albums! Add the Peace In The Valley EP and you have it all! I'm glad they all sounded so different, still keeping that gospel feel! I picked I, John from the album, fighting hard with I've Got Confidence! I'm not religious at all! But, when it comes to Elvis, I'm almost! I found He Touched Me a fine, easy listening album. I tend to go for the uptempo songs. All in all: I, John! 5
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