From the recording Shallow Water
Martha Carson
©1957
Jesse Winchester’s exquisite reading of this song captured me when I first heard it back in 1974. I learned it back then and have performed it off and on over the years.
When I decided to include it in this album I tracked down Martha Carson, and we had a lovely chat on the phone. She told me Clyde McPhatter’s version sold a million copies, the biggest selling gospel song ever at that time. She died not long thereafter.
Lyrics
One of these days I’m gonna take a vacation
By a quiet and a peaceful shore
And I’ll cool my feet in those crystal waters
And I won’t have to work anymore
Cause my burden has got so heavy
That I can’t stand up alone
I must lay my head on one strong shoulder
Cause I can’t stand up alone
Oh you can’t stand up all by yourself
You can’t stand up alone
You need the touch of a mighty hand
You can’t stand up alone
And trouble I have seen trouble
All around my door
Go away and leave me Old Man Trouble
Cause I don’t want your trouble no more
Oh you can’t stand up all by yourself
You can’t stand up alone
You need the touch of a mighty hand
You can’t stand up alone
And a voice called out like thunder
And a light all around me shone
And it said get up and take hold my hand
Cause you can’t stand up alone
Oh you can’t stand up all by yourself
You can’t stand up alone
You need the touch of a mighty hand
You can’t stand up alone
Oh you can’t stand up alone
Oh you can’t stand up alone
Oh you can’t stand up alone
Words & music by Martha Carson
©1957 Marpat Music Publishers (BMI)