Level: 3
Tuning: Dropped D

Reverend Gary Davis made his recording of this song at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. It's the only recording I know of this piece. Davis was obsessed with whether or not he'd make it into heaven upon his death, and you can actually hear him crying while singing it in concert.

I took this into mind when I put this arrangement together. I take great liberties with my handling of this song and try to capture his concerns and feelings with choir-like counterpoint and some jazzier chord forms. The arrangement has four variations and, after the first two variations, I completely break away from the tune and go into a middle section I call "his ascension into heaven".

This arrangement captures the soul and spirit of Gary Davis's live performance. It is a great platform to work on the dynamics and tone of the right hand, and I hope it might inspire you to invent your own interpretations.