Shrovetide, Fastnacht, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras… whatever you want to call it, Catholics all over the world can’t seem to resist indulging in one last bacchanalian blow-out the day before Lent kicks in. Within the context of the Church’s teachings on moderation, of course. Right?
Anyway, you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger Mardi Gras celebration than in New Orleans, so in honor of the festive occasion, we’re adding a little music from The Big Easy to The Jukebox Hero Hymnal this week in the form “Glory Glory/Jesus on the Mainline” by the Rebirth Brass Band.
Nobody really seems to know where “Jesus on the Mainline” originated. The earliest known recording is believed to be by Mississippi Fred McDowell, who laid down his version of the track sometime in the early 1950s. It seems likely, though, that the song is much, much older as it structure follows the call and response form of the gospel/work songs commonly sung by field hands.
Jesus is on that mainline, tell him what you want.
Jesus is on that mainline, tell him what you want.
Jesus is on that mainline, tell him what you want.
You gotta call him up and tell him what you want.
You see how it works, you can pretty much add any verse you want based on your situation. Some popular lines over the decades have included…
Now, if you're feeling down and out,tell him what you want,
If you're feeling down and out,tell him what you want,
If you're feeling down and out,tell him what you want,
Call him up and tell him what you want.
…as well as one that gets right to the point…
If your soul's in danger, tell him what you want,
If your soul's in danger, tell him what you want,
If your soul's in danger, tell him what you want,
Call him up and tell him what you want
Now we’re supposed to pray at all times, but as Lent is often seen as a time of spiritual renewal, prayer is especially emphasized. So for the next 40 days, be sure to take advantage of the fact the Jesus is on that mainline and be sure to call him up. The line’s never busy.
“The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” (Psalms 145:18, NABRE)
2 comments:
How about a series Jukebox Villians? First on the list, the recent foray into brazen anti-Catholicism, "Take Me to Church."
The thing is, that would mean I'd have to listen to the song, which I ain't doing on purpose :)
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