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about

Words and music by Henry Clay Work, arranged and adapted by Joe Flood

lyrics

Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth
And was bought for a bagful of gold
He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth
But he died years ago, very old
'Twas his last sad request so we laid him away
In the trunk of an old hollow tree
Wake me up, was his charge
At the first break of day
Wake me up for the great jubilee

CHORUS
The good time coming is almost here
It was long long long on the way
So run tell Elijah
Run tell Pomp
Meet me at the gum tree
Down in the swamp
We're gonna wake Nicodemus
Wake Nicodemus
Wake Nicodemus today

He was known as a prophet at least was as wise
For he told of the battles to come
And we trembled with dread when he rolled up his eyes
And we heeded the shake of his thumb
Though he clothed us with fear
Yet the garments he wore
Were in patches at elbow and knee
And he still wears the suit that he used to of yore
As he sleeps in the old hollow tree

CHORUS

'Twas a long weary night we were almost in fear
That the future was more than he knew
'Twas a long weary night but the morning is near
And the words of our prophet are true
There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone
There are tokens in endless array
While the storm which had seemingly banished the dawn
Only hastens the advent of day

CHORUS

credits

from Songs From the Bend in the River, track released April 12, 2015
Joe Flood, guitar, mandolin, vocal, with the Michael Cleary Band: Michael Cleary, guitar and background vocal; Vince Delaria, piano; Jedd Cheblowski, bass; Edmund Peart, drums. Scott Kessel, background vocal and percussion.

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about

Joe Flood New Haven, Connecticut

Joe Flood is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist who has performed, written, and recorded with many of the great names in American roots music, among them The Band, Blues Traveler, Dr. John, Bottle Rockets, Laura Cantrell, Eric Andersen, Happy and Artie Traum, Jim Weider, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, Jono Manson, and the list goes on! Please visit www.joefloodmusic.com for more information. ... more

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