Taggart was a fairly typical itinerant performer of the '20s, and most of the available information on him was handed down in interviews from White, who first met him when he was known as Joel Taggart in Greenville, SC. White's description of the difference between the two tyrants has become famous. Arnold was "mean, honest mean." Taggart, on the other hand, was "tricky, nasty mean. " Furthermore, he was not really blind, something that puts him in a subclass of blind blues musicians who actually had some vision available to them. Taggart had cataracts and could "see a little," according to White.
Of more importance than what Taggart could or couldn't see was the fact he was noticed in 1926. The Brunswick-Balke-Collender company from Chicago, which was beginning a series of record releases under the Vocalion label, was keenly aware that similar series of so-called "race" records were selling like hotcakes. Many types of performers were recorded during the '20s, and among these stacks of historic sides were this label's first ventures into recording singing evangelists, basically the gospel equivalent of country blues players. Near the end of that year, Taggart became the first full-time guitar evangelist to cut a side. The material he recorded was a happy meeting between his obvious versatility as a performer and the label's desire to try as many approaches as possible to the hitmaking destination. Taggart recorded several vocal duets with Emma Taggart, who was most likely his wife. Alternative takes that were released much later from these sessions helped create a further revision in the opinion of this artist held by blues scholars.
Not discovered by the mass blues audience during the folk revival of the '60s as was fellow meanie Blind Lemon Jefferson, Taggart basically had to wait for the CD-driven thoroughness of the Document label to fully illustrate the amount of ingenuity and inventiveness he brought to each of his performances. He also recorded duets with James Taggart, assumed to be his son. Like many busy blues artists, Taggart cut corners around recording contracts by recording under other names, including the pseudonyms Blind Joe Amos, Blind Jeremiah Taylor, Blind Tim Russell, and Blind Joe Donnel. Some of this activity was an attempt not to fool record labels but the Lord above, who it was assumed might not approve of Taggart playing the "devil's music" and could be tricked by a pseudonym. Taggart's music is sometimes considered to feature some of the oldest roots of any country blues artist. This includes melodic and stylistic influences from the Civil War era, considered a time when black and white musicians were perhaps not as restricted in access to each other's musical traditions as they would become later.
Everybody's Got to Be Tried
Blind Joe Taggart Lyrics
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Everybody has got to be tried in the
Judgement morning at God's second coming)
Everybody - got to be tried
Everybody - got to be tried
You can't get around it - got to be tried
Well, you got to go to Judgement you've got to be tried
Dear old Mother - she got to be tried
Dear old Mother - she got to be tried
She can't get around it - got to be tried
Well, she got to go to Judgement, she got to be tried
Dear old sister - got to be tried
Dear old sister - she got to be tried
She can't get around it - she got to be tried
Well, she got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Dear old Father's - got to be tried
Dear old Father - he got to be tried
Can't get around it - he got to be tried
Well, he got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
All of you preachers - got to be tried
All of you preachers - you got to be tried
Can't get around it - you got to be tried
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
All of you deacons - got to be tried
All of you deacons - you got to be tried
Can't get around it - you got to be tried
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
My little baby - she got to be tried
My little baby - oh, got to be tried
Can't get around it - she got to be tried
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried, oh Lord
All of you liars - you got to be tried
All of you liars - you got to be tried
Can't get around it - you've got to be tried
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried, oh Lord
All of you gamblers - you got to be tried
All of you gamblers - you got to be tried
Can't get around it - you've got to be tried
Well, you've got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Oh, you've got to be tried, got to be tried
The song "Everybody's Got to Be Tired" by Blind Joe Taggart is a gospel song that focuses on judgment day and the inevitability of trials that everyone will have to face. The song begins with the repetition of the line "everybody's got to be tried," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics continue with various examples of people who will face judgment, including mothers, fathers, sisters, preachers, deacons, and even liars and gamblers. Blind Joe Taggart makes it clear that no one can escape the judgment day, and everyone will have to go through trials.
The song is a warning to listeners to make sure they are living their life in a way that will prepare them for judgment day. Blind Joe Taggart emphasizes the need to live a Christian life, free of sin, and to be ready for the trials that will come. The song is a reminder that life is fleeting and that everyone must make the most of their time on earth to ensure that they are ready for judgment day.
Overall, Blind Joe Taggart's "Everybody's Got to Be Tired" is a powerful gospel song that reminds listeners of the importance of living a good life and being prepared for the inevitable trials that all must face.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody - got to be tried
Everyone will be judged.
Everybody - got to be tried
Everyone will be judged.
You can't get around it - got to be tried
Judgment is unavoidable.
Well, you got to go to Judgement you've got to be tried
Everyone will face trial in Judgment.
Dear old Mother - she got to be tried
Mothers will be judged.
Dear old Mother - she got to be tried
Mothers will be judged.
She can't get around it - got to be tried
Judgment is inevitable.
Well, she got to go to Judgement, she got to be tried
Mothers will be judged in the trial.
Dear old sister - got to be tried
Sisters will be judged in the trial.
Dear old sister - she got to be tried
Sisters will be judged in the trial.
She can't get around it - she got to be tried
Judgment is unavoidable.
Well, she got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Women will be judged along with everyone else.
Dear old Father's - got to be tried
Fathers will be judged.
Dear old Father - he got to be tried
Fathers will be judged.
Can't get around it - he got to be tried
Judgment is inevitable.
Well, he got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Fathers will be judged during the trial.
All of you preachers - got to be tried
Preachers will be judged.
All of you preachers - you got to be tried
Preachers will be judged.
Can't get around it - you got to be tried
Judgment is unavoidable.
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Preachers will face judgment.
All of you deacons - got to be tried
Deacons will be judged.
All of you deacons - you got to be tried
Deacons will be judged.
Can't get around it - you got to be tried
Judgment is inevitable.
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Deacons will face judgment.
My little baby - she got to be tried
Even babies will be judged.
My little baby - oh, got to be tried
Even babies will be judged.
Can't get around it - she got to be tried
Judgment is unavoidable.
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried, oh Lord
Even babies will face judgment.
All of you liars - you got to be tried
Liars will be judged.
All of you liars - you got to be tried
Liars will be judged.
Can't get around it - you've got to be tried
Judgment is inevitable.
Well, you got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried, oh Lord
Liars will be judged.
All of you gamblers - you got to be tried
Gamblers will be judged.
All of you gamblers - you got to be tried
Gamblers will be judged.
Can't get around it - you've got to be tried
Judgment is inevitable.
Well, you've got to go to Judgement, you got to be tried
Gamblers will face judgment.
Oh, you've got to be tried, got to be tried
Everyone will face trial in Judgment.
Contributed by Zachary Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.