Although the Blind Boys of Alabama have been singing gospel music for more than five decades, it's only recently that the group has had the benefit of a major record company behind them. The founding members were Clarence Fountain, Johnny Fields, George Scott, Ollice Thomas, and Vel Trayler. The current group consists of Eric McKinney, Billy Bowers, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams, and Donald Dillion.
From their inception in the 1930s, when all were boys, all members of the group except one were blind. They began singing when all were students, in the glee club, at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama, but didn't begin recording until 1948. As a youth, Fountain heard the legendary Golden Gate Quintet on the radio; the early Five Blind Boys of Alabama took their musical cues from that group. The group began singing professionally as the Happyland Jubilee Singers, and for years only toured the Bible Belt in the Southern U.S.
Since 1948, they've recorded for a variety of small record companies, and had gospel music hits in the 1950s with "Oh, Lord Stand By Me" and "I Can See Everybody's Mother But I Can't See Mine". In 1950, after the death of one of their members, the group renamed themselves simply the Blind Boys of Alabama.
The group recorded first for the Newark-based Coleman Records label. Between 1953 and 1957, the group recorded for Art Rupe's California-based Specialty label. In the 1960s, the group's hard-driving gospel sounds were imitated by people like Bobby "Blue" Bland and Marvin Gaye. The group recorded extensively for the Vee Jay label from 1963 to 1965. In 1969, Fountain left the group for a decade to try to make it on his own, and the group re-formed with all the original members in the late 1970s.
They gained widespread success in 1988, when they starred in an Obie Award-winning Broadway show. According to Fountain, the group's high point was being on Broadway for 15 weeks with the musical Gospel at Colonus. The musical opened up new avenues to bookings for the group, and they began touring theaters and larger churches in the early 1990s, embarking on their first European tours as well. The group was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1994. In 1994 and 1995, the group played festivals including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival and the King Biscuit Blues Festival. The group also toured in Melbourne, Australia and the World's Fair, in Brisbane.
Mid-1990s television appearances included Black Entertainment Television's On Jazz, and even a cameo on Beverly Hills, 90210.
Since the turn of the century, founding members, George Scott (2005) and Johnny Fields (2009) passed away. Clarence Fountain remains the only living founding member. The group is still performing, under the vocal leadership of longtime member, Jimmy Carter. Releases by the group in recent years have been favorites at the Grammy Awards — they have won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album every year since 2002. The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Their cover of the Tom Waits song "Way Down in The Hole" was featured as the opening theme for season one of HBO's The Wire. In 2008 they released Down in New Orleans, on which they were accompanied by such Crescent City legends as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Allen Toussaint.
Founding members
Jimmy Carter – vocals
Clarence Fountain – vocals (November 28, 1929 - June, 3, 2018)
Johnny Fields (deceased) – vocals
George Scott (d. 2005) – vocals
Olice Thomas (deceased) – vocals
Vel Bozman Traylor (deceased) – vocals
Past members
Bishop Billy Bowers (deceased, July 2, 2013) – vocals
Caleb Butler – rhythm guitar
Samuel Butler Jr – rhythm guitar, songwriter and arranger, manager, second lead singer
Roscoe Robinson – lead vocals
Charles Porter - vocals
Lamont Blount (deceased) – band manager
No More
The Blind Boys Of Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No more, No more.
I'll never turn back no more.
Jesus, he's the one.
He's the one I'm looking for.
And I'll never,
never turn back no more.
Tell me where, tell me where.
Tell me where He can be found.
And I'll never,
never turn back no more.
No more.
Down on my knees, down on my knees
I'm crying love me if you please.
And I'll never turn back no more.
Never no more
No more, No more.
No more, No more.
I'll never turn back no more.
Never, never, no more.
The Blind Boys of Alabama's song “No More” is a gospel song that expresses the vanishing of one’s sins and the search for redemption through Jesus. The repetition of the phrase “no more” emphasizes the singer’s decision to leave behind a past of sin and error. They declare that there is no turning back, for they have found salvation in Jesus, who is the one they were looking for. They have found a way to rid themselves of their sins and embark on a new journey with Jesus as their guide.
In the second verse, the singer asks where Jesus can be found, indicating that they are deeply searching for the path to redemption. They seek an answer to this question to strengthen their faith and continue on the journey towards salvation. The following verse reveals the singer’s emotional vulnerability, as they cry out for love and guidance in their time of need. The powerful vocals, combined with moving lyrics of love, grace, and self-examination, seek to touch the listener's heart and spirit, inspiring them to examine their own faith and embark on their journey towards salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
No more, No more.
The singer is affirming that they have had enough of something and that it will not be repeated anymore.
I'll never turn back no more.
The singer has committed themselves to not repeating their actions and moving forward in a new direction.
Jesus, he's the one.
The singer believes in Jesus Christ and his power to help them through their struggles.
He's the one I'm looking for.
The artist is searching for guidance and support, and they believe that Jesus can provide that for them.
Tell me where, tell me where.
The artist is asking for guidance and direction to find Jesus and his teachings.
Tell me where He can be found.
The singer is actively seeking to find Jesus and his teachings in order to better themselves and their beliefs.
Down on my knees, down on my knees
The singer is expressing their humility and willingness to submit themselves to God's will by physically kneeling and praying.
I'm crying love me if you please.
The artist is asking for God's love and grace, and acknowledging that they are deserving of it even if they have made mistakes.
Never no more.
The artist is again affirming that they will never repeat their past mistakes or actions, and will continue to seek guidance and support from Jesus Christ.
Contributed by Amelia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.