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
Spirit in the Sky
The Blind Boys Of Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gettin' the spirit in the dark
People movin' oh and they groovin'
Just gettin' the spirit, oh, in the dark
Tell me sister how do ya feel?
Tell me my brother
How do you feel?
Get up and let's start dancin'
If yout gettin' the spirit, start gettin' in the spirit
Spirit in the dark, in the dark
Doot-doot, it's like Sally Walker
Do-do-doot-doot, sittin' in a saucer
Do-do-do-do-do-do, that's how ya - doot, do it
Do-do-doot-doot, it ain't nothin'
Do-ooo-do-ooo-doot-doot, to it
Riiiiide Sally ride - do-ooo-do-do-do
Put your hand on your hips
Cover your eyes and move, move
With the spirit - with the spirit
Go on an move, move
Move with the spirit, with the spirit
Oh move, move
Move with the spirit now-now-now, with the spirit
Move with the spirit
Are you gettin the spirit? Yeah
Are you gettin' it in the dark? Yeah
I wonder how you're gettin' the spirit? Yeah
Gettin' the spirit in the dark, yeah
People movin' yeah-yeah-yeah
Everybody's groovin'
Just gettin' the spirit, start gettin' in the spirit
Are you gettin' it?
Are you gettin' it in the dark? In the dark
Doot-doot, it's like Sally Walker
Doo-do-do-do, sittin' in her saucer
Doo-do-do-do-do, that's how ya do it
Doo-do-do-do-do, now get on up to it
Doo-do-do-do-do, ride Sally ride
Doo-do-do-do-do, put your hands on your hips
Cover your eyes
And move on up with the spirit, with the spirit
Go on and move, move
Move with the spirit, with the spirit
Move with the spirit, with the spirit
Hey now move, move
Move with the spirit
I think I've got it!
All of my brothers, move with the spirit
All of my sisters, move with the spirit
Move, move with the spirit
With the spirit, move with the spirit
Keep on movin', move with the spirit
We all groove, groove with the spirit now
Now move, move with the spirit
Keep on groove! Groove with the spirit
You gotta move your hands, move
Put 'em together and groove your hands
Gotta move your feet, groove!
The spirit on the beat, move
Oh move, move with the spirit
Move! Move with the spirit
Oh move, move with the spirit
Move, move with the spirit
Move with the spirit, move with the spirit
Oh yeah move on, move with the spirit
Oh right on! The spirit
Come on! The spirit
Right on, the spirit, move on, the spirit
Feel it, the spirit
Feel it, oh that spirit
Feel, oh that spirit
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah, move with the spirit
Yeah move on, move with the spirit
Yeah, move with the spirit
Yeah, move with the spirit
Move on, move with the spirit
Oh good God A-Mighty! Move with the spirit
The Blind Boys of Alabama's "Spirit in the Dark" is a song about connecting with the spirit through music and dance. The lyrics encourage listeners to let go of their inhibitions and embrace the rhythm, moving their bodies to the beat of the song. The chorus repeats variations of "Gettin' the spirit in the dark" while the verses ask the listeners how they're feeling and suggest dancing as a way to connect with the spirit. The song is uplifting and celebratory, meant to inspire joy and connection through music.
The references to "Sally Walker" and "sittin' in a saucer" are likely allusions to Afro-American folklore and spiritual practices. Sally Walker is a character from African-American children's folklore, and "sitting in a saucer" is a type of divination or fortune-telling that involves spinning around in a chair. These references add to the song's sense of cultural heritage and spiritual significance.
Overall, "Spirit in the Dark" is a joyful and celebratory song that encourages listeners to let loose and connect with the spirit through music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
I-I'm gettin' the spirit in the dark
I am feeling the presence of something greater in this darkness
People movin' oh and they groovin'
I see people around me dancing joyfully
Tell me sister how do ya feel?
Can you sense what I am sensing, my sister?
Tell me my brother
How do you feel?
Brother, do you also feel the same beautiful energy around us?
If yout gettin' the spirit, start gettin' in the spirit
Spirit in the dark, in the dark
If you can sense it, then let yourself be immersed in this powerful energy that surrounds us even in this darkness
Doot-doot, it's like Sally Walker
Do-do-doot-doot, sittin' in a saucer
...
Let yourself be carried away by this rhythm and dance like Sally Walker did, freely and uninhibitedly.
With the spirit - with the spirit
Go on an move, move
Move with the spirit, with the spirit
Oh move, move
Let yourself be guided by this divine energy, move your whole body, and dance with life.
Are you gettin the spirit? Yeah
Are you gettin' it in the dark? Yeah
Can you feel this beautiful energy too? Even in this darkness?
I wonder how you're gettin' the spirit? Yeah
Gettin' the spirit in the dark, yeah
I am curious about how you perceive this divine presence, but I am glad we can all feel it even in this darkness
Keep on movin', move with the spirit
We all groove, groove with the spirit now
...
Let's keep moving together, dance with the spirit, and feel the joy of life within us.
Oh good God A-Mighty! Move with the spirit
This energy is so powerful and divine, it can only come from the almighty God. Let's dance with it and feel its presence within us.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SPRINGTIME MUSIC INC
Written by: Aretha Franklin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jason Pope
I’ll never get enough of this version!!! That Bass!!!!!!
Biglover29
How about that hat? 😎
troy loop
check out the version with david hadalgo on guitar off the atom bomb record.
Dyn Jarren
The Gospel version that swings and has a groove they doesn’t stop. Fantastic version!
Speak Life- Ricky Byrum
Hallelujah praise Jesus
Angel Peppers
The whole group is awesome musicians great bass player wow a beast
flyinsquirrel48
Angel Peppers yes, thats Trae Ramon Pierce playin bass. He is a fine human being.
sherrylynn70 aka Sentimental Journey Productions
I am so happy I found this...just love it..in so many ways..You guys are awesome!
Wydopol
This is awesome. Thank you. So much swing, groove... thank you again. The snare thing the drummer does just got me from the start.
Sweet.
A Gamino
Most original Spirit in the Sky cover i've heard so far