God's Gonna Cut 'em Down
The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.

Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.

The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.

The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.

God's Gonna Cut 'em Down
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics


We have lyrics for these tracks by The Golden Gate Quartet:


Alabama Bound I'm Alabama bound I'm Alabama bound And if the train don't t…
Atom and Evil รู้ฉันรู้ยังไงก็คงไม่ต่าง รู้ฉันรู้ยังไงเธอก็เลือกเขา รู้ถึง…
Basin Street Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take a…
Bones, Bones, Bones (Ezekiel In The Valley) Ezekiel saw the wheel, way up in the middle of…
Carolina In The Morning "Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina" Wishing is…
Cheer the Weary Traveler J'écris à la fois pour combler l'vide et pour évacuer…
Comin Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Comin' in on…
Comin' in On a Wing and a Prayer Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Comin' in on…
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Comin' in on…
Deck the Halls Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la…
Didn't It Rain Didn't it rain children, talk about rain oh my Lord Didn't…
Dipsy Doodle The Dipsy Doodle's the thing to beware The Dipsy Doodle will…
Don't let go Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock (Don't let go, don't let…
Ezekiel Saw the Wheel Ezekiel saw the wheel rolling A great big wheel turning over…
Frankie and johnny Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts, Boy, how they could lov…
Go Down Moses John Elton Duets Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me Elton John…
Go Tell It On the Mountain Go, tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go…
Go Where I Send Thee Children go where I send thee. How shall I send thee? I'm…
God Almighty's Gonna Cut You Down Rgthg ui Hutuuoioào Heioyehyiuiury è_-r (tttuj Uyf ghtyerzqr…
Golden Gate Gospel Train My Lord she blows Wah wah! Get on board Better get your tick…
Hallelujah I love her so Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know She…
He is Got The Whole World He's got the whole world in His hand He's got this…
Hit the Road to Dreamland Bye bye baby Time to hit the road to dreamland You're my…
Honey Pie She was a working girl North of England way Now she's hit…
Hush Someone told me if you live in a glass house You…
Hush! Someone told me if you live in a glass house You…
I Wanna Know Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but He knows…
I Will Be Home Again I will be home again Don't worry dear I'll be home again So…
I'm Alabama Bound I'm Alabama bound I'm Alabama bound And if the train don't t…
Joshua Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Jericho Jericho Joshua fit …
Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho Joshua fit de battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. Joshua fi…
Joshua Fit the Batlle of Jericho Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Jericho, Jericho Joshua f…
Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jeric Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Jericho Jericho Joshua fit …
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho Joshua fit de battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. Joshua fi…
Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jerico Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Jericho, Jericho Joshua f…
Mack The Knife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
My Time Done Come Quando eu chego em casa nada me consola Você está sempre…
My Walking Stick Without my walking stick, I'd go insane I can't look my…
Nobody Know's the Trouble I've Seen Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but He knows…
Oh Happy Day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh…
Oh When The Saints Go Marching In Oh, when the saints, go marching in, Yes when the saints…
Ol' Man Mose Now one time there lived an old man With a very…
Old Man River Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi Dat's de ol' man…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Only You Only you can make this world seem right Only you can…
Peace in the Valley O, there will be peace in the valley for me,…
Pick a Bale of Cotton Great God Almighty gonna pick a bale of cotton Great God…
Preacher & The Bear The preacher went out a huntin', it was on one…
Rock Island Line Now this here's a story about the Rock Island Line Well…
Rock My Soul Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham, rock my soul…
Roll Jordan Roll Well, now roll Jordan, roll (Why don't you?) Roll, Jordan,…
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Oh oh oh oh Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer Had a shiny nose…
Saint Go Marching In Oh, when the saints go marching in Oh, when the…
Saint Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Saint-Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Saints Go Marchin' in Oh, when the saints go marching in Oh, when the…
Saints Go Marching Home Oh, when the saints go marching in Oh, when the…
Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss Schwarz-braun ist die Haselnuß, Schwarz-braun bin auch ich…
Shadrack The story of Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego! There was th…
Sixteen Tons Some people say man is made out of mud A poor…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Stalin Wasn't Stallin' ROBERT WYATT New! Tap highlighted lyrics to add Meanings, Sp…
Stormy Weather Don't know why There's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather S…
Straighten Up And Fly Right The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the…
Summer Rain Summer rain taps on my window West wind soft as…
Swing Low Sweet Chariot Swing Low, Sweet Chariot comin' for to carry me home I look'…
The Dock Of The Bay Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin'…
The Preacher And The Bear The preacher went out a huntin', it was on one…
To The Rock Now this here's a story about the Rock Island Line Well…
Wade In the Water Wade in the water Wade in the water, children, Wade in the…
When The Saints Oh, when the saints, go marching in, Yes when the saints…
WhenThe Saints Go Marchin In Oh, when the saints go marching in Oh, when the…
Yes Indeed Now, er, has you got it, sister Constance, er tell…



You Gave Me a Mountain Born in the heat of the desert My mother died givin'…


The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@djacroamatic

Lyrics:

Well you may run on for long time
Run on for long time
Run on for long time
Let me tell you, God Almighty is gonna cut you down
Go tell that long tongued liar
Go tell that midnight rider
Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter
Tell the God Almighty is gonna cut em down

Well stop God Almighty, let me tell you the news
My head's been wet with the midnight dew
I've been down on my bended knees
Talkin' to the Man from Galilee
My God spoke and He spoke so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of angels' feet
He put one hand upon my head
Great God Almighty, let me tell you what He said

Go tell that long tongued liar
Go tell that midnight rider
Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter
Tell the God Almighty is gonna cut em down
You may run on for long time
Run on for long time
Run on for long time
Let me tell you, God Almighty is gonna cut you down

You may throw a rock and hide your hand
Working in the dark against your fellow man
But sure as God made day and night
What you do in the dark will be brought to the light
You may run and hide, slip and slide
Trying to take the mote from your neighbor's eye
But sure as God made the rich and poor
You gonna reap just what you saw

You may run on for long time
Run on for long time
Run on for long time
Let me tell you, God Almighty is gonna cut you down
Go tell that long tongued liar
Go tell that midnight rider
Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter
Tell the God Almighty is gonna cut em down

Some people go to church just to signify
Trying to make a date with the neighbor's wife
But brother let me tell you sure as you're born
You better leave that woman alone
Because one of these days mark my word
You'll think that brother is gone to work
You'll sneak up and knock on the door
That's all brother, you'll knock no more

Well run on for long time
Run on for long time
Run on for long time
Let me tell you, God Almighty is gonna cut you down
Go tell that long tongued liar
Go tell that midnight rider
Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter
Tell the God Almighty is gonna cut em down

🖤🖤



@jayviviano109

@@janlundekathleenginyard8607 Thank you!!
I've talked about this but many ppl don't believe me. (Kinda sad this day & age when ppl have access to search internet) but anyway.
Clyd Wright told one writer about their jam session and how Elvis asked them to join him on their next album. Clyde talked about what a class act Elvis was and he had lot of respect for Elvis.

Enjoyed your comment hearing from someone that knew them.

Anything specific or in particular you remember Caleb, or any the others sharing with you about Elvis?

Thank you in advance...



@jayviviano109

True he heard of them, but The Wikipedia intro isn't even accurate.
It's one of those parts of his career that is largely unknown but really I think should be better known.
What a story.

Elvis actually jammed with them in a gospel jam session.
One of the members Clyde Wright along with others over the years have verified in interviews

Unfortunately no video or audio capture the moment, but apparently by Witnesses it was one of the greatest Gospel Jam sessions those standing around ever witnessed.

The sound of Elvis's powerful voice harmonizing with theirs, along with Elvis' own guitar playing taking the lead much of the night, was unlike anything else ever actually captured on video with Elvis.

The members of Golden Gate spoke a lot of respect for Elvis.. thought a lot of him and he ended up inviting them to join him on a Future album

Unfortunately management issues kept that from ever happening



@jayviviano109

@@luismantaras6460 Mmm.... he didn't "claim" it was his either.

You may want to strive for cautious with your words and understand that whatever you are trying to convey, it gives a false impression to actual factual history.

Elvis himself (the man) never claimed something was his if it was not.
Now the people Higher above Elvis on the Promotion end of things, long after Elvis left recording sessions, decided what might be written on liner notes on albums in the end.
But especially with Gospel music in particular back in those days since most Gospel songs were repeatedly covered throughout the decades by other gospel singers, and the original composer or writer often was lost to history ......in many cases

Even by the 1950s and 1960s, many other gospel groups and vocalists got credit for songs that they themselves actually did not write or create the arrangement for

The general feeling or consensus Was if there is no original composer or writer that was willing to Proclaim theft, then there really was no harm no foul

But even in saying all that ..... it's still important to understand that this particular song was a traditional folk/ gospel song long before even the Golden Gate quartet themselves did it.

They got their version directly from a former group member that recorded it with another band (the Landfordaires) a few years before they the Golden Gate Quartet did their version.

And can even go further pointing out that many people that were students and fans of The Mills Brothers music history accused Golden Gate quartet of "pretending or claiming" that a lot of their arrangements and style of singing was their own..... when in fact they were largely inspired by The Mills Brothers.

You see where I'm going here....

Comparisons are fine to point out.
But it would be no more fair or correct for someone to be speaking on behalf of The Mills Brothers to accuse the Golden Gate quartet/ or implying that they claimed or took something as their own, just as it wouldn't be intellectually honest or Fair to say Elvis himself claimed credit for something that traditionally (right on through the ages... long before him) many others were doing the same thing with the same song.

In other words if we point at one, we can point at many others

Clyde Wright, member of the Golden Gate quartet at one time, had his say about Elvis and he had nothing but great respect to express could not speak highly enough of Elvis the persons as well as the gospel singer.

So for me, as someone that has great respect for gospel music history and groups like Golden Gate quartet ...as well as Elvis the artist also..... I just find myself struggling with your initial assertion

Now if you meant to say you wish the people running RCA had not made the implication Elvis' Arrangement was his own original.... then I probably would not have responded to your initial comment as I probably could even agree with it to some extent

But I just think context is important



All comments from YouTube:

@freddynovember5842

Most likely the most under rated band on the world

@Revoknight99

I still use this, the seabreeze, and the avenger over the new jet

@stephenm7025

Elvis grew up listening to their records and was a huge fan. When he was in the army in Germany he met them and saw them perform.

@caydenkasongo3534

Is that him in the movie Hollywood canteen

@72grantorino

Most people think Johnny's version is the original. It's not. It's a folk song that was around for years before this version was recorded in 1946. This version is just the first time anyone recorded it

@Mr.Bimbpleton

I certainly did

@roygalaasen

I had a notion that it was an old folk song, then I listened to Johnny Cash’s version and got an even stronger feeling it indeed was an old folk song, and then I ended up here.

Edit: fun fact, The Golden Gate Quartet had 22 members in total. Am I right to assume there were only 4 at any one time?

Also, the last surviving member of the original group died in 1998.

@justapilgrimgoinhome

JC's covers are done so well most believe his are the originals.

@libRteedude

Heard this song in yesterday's episode of "Fargo". God's going to do a lot of cutting down in the next episode, I believe.

@EricWillman

Same here!

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