<… 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.
Ol' Man Mose
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a very crooked nose
He lived inside a log hut
And they called him ol' man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
I didn't hear a single sound
So I ain't gonna do it no more.
I believe ol' man, thatol' man Mose is dead.
I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead.
(Now you believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
Now listen here,
I went round to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
Inside there was an old man
Laying flat upon his back
I thought that he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
He didn't make a single move
So I ain't gonna do it no more
'Cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead
('Cos you found out) ol' man
(You found out) ol' man
(You found out) ol' man
(You found out he's dead)
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out he's dead)
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
(You found out he's dead)
Old Man Mose is dead.
The song "Ol' Man Mose" by The Golden Gate Quartet tells the story of an old man named Mose who lived in a log hut with a very crooked nose. The singer went to visit Mose one morning but didn't hear a sound, leading them to believe that Mose was already dead. They went to the window and saw Mose lying flat on his back, seemingly asleep with his head hanging down. The singer then realized that he was actually dead and that there was no point in knocking on his door anymore. The chorus repeats the idea that "Ol' Man Mose is dead," with a catchy call and response melody.
The song employs a light-hearted tone, and the lyrics are simple and repetitive. They paint a vivid picture of the old man's life and his final resting place. The song's theme is that of accepting the fact that death is a natural part of life, and there is no point in resisting or fearing it. The call and response nature of the song fits perfectly with the African American traditional gospel style of The Golden Gate Quartet.
Line by Line Meaning
Now one time there lived an old man
There was an old man who once lived
With a very crooked nose
He had a crooked nose
He lived inside a log hut
He lived in a hut made of logs
And they called him ol' man Mose
He was called Old Man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
I went to his door one dark and dreary morning and knocked on it
I didn't hear a single sound
He didn't make any noise
So I ain't gonna do it no more.
So I won't do it again
'Cos I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
Because I think Old Man Mose is
I believe ol' man, thatol' man Mose is dead.
I think Old Man Mose is dead
(Now you believe) Mose kicked the bucket
Now you believe Mose is dead
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
You think Mose is dead
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
You believe Mose is dead
(You believe he's dead)
You believe Mose is dead
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
You think Mose is dead
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
You believe Mose is dead
(You believe) Mose kickin' up daisies
You think Mose is dead and buried
(You found out he's dead)
You found out that Mose is dead
Now listen here,
Now listen to me
I went round to the window
I went to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
And I looked through a crack
Inside there was an old man
I saw an old man inside
Laying flat upon his back
He was lying flat on his back
I thought that he was sleeping
I thought he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
His head was hanging to the floor
He didn't make a single move
He didn't move at all
So I ain't gonna do it no more
So I won't do it again
'Cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
Because I discovered that Old Man Mose is
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead
I discovered that Old Man Mose is dead
(You found out) ol' man
You found out that Old Man Mose is
(You found out) ol' man
You found out that Old Man Mose is
(You found out) ol' man
You found out that Old Man Mose is
(You found out he's dead)
You found out that Mose is dead
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You found out that Mose is dead
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You discovered that Mose is dead
(You found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
You discovered that Mose is dead and buried
(You found out he's dead)
You found out that Mose is dead
Old Man Mose is dead.
Old Man Mose has died
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOUIS ARMSTRONG, ZILNER T. RANDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind