John Saw That Number - Neko Case

[mgajosh]

Also, it's Garth Hudson (The Band) on Piano, and I think he does a little bit of "Bringing in the Sheaves" at one point to help set the mood.

[mgajosh]

The first part was recorded in a stairwell because they noticed it had crazy haunting echo-reverb qualities. No, she definitely didn't write this, it's a very old spiritual, which also probably accounts for the conflations of John the Baptist (his meat was locusts and wild honey) and John the Revelator. To me that doesn't detract at all, because I think what the song captures is the wild ecstatic religious fervor of the beast that rose out of the sea, ten crowns, on his horns write blasphemy.

[blazecw1426]

Amen! Neko Case is awesome!

[lmacfraser]

the john she's singing about is neither John the Baptist nor John the evangelist, Revelations was written by John of Patmos. in the middle ages they thought the evangelist was the author, the baptist, however, was never linked to revelations.

[pureroyalty2010]

Is she a pop singer? 'cause she sounds wonderful! I'll like her to sing more gospel songs! WOW! I'm impressed! :)

[SupernalOne]

Neko's voice really benefits from the upper-register harmony singer she works with - that last note in this song makes my hair stand on end

[jetcityjimi]

Only Neko could muster this combination of beauty and power. Her voice is a f****ng freight train. John would be proud.

[falqas]

@TheLMack Thanks for the list--will definitely check those out :)

[falqas]

@castironcanoe That is a great list, and I love Emmylou & Allison Krauss. Thanks!

[castironcanoe]

falqas, Try Emmylou Harris- My Songbird, Green Pastures, Deeper Well, Calling My Children Home off Spyboy 1998 and The Pearl, My Baby Needs a Shepherd off Red Dirt Girl 2000. Allison Krauss- Down To the River To Pray, I'll Fly Away off Oh Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver- On the Sea of Life off Rock My Soul 1981. Exodus by Bob Marley off Exodus 1977. Bruce Springsteen- The Seeger Sessions 2006. Anything by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vaartina, Huun Huur Tu.

[fraserkr]

I agree, this is an old spiritual song, not original to Neko. And I agree both Neko and Kelly have extraordinary voices. makes you want to sing out loud!

[jjj1951]

@fraserkr There are other songs written about John the Revelator but this one is unique to Neko.

[fraserkr]

@jjj1951 Thanks for letting me know. Wayfaring Stranger is an old spiritual thought, right?

[stormtrooper253]

Are there other songs by Neko that have the same theme such as John Saw That Number?

[fuzebox5150]

Good twist of twang

[fuzebox5150]

Good twist and twang

[fiddlerfart]

killer killer killer absolutely killer

[falqas]

Divinely brilliant, and I'm not even religious.

Anyone know of any similar gospel-inspired songs/artists?

[TheLMack]

@falqas M. Ward is awesome. He says his favorite song is Amazing Grace. Check out Victoria Williams (and pearl jam's cover of her "crazy mary"). idk.. no one answered you so I thought I'd put in my two cents. Oh, of course, Cat Power.

[BrettRissanen]

Makes the hair stand up on my arms when I hear this song. Pure angelic sounds.

[Primitive1960]

This is an old spiritual song that she embellished.

[sidDkid87]

@Primitive1960 Well, then this is what I call GREAT embellishing!!! : )`

[avapepper]

This is original to Neko. Fantastic song, wild imagery from her own imagination, made to sound just like chap-and-verse. She's a wonderful storyteller.

[lovelydisarray]

when i make my first movie, this is totally going in it

[mnrmg]

Totally awesome. Gives me chills.

[billycubed]

There's an old spiritual called Ezekiel Saw the Wheel. The lyrics share some similarities. It could be an adaptation of that.

[Acexwanderer]

According to Neko Case it was inspired by the kid singing A capella in the movie Latcho Drom and the lyrics are from the bible.

[turtleheart77]

I don't care who wrote it...I am not religious at all but I always feel happy when I hear this song < )

[ericbreedlove]

I really like this song so I forwarded it to a friend of mine who is kind of an authority on religon, I thought he would enjoy it. He pointed out that John the Baptist and John who wrote Revelation is two different people, but referred to as the same person in this song, it doesn't really matter cause this is a great song, but I wondered if anyone else noticed that.

[jeffdabates]

wiki lists credits a s neko and traditional, so possible she adapted a gospel song, can't find te reference though

[jeffdabates]

Pretty sure she wrote it, I will check

[originaltbyrd]

anybody know is this an orinal song by her or an old Gospel song?

[TheCovey55403]

Pretty sure she wrote it

[SupernalOne]

It's an old gospel song - other, earlier groups have done it - should be some versions on Youtube

[49equilibrium]

(L) ahh... :)