Washington Phillips - Denomination Blues

(Part 1)

1. I want to tell you a natural fact,

Every man don't understand the Bible alike.

But that's all, I tell you that's all

But you'd better have Jesus, I tell you that's all.

2. Well, denominations have no right to fight

They ought to just treat each other right.

That's all...

3. The primitive Baptists, they believe,

You can't get to heaven unless you wash your feet.

And that's all...

4. The only primitive that has any part

Is the one that does the washin' with the pure in heart.

And that's all...

5. Now the Missionary Baptists, they believe

Go under the water and not to wash your feet.

And that's all...

6. Now the A.M.E. Methodists, they believe,

Sprinkle the head and not to wash their feet.

And that's all...

7. Now the African Methodists, they believe the same,

Cause they know denominations ain't a thing but a name.

And that's all...

8. Now the Holiness People when they came in

Said "Boys, we think you'll make it by livin' above sin."

But that's all...

9. Now, the Church of God had it in their mind

That they can get to Heaven without the sacrament wine.

But that's all...

(Part 2)

10. You're fightin' each other, and think you're doing well

And the sinners on the outside are going to hell.

And that's all...

11. Now the preachers is preachin', and think they're doing well

And all they want is your money and you can go to hell.

And that's all...

12. There's another kind of preacher that's high in speech

They have to go to college to learn how to preach.

And that's all...

13. But you can go to the college, and you can go to the school

But if you ain't got Jesus you're an educated fool.

And that's all...

14. That kind of a man, he's hard to convince

A man can't preach, son, unless that he sinned.

And that's all...

15. When these people jump from church to church,

You know their conversion don't amount to much.

And that's all...

16. When Jesus came here on Dividing Day

Gonna call the sheep to him and drive the goats away.

And that's all...

17. It's right to stand together, it's wrong to stand apart

'Cause none's going to heaven but the pure in heart.

And that's all...

• Artist:Washington Phillips