People Get Ready

from Lay It All Down by Mike Lawson & Friends

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about

The Curtis Mayfield classic, in an arrangement that kind of initially came to me thinking about the Ringo song "Don't Pass Me By" after watching The Beatles Get Back documentary. While it didn't come out sounding like that song, it was a nice inspiration.

I tracked my arrangement, sent it to Joe Montague for drums over in Leeds, then sent it to Herman Ringer in London, who played a bouncing McCartney-esque bass line and added some trumpets at the end.

Then it was off to Scott Guberman for Rhodes, Denise Stewart Bates for big Black gospel backing vocals, and I found myself some cool Amtrak train station sounds. The Beatles like to incorporate sound effects, so hey, I figured I could as well.

Finally, I rung up my friend Tony Gerber to ask him if he could see if Phil Keaggy was available to play some solos. He was. Tony had done an album and some shows with Phil, both live about ten miles away. I thought it would be a fun track for his Beatles sensibilities. It was.

What started as one song, end up being twelve we would do for this album.

lyrics

People get ready there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesel's hummin'
You don't need no ticket you just thank the lord

So people get ready for the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there's no hiding place against the kingdom's throne
For there's no hiding place against the kingdom's throne

So people get ready there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesel's hummin'
You don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
You don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
You don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord

(Modulate Up)
People get ready
People get ready
People get ready
People get ready

Copyright Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. and Sony/ATV Songs LLC o/b/o Mijac Music - Used by Permission

credits

from Lay It All Down, released October 7, 2022
Mike Lawson - Guitar, Vocals
Herman Ringer - Bass/Trumpet
Joe Montague - Drums and Percussion
Denise Stewart Bates - Backing Vocals
Scott Guberman - Fender Rhodes
Phil Keaggy - Guitar

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Mike Lawson & Friends Nashville, Tennessee

Mike Lawson has, over 30 years, recorded and/or performed together with Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick, Vassar Clements, Pete Sears, Gary Talley, John McEuen, Bob Welch, Dennis Robbins, Joe Louis Walker, Jorma Kaukonen, Phil Keaggy, Jack Casady, Scott Guberman, Dianne Davidson, Noah Wall, Tyra Juliette, Bill Vitt, Rob Wasserman, Michael Cleveland, Phil Madeira, and a host of other amazing friends. ... more

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