Today’s post was written by Paul.
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When I was a kid, we only picked up two TV channels at home, one of them PBS.
One night on PBS out of Linville, NC, Pap and I watched a concert with Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence. This would have been the late 80’s or early 90’s. “You Must Come In At The Door” is a song Doc did that night.
I remember Pap chuckled after the first verse about denominations. Doc did the song slower and played it Travis-style with a thumb pick and his fingers. I always liked the lyrics, and I wish it had one more verse. I think Pap might have commented that this was an old Blackwood Brothers song. He said, “But Doc has improved it some.” I didn’t ask what he meant by that. Anyway, we hope you enjoy this tune.
The lyrics are below along with links to hear Doc’s version:
Oh, the Baptists go by water, and the Methodists go by land, But I tell you, my brother, if you want to get to Heaven, well you gotta go hand in hand. As Jesus taught the people by the Sea of Galilee, He said, “I’m the door that leads to Heaven and you must come in by me.”
It’s so low, you can’t get under it; so high you can’t climb over it; So wide, you’ll never get around it; you must come in at The Door.
You can talk about me, my brother, as much as ever you please. If I mention your name, it will be to The Lord when I’m down on my knees. O’le Satan is a liar, and he wears a hypocrite’s shoe, And if you don’t watch your step today, he’ll slip it right on you.
The door’s so low, you can’t get under it; so high you can’t climb over it; So wide, you’ll never get around it; you must come in at The Door.
Well don’t let Satan fool you, or, brother, you’ll find out: When the day of Judgement comes around, unbelief will lock you out. He can talk just like an angel, but don’t you believe a word. As a matter of fact, he’ll steal your soul if you don’t put your trust in The Lord.
The door’s so low, you can’t get under it; so high you can’t climb over it; So wide, you’ll never get around it; you must come in at The Door.
So low, you can’t get under it; so high you can’t climb over it; So wide, you’ll never get around it; you must come in at The Door.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaKiY…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rfad…
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I went looking for a photo of Paul from the 80’s or 90’s to use for this post and unbelievably found a photo of Pap and Granny’s antenna. I have no idea why someone would have taken the picture all those years ago unless it was for me to use in the future like I did today.
I hope you enjoyed the guest post and the video!
Tipper
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I am attepmting to learn the author of *You Must Come In At The Door*. So far, no luck. Anyone here know the author?
Brian-I found this information about the song: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47224 Mudcat Cafe is a great place to find out information about songs-though the site can be glitchy at times.
I’ve not heard or thought about this song in years. I remembering during revival one summer when I was a teenager a preacher pretty much preaching his sermon on the chorus of this song.
Thanks, Paul!…..I enjoy hearing your music and seeing you play the guitar!…..
Thanks, Tipper for sharing all your posts!…..Rick
I tried tapping my toes to Paul’s tune but couldn’t hardly keep in time. Wudden long before my toes tired and had to tap out. Whew!
Saw Murphy has a freeze warning for tonight! We don’t have one yet. We’re still under a flash flood warning but it’s supposed to get down to 32° tomorrow night. I hope all the water runs off or we will have a mess Tuesday morning.
PBS out of Linville? WUNE Channel 17? We couldn’t pick it up on Wiggins Creek but when I moved to Connelly Springs we could. We also got Channel 7 out of Spartanburg, Channel 4 out of Greenville, Channel 3 and 36 out of Charlotte and even Hickory’s own UHF Channel 14. I thought I was in TV heaven. Now I have cable and hundreds of channels to watch and don’t even watch TV any more. I worked 3rd shift, 6 nights a week, for 25 years so the only things to watch were morning shows and soaps. We had only one TV and the better half dominated it. I tried watching some TV after I retired but couldn’t find much of anything but garbage on it. So I gave it up. Have I missed anything?
Mr. Ammons, yes, you did miss something – a lot of mind garbage and eye garbage and ear garbage. Good for you.
A jaunty little sacred song–I like the woodsy setting.
Super — and true!
Loved the video! Great job, as always, Paul! God bless you all. 😉
Tipper,
I loved Paul’s peppy song for a Sunday treet back in the Mountains. I also loved his and Chitter’s song that come on afterwards: “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again.”
Enjoyed the written words too, and the antenna scene. Reminds me of a time when we use to run our antenna way up the ridge to get Atlanta Stations. Every time the wind would get up, or it would rain, we’d have to run the lines. That ole “ladder” wire had insulators to keep the wires from crossin’ and sticks from the trees kept us busy. But most of the time, we were informed on what was going on, that was a time passed, unlike today’s world. …Ken
Ken, we called it bird-ladder wire! Grammaw had it out across her yard and across her pasture up the mountainside all the way to the top. Must have been a half a mile. We walked to her house on Sunday night to watch Wagon Train if the weather cooperated. Sometimes all we saw on TV was snow, even in August.
Learned a version of this at MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship)! So great to hear Paul singing it. I’m loving his “outdoor” concerts.
I really like that song, Paul. Thank you for taking the time and effort to record it for us.
Very nice Paul. I love the way you walk into the woods then when the song is finished you walk back out. It’s like of like life. Thank you for brightening an otherwise soggy day!
Thank you for sharing this, Paul, and thank you Tipper for providing all the lyrics 🙂
By the way, I meant to mention how much I enjoy Paul’s outside performances – in a cathedral not made by the hand of man.
Fantastic. Never heard it. But isn’t it the truth. So simple. Jesus just loves us and is the Door. Thank you Paul. I really appreciate the Sunday songs so much. I also appreciate you printing the lyrics for me since I do not hear every little word sometimes. This lets me enjoy it even more. You are so very thoughtful, talented, and a very generous person. Thank you.
Somewhere on one of Doc’s albums he says something along the line of “I reckon we better a little flat picking or some of them boys ain’t going to like it.” Paul, your version was absolutely enjoyable. And even though I’ve heard Doc’s version from what, as far as I know, was his last album – On Praying Ground – I’d never noticed how closely part of the melody (your introductory run) sounds like “Cindy” (I wish I was an apple, a-hanging on a tree).
I’ve never heard this song, but I enjoyed it because it was peppy.
Maybe the door is so wide that God’s grace flows out, embraces everyone, and draws them in for a “2nd” chance in heaven . . . .
Thank you Paul and Dr Watson, this early morning in Hawaii. 3: 20 am God Bless.Jean
Paul makes me wish I was musical. But I have those blunt fingers I have heard called ‘farmer’s hands’.
I have often wondered through the years why the Lord permits so many denominations. All I can conclude is that it has nothing to do with any variability of His but is all about how variable we are.
Have a blessed Sunday you all and, in this neck oof the woods, stay dry.
That is a great song, and Paul does surely do a great job with it. I had never heard it before. My sister and husband were of different religions, and they often joked about the differences. He always said her Baptist faith liked big hats.
I love the picture of the antenna. It immediately reminded me of one my Dad put up many years ago. We had one of the first televisions in the area, and Dad wanted to make certain he was able to receive lots of channels on that old black and white TV. He had the tallest pole I have ever seen, and mounted the antenna on it (1950s). Then, somehow he got the thing upright and put Sakrete to hold the pole in place. He received a channel that was using a foreign language besides Spanish, and knowing he would not be believed borrowed a neighbor for witness. We already lived on top of a mountain so high the post probably was not even necessary Actually, I have rarely mentioned this, as it does seem far fetched at a time when folks could only get 1-2 channels. He may have learned later one cannot turn an antenna so high up, but I don’t recall how long he kept that tall post. Many people in the valleys would later run a line up the nearest mountain. Sweet memories of a simple time when a little excitement came our way.
Love your Sunday posts. Great start to my day. Thanks