Are you sick of Neil Diamond yet?  Okay, rawgod, I know you requested an entire month, but I’m just about ready to move on for a bit.  Not, however, before playing the one that Roger requested!  And so tonight, I give you Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show!  When it was mentioned, I didn’t think I was familiar with it, but as I listened to it earlier this evening, I did recognize the tune, though I don’t think I ever paid attention to the lyrics. 

According to SongFacts …

Diamond performed this on The Johnny Cash Show, where he explained: “This song was written about a revival meeting I was at in Jackson, Mississippi. I went there because I was curious, and also because I was a college kid who had all the answers – no one was going to teach me anything and I could lay a few answers on them. I sat in the back of this tent meeting and I got really caught up in the music – clapping, the singing – tremendously exciting. After a while I felt something about the people – there was a tremendous yearning, looking for answers. Trying to ease a very hard burden of very rough lives. After a while the music stopped and a preacher walked out. I remember thinking that all the education I had, all the books, all the words, all the learning I went through at college didn’t mean anything to these people, I had nothing for them. So I found myself pulling for this man who was about to give them something that I couldn’t even begin to give them.”

This marked a turning point for Diamond, as it was a character-driven song as opposed to something personal and introspective. This allowed Diamond to play a character on stage, and he quickly developed into a very charismatic performer. In the liner notes to his boxed set In My Lifetime, Diamond wrote: “This recording became a hit and was to make a showman out of me. How could you not let go of your inhibitions when playing such a wonderful character?”

I was surprised to learn that Peggy Lee, Dolly Parton, and Sonny & Cher have all covered this song! This song peaked at #22 in the U.S., but I cannot find any information about it’s success or lack thereof in other countries. 

Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show

Neil Diamond

… Hot August night
And the leaves hanging down
And the grass on the ground smelling sweet

… Move up the road
To the outside of town
And the sound of that good gospel beat

… Sits a ragged tent
Where there ain’t no trees
And that gospel group
Telling you and me

… It’s love, Brother Love say
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
‘Cause everyone knows
Brother Love’s show

… Room gets suddenly still
And when you’d almost bet
You could hear yourself sweat, he walks in

… Eyes black as coal
And when he lifts his face
Every ear in the place is on him

… Starting soft and slow
Like a small earthquake
And when he lets go
Half the valley shakes

… It’s love, Brother Love say
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
‘Cause everyone knows
‘Bout Brother Love’s show

… Hallelujah, brothers
Halle-hallelujah
I said brothers
(Hallelujah) Now you got yourself two good hands
(Halle-hallelujah) And when your brother is troubled
You gotta reach out your one hand for him
(Hallelujah) ‘Cause that’s what it’s there for
(Halle-hallelujah) And when your heart is troubled
You gotta reach out your other hand
(Hallelujah) Reach it out to the man up there
(Halle-hallelujah) ‘Cause that’s what he’s there for

… Take my hand in yours
Walk with me this day
In my heart I know
I will never stray
Halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle

… Love, Brother Love say
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes

… I say love, Brother Love say
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
(Halle, halle)
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes

… Love, Brother Love say
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Neil Diamond

Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show lyrics © Universal Tunes