76. God Bless The Child (1941)
lyrics and music: Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr.
follows 10 versions of this song
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1941 | MT | 149 | Complete in Columbia v.7 | 4 | 2’57” |
Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give crust of bread and such
You can help yourself but don’t take too much
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own(short bridge)
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownHe just don’t worry ’bout nothing
‘Cause he’s got his own
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1941 | AT | 149a | Complete in Columbia v.10 | 11 | 2’43” |
Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give crust of bread and such
You can help yourself but don’t take too much
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own(short bridge)
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownHe just don’t worry ’bout nothing
‘Cause he’s got his own
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1941 | AT | 149b | Complete in Columbia v.10 | 12 | 2’31” |
Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no more
Rich relations give crust of bread and such
You can help yourself but don’t take too much
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own(studio talks – track incomplete)
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1950 | MT | 213 | Complete in Decca v.2 | 23 | 3’08” |
(lyrics by The Gordon Jenkins Singer Chorus)
(Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own)Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too much
Mama may have Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own(Choir)
(God bless the child
The child that’s got his own)
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1950 | LR | 69 | Perfect Complete Collection v.4 | 2 | 2’35” |
Them that’s got shall have
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
But when you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own
6th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1953 | LR | 106 | Perfect Complete Collection v.5 | 8 | 2’30” |
NA
7th version
rec date |
type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | LR | 130 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 12 | 2’37” |
NA
8th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | MT | 278 | Complete on Verve v.7 | 6 | 3’58” |
Them that’s got shall have
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
They’re crowding round your door
But when you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too muchMama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child
That’s got his own,
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
They’re crowding round your door
But when you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too muchMama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child
That’s got his own,
That’s got his ownHe just don’t worry ’bout nothing
‘Cause he’s got his own
Yes he’s got his own
9th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 155 | Perfet Complete Collection v.9 | 16 | 2’51” |
(Billie introduces the song:
“Thank you very much Ladies and Gentlemen
and now I would like trying do for you a little tune
that I wrote, its title is God Bless the Child”)
Them that’s got shall have
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round your door
When you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too muchMama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child
That’s got his own,
That’s got his own
He just don’t worry ’bout nothing
‘Cause he’s got his own(applauses)
10th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1958 | LR | 210 | Private Recording | – | 3’25” |
(Billie introduces the song:
thank you very much Ladies and Gentlemen
now I’d like to try do for you a tune of mine,
titled God Bless the Child, hope you like it)
Them that’s got shall have
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownYes the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his ownMoney you’ve got lots of friends
Crowding round your door
But when you’re gone and spending ends
They don’t come no moreRich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don’t take too muchMama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child
That’s got his own,
That’s got his own
He just don’t worry ’bout nothing
‘Cause he’s got his own(applauses)
(Gerry Mulligan arrives and Billie comments: “why it took so long for you guys to get out here? I wait and wait…”)
Notes |
Probably the most classic song composed by Billie Holiday