Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.MX

♪ Walk together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ Walk together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land ♪

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

♪ Oh, talk together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ Talk together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land ♪

♪ Oh, pray together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ Pray together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ Pray together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land ♪

♪ Mourn together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ Mourn together children Don't you get weary ♪

♪ There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land ♪

♪ Mourn, mourn and never tire ♪

♪ Mourn and never tire ♪

♪ Mourn, mourn and never tire ♪

♪ There's a great camp meeting in the Promised Land ♪

♪ Have you got good religion Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Have you got good religion Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Do you love everybody Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Do you love everybody Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly, cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ The amazing grace How sweet the sound ♪

♪ That saved a wretch like me ♪

♪ I once was lost but now am found ♪

♪ Was blind but now I see ♪

♪ Do you still feel happy Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Do you still feel happy Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly, cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been redeemed Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been redeemed Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been redeemed Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly, cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been to the water Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been to the water Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been to the water Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly, cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Is you been baptized Cert'nly Lawd ♪

♪ Cert'nly, cert'nly, cert'nly Lawd ♪

Here, you can look at it.

Why does they call it the watch?

'Cause it watches.

- It ain't got no eyes. - It don't need none.

We look at it and it tells us the time.

How did it tell you to ring the bell?

It just look at me and say, "Don't you think it's time

for the little children to come to Sunday school?"

Hello.

This watch just says, "Tick, tick, tick."

Oh, that mean that it wanna go back into grandpappy's pocket.

Well, that's the best Sunday dinner

since I was here the last time.

Only that bell could pry me from the table.

- Come again soon, Mr. Deshee. - Come again soon.

You want to walk to the Sunday school with me, Carlisle?

Yes, sir.

'Maybe by now his stomach is too big to tote.'

- I can tote it. - 'Wipe your mouth off.'

- Hurry up with Carlotta. - She all ready.

'Every Sunday you can't take him'

''cause you ain't got your dishes done.'

'You call that getting your dishes done, what you're doing?'

'Come on, Randolph.'

That thing's gonna break your mind down.

- Miss Prohack! - Hello.

Can Viney and Carlotta take Randolph with them?

Shoo him over.

You behave yourself like a citizen today.

Here he comes.

Come on, Carlotta.

Is the river gonna rise again, Mr. Deshee?

No, the weather's going to be fine now.

See the pretty cloud over there?

- Maybe that'll bring more rain. - Mm-mm, not that kind of cloud.

What good is a cloud like that, then?

I don't know. Maybe De Lawd just use them for sofa pillows.

What he do, lay his head on them?

Maybe so.

- Hello, Myrtle. - Hello, Carlisle.

- Hello, Mr. Deshee. - Hello, Mr. Deshee.

- What's that one? - Lion.

- What is a tiger? - A tiger is a lion's wife.

You don't know either.

They ain't got anything like that up there.

Let's see. Oh, yes, they have.

Will they have that thing in the circus, Mr. Deshee?

'If they do, I want to see it.'

Come on. We can't talk about circuses on De Lawd's time.

What's the story gonna be about today, Mr. Deshee?

Ain't gonna tell no story today.

We're going right to the Good Book itself.

You're going to hear about Genesis.

What's Genesis, Mr. Deshee?

Pick up your feet. You'll find out.

Get along there. We's late now.

'"And all the days that Adam lived'

'"were nine hundred and thirty years and he died.'

'"Seth lived a 105 years and begat Enos.'

'"Seth lived after he begat Enos 807 years'

'"and begat sons and daughters.'

'"And all the days that Seth lived'

was 912 years and he died."

And it go on like that until we come to Enoch.

And the book say, "And Enoch lived 60 and five years

"and begat Methuselah

Methuselah lived 960 and nine years and he died."

'And that was the oldest man there ever was.'

Well, for goodness sake.

'That's why we call old Mr. Gurney's mammy'

"old Miss Methuselah", 'cause she's so old.

Now how do you think you're goin' to like the Bible?

I think it's just wonderful, Mr. Deshee.

- I can't understand any of it. - 'Well?'

Why did they live so long, Mr. Deshee?

Oh, they were mighty men in them days

but although they was awful mighty

they always knowed that God was beyond them all.

What did God look like, Mr. Deshee?

Well, nobody know exactly.

I remember when I was a little boy

I used to imagine he looked just like our old preacher

the Reverend Mr. Dubois.

He was the wisest and finest looking man I ever seen.

What did the world look like when De Lawd begin, Mr. Deshee?

'How you mean, what it look like?'

Carlisle mean who was in New Orleans then.

There wasn't nobody in New Orleans.

On account of there was no New Orleans.

You got to get your minds fixed.

There wasn't no Rampart Street. There wasn't no Canal Street.

There wasn't no Louisiana.

There wasn't nothing on Earth.

On occasion of the reason there wasn't no Earth.

The whole world wasn't nothing but a mess of bad weather.

Yes, but what Carlisle wants--

Now, Randolph, if you don't listen how you expect

to grow up to be a good man?

You wanna grow up to be a transgressor?

No!

Tell his mammy his sister gotta come with him the next time.

She can get the things done to fetch him to the school.

Content yourself.

Now what's that Carlisle want to know?

How did De Lawd decide he wanted the world to be right here?

And how did he get the idea he wanted it?

'Cause the book say, don't it, Mr. Deshee?

The book say, but at the same time that's a good question.

I remember when I was a little boy

I asked Mr. Dubois the same thing.

And he said, "My son, the book ain't got time

to go into all of the details."

And he was right.

We don't know just where Heaven was at

but there it was, maybe everywhere.

Then one day De Lawd said

"I think I'll make me some places."

He made the sun, the moon, the stars

and he made the Earth.

Who was around then, nothing but angels?

I reckon so.

What were the angels doing up there?

Oh, they just flew around, had a good time.

There wasn't no sin. They must have had a good time.

Did they have Sunday school, too?

Oh, they must've had Sunday school for the little cherubs.

Did they have picnics?

Sure. The best kind of picnics.

Fish fries with boiled custard.

Ten cent cigars for the adults.

God give us humans lots of ideas about good timing.

Maybe from the things he'd seen the angels do.

Yes, sir, I bet they had fish fries every week.

Maybe every day.

'There wasn't no mankind to worry about yet.'

Did they go fishing?

The fishermen fished, the cooks cooked

there was plenty to eat for all.

'The children played.'

'The grownups passed the time of day.'

'Excepting, of course... the choir.'

'God give them songs to sing.'

'So they sang to De Lawd the songs he liked to hear.'

♪ All rise and shine ♪

♪ And give God the glory glory ♪

♪ Rise and shine ♪

♪ And give God the glory, glory ♪

♪ Rise and shine ♪

♪ And give God the glory, glory ♪

♪ Come on and join our jubilee ♪

♪ Oh, come on mourners and get you ready, ready ♪

♪ Come on mourners and get you ready, ready ♪

♪ Come on mourners and get you ready, ready ♪

♪ Come on and join our jubilee ♪

♪ Oh, come on children and don't be weary, weary ♪

♪ Come on children and don't be weary, weary ♪

♪ Come on children and don't be weary, weary ♪

♪ Come on and join our jubilee ♪♪

Hurry up, kids, this here fat's crying for more fish.

They's coming. They's got to be catched, ain't they?

We can't say, "Come on, little fish

come on and get fried."

I'm an Indian!

Henry, you sure got the prettiest wings.

Oh, they're just my old ones.

'Take that cigar out of your mouth.'

A child like you shouldn't be smoking.

Oh, let him have a cigar.

Cigars, gentlemen? Cigars? Just help yourself.

Cigars, gentlemen? Cigars? Cigars, gentlemen? Cigars?

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Yes, ma'am. Here it is. Yes, indeed.

- Thank you kindly. - Anybody here seen Fitzhugh?

A minute ago he was up in the element.

You fly down here. You heard me, Fitzhugh.

'You want to be put down in the sin book?'

That boy must have imp blood in him, he's so vexing.

You want me to fly up there and slap you down?

Told you, you was too little for catfish.

What's the trouble with Leonetta?

She got a catfish bone down her throat, doggone it.

Told her to eat grindle instead.

If she do get all that ate, she's gonna have the bellyache.

Ain't I told her that? Come on, let go of that bone.

- 'Now, that's good.' - Now she alright.

Go and play with your cousins.

I ain't seen you lately, Lily. How has you been?

Oh, fine. I've been visiting my mammy.

She's waiting on the welcome table over by the throne of grace.

She always was pretty holy.

I guess De Lawd took quite a fancy to her.

I declare, your mammy's one of the finest lady angels I know.

She claim you the best one she know.

Well, when you come right down to it

I suppose we all are pretty near perfect.

Why is that, Miss Jenny?

I suppose it's 'cause De Lawd don't like associating

with the devil anymore, so there can't be no more sinning.

Poor old Satan. I wonder whatever become of him.

Gabriel!

- Gabriel! - Gabriel!

Gabriel! Gabriel!

Gangway!

Gangway for De Lawd God Jehovah.

- Here comes De Lawd. - I hope De Lawd likes my robe.

'I wonder what De Lawd coming over here for.'

'Do I look alright?'

- Is you been baptized? - Certainly Lawd.

- Is you been baptized? - Certainly Lawd.

Is you been baptized?

♪ Certainly Lawd. Certainly, certainly, certainly Lawd ♪

Is you been redeemed?

♪ Certainly Lawd ♪

Is you been redeemed?

♪ Certainly Lawd ♪

Is you been redeemed?

♪ Certainly Lawd. Certainly, certainly, certainly Lawd ♪

Does you bow mighty low?

♪ Certainly Lawd ♪

Does you bow mighty low?

♪ Certainly Lawd ♪

Does you bow mighty low?

♪ Certainly Lawd. Certainly, certainly ♪

♪ Certainly Lawd ♪

Let the fish fry proceed.

- Lawd, look what I've got. - Get away from De Lawd.

- Good morning, Lawd. - Good morning, Archangel.

You're looking mighty spry.

- I can't complain, Lawd. - That's good.

Fitzhugh, you let go of De Lawd's coattail.

That's alright, daughter. He's just playing.

'Yeah, but he's playing too rough.'

A little boiled custard, Lawd?

Thank you very kindly. This looks nice.

Ten cent cigar, Lawd?

Thank you, thank you. How is the fish fry going?

Oh, the best one yet, Lawd.

And how you shouters getting on?

We've been a-marching and singing the whole morning.

I heard you. You's getting as good as the choir at the throne.

Why don't you give us one of them old-time jump-ups?

Alright. Anything you say, Lawd.

So High.

♪ My God is so high, you can't get over him ♪

♪ He's so low, you can't get under him ♪

♪ He's so wide, you can't get around him ♪

♪ You must come in by and through the lamb ♪

♪ He's so high, you can't get over him ♪

♪ He's so low, you can't get under him ♪

♪ He's so wide ♪

No, thank you. I'm going to save this a bit.

♪ By and through the lamb ♪

♪ One day as I was walking along the heavenly road.. ♪♪

- What's the matter, Lawd? - I ain't just sure yet.

There's something about this custard.

Ain't it alright, Lawd?

It don't seem seasoned just right. Did you make it?

Yes, Lawd. I put everything in it like I always does.

'It's supposed to be perfect.'

Yes, I can taste the eggs, the cream, and the sugar.

Oh, I know what it is. It needs a little bit more firmament.

Oh, there's firmament in it, Lawd.

- Maybe, but it ain't enough. - It's all we had.

There ain't a drop left in the jug.

Oh, that's alright. I'll just roar back and pass a miracle.

Let there be some firmament.

And when I say, "Let there be some firmament"

I don't mean no little bitty dab of firmament

'cause I'm sick and tired of running out when we need it.

Let there be a whole mess of firmament!

- That's the way I like it. - 'Well, he got the order.'

That's a lot of firmament.

'Looks like it's ready to rain.'

- 'Where is you, Fitzhugh?' - 'Look at my Carlotta, Lawd.'

'She's soaked to the skin.'

'That's plenty too much firmament.'

Well, course I don't want the children to catch cold.

Can't we drain it off?

There's no place to drain it, Lawd.

'Why don't we just take the babies home, Lawd?'

I don't want to bust up the fish fry.

You angels keep quiet, and I'll pass another miracle.

That's the trouble with miracles, when you pass one

you always got to roar back and pass another.

Let there be a place to drain off this firmament.

Let there be mountains and valleys

and let there be oceans and lakes

and let there be rivers and bayous

to drain it off in to.

As a matter of fact, let there be the Earth.

And when that's done, let there be the sun.

And let it come out and dry my cherubs' wings.

Look at here! Hey, look!

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah. Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah Lord ♪

- Do you see it, Lawd? - Yes, Gabriel.

- 'Looks mighty nice, Lawd.' - Yes.

Yes, sir, and that would make mighty nice farming country.

Just look at that south forty down there.

I just made a garden, too.

You ain't gonna let that go to waste, are you, Lawd?

That would be a pity and a shame.

It's a good Earth.

Maybe I ought to put someone down there to enjoy it.

- Gabriel, I'm going down there. - Yes, Lawd.

I want you to be my working boss here while I'm gone.

- Yes, Lawd. Yes, Lawd. - Keep everything neat and tidy.

You know that sparrow that fell a little while ago?

- Tend to that, too. - Yes, Lawd.

I guess that's about all.

Quiet, angels.

I'm gonna pass one more miracle

and you gotta help me

'cause it's a new kind of miracle.

In my own image, let there be man.

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ Lord I want to live up yonder ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ My father's gone to glory ♪

♪ I want to go there too ♪

♪ Lord, I want to live up yonder ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

♪ Lord, I want to live up yonder ♪

♪ In bright mansions above ♪

- 'Good morning, son.' - Good morning, Lawd.

- What's your name, son? - Adam.

- Adam which? - Just Adam, Lawd.

Well, Adam, how's they treating you?

How's things going?

Well, I-I guess I'm gonna make out alright once I learn the ropes.

Yes, sir, you are a nice job.

But there's just one thing the matter with you, though.

Adam, you need a family

'cause, in your heart, you is a family man.

Yes, Lawd. Just what is a family?

Well, I'm gonna show you.

Close your eyes and make out you was going to slumber.

Yes, sir.

Eve.

'Now, you alright, Eve.'

I'm going to give you two the run of the whole garden

and I want you to enjoy yourselves.

Eve, you take care of this man and, Adam, you take care of this woman.

Don't you all try to do too much

'cause you both a new kind of experiment with me

I ain't sure you can make it.

Just drink the water from the little brooks

and the wine from the grapes and the berries

and eat the food that's hanging for you in the trees.

That is, all but one tree.

- Yes, Lawd. - Thank you, Lawd.

'Well, I gotta be getting along now.'

I got 100,000 things to do before you take your next breath.

Enjoy yourselves.

♪ Don't you let nobody ♪

♪ Turn you 'round, turn you 'round, turn you 'round ♪

♪ Don't you let nobody turn you 'round ♪

♪ Keep away from the Eden tree ♪

♪ Don't you let nobody turn you 'round ♪

♪ Turn you 'round, turn you 'round ♪

Adam.

♪ Turn you 'round keep away from the Eden tree ♪

♪ I say, keep away from the Eden tree ♪♪

I reckon you children know what happened

after God made Adam and Eve, don't you?

I know, Mr. Deshee. Stop that!

Randolph, this is the fifth time your sister ain't come with you.

'Viney, take away that truck he's eating.'

'See if you can keep him quiet.'

Now then, Myrtle, what happened?

Why, didn't they eat the forbidden fruit?

And then they got driven out the Garden of Eden.

And then what happened?

- Why, then they felt very bad. - I don't mean how they feel.

I mean how they do.

Did they have any children or anything like that?

Oh, yes. Why, they have Cain and Abel.

Now, one thing we know.

This boy Cain was a mean rascal

on account of 'cause he killed his brother.

Cain, look what you've done to Abel.

Lawd, I was minding my own business, working in the fields.

He was sittin' in the shade of the tree.

Said, "Me, I'd be scared to get out in hot sun.

"I'd be afraid my brains get cooked.

Course you ain't got brains, you ain't in danger."

So I up, and I flang this rock.

If I miss him, alright, and if I hit him, alright.

That's the way I feel.

From now on, that's called a crime.

You get yourself down the road and far away

and get married and settle down and raise some children.

There ain't nothing to make a man forget his troubles

like raising a family.

- 'Now you better git.' - Yes, sir.

♪ Run, sinner, run ♪

♪ Hunt you a hiding place ♪

♪ Oh, you better run.. ♪

Adam and Eve, you better have Seth and lots more children.

I don't like the way things is going at all.

♪ Run to your hiding place ♪

♪ In a-that morning O my Lord ♪

♪ In a-that morning O my Lord ♪

♪ In a-that morning when the Lord ♪

♪ Says hurry ♪♪

Well, I guess that's about all the important business

this morning, Lawd.

What about that little cherub over at Archangel Montgomery's house?

Uh, where do they live, Lawd?

'In that little two-story gold house' 'over by the Pearly Gates.'

Oh, that Montgomery.

I thought you was referring to the old gentleman.

Oh, here it is.

"Cherub Christina Montgomery

wings is molting out of season and nobody know what to do."

Well, you want to take care of that.

You gotta be more careful, Gabe.

Yes, Lawd.

Now watch yourself, Gabriel.

Oh, I wasn't going to blow, Lawd.

I just do that every now and then so I can keep the feel of it.

What's this here about the moon?

Oh... the moon people say it's beginning to melt a little

on account 'cause the sun's so hot.

It's going around according to schedule, ain't it?

Yes, Lawd.

There ain't nothing the matter with that moon.

The trouble of it is

too many angels go flying over there on Saturday night.

They get to beating their wings

while they's dancing, and that makes the heat.

Tell them, from now on dancing round the moon is sinning.

They got to stop it, and that'll cool off the moon.

Anything else you ought to remind me of?

- The prayers, Lawd. - The prayers?

For mankind, you know, down on the Earth.

Yes, the poor little Earth.

Bless my soul, I almost forgot about that.

Must be 300 or 400 years since I've been down there.

I wasn't any too pleased with that job.

You know you don't make no mistakes, Lawd.

So they tell me.

But I find I can be displeased, though

and I was displeased with the mankind I last seen.

Maybe I oughta go down there again.

- I need a little holiday. - Might do you good, Lawd.

I'll go down there and see how them poor humans is making out.

What time is it by the sun and the stars?

Just exactly half past, Lawd.

Take care of yourself. I'll be back Saturday.

♪ Oh, there's no hiding place down there ♪

♪ Oh, there's no hiding place down there ♪

♪ Oh, I run to the rocks to hide my face ♪

♪ The rocks cried out no hiding place ♪

♪ There's no hiding place down here ♪

♪ Oh, the rock cried I'm burning too ♪

♪ Oh, the rock cried I'm burning too ♪

♪ Oh, the rock cried I'm burning too ♪

♪ I wanna go to heaven the same as you ♪

♪ There's no hiding place down there ♪

♪ No place down there ♪♪

That's nice.

Nice and quiet.

That's the way I likes for Sunday to be.

Now that ain't so good.

Stop that.

What's the matter with you, country boy?

- Pull up your pants. - Stop that.

Say, listen to me, banjo eyes

what right you got to stop a lady enjoying herself?

This is the Sabbath, that ain't no song

to be singing on De Lawd's day.

Who care about De Lawd's day anymore?

People just use Sunday now to get over Saturday.

You's a mighty sassy girl.

Oh, I come from sassy people. We even speak mean of the dead.

- What's your name? - What's my name?

Ain't you the old time gal hunter.

First it's, "What's my name?"

Then, I suppose, "What would it be like

if you tried to kiss me?"

'You preachers is the devil.'

I ain't aiming to touch you, daughter.

'What is your name?'

- Zeba. - 'Who's your family?'

Why, I is the great great granddaughter of Seth.

Of Seth? Seth was a good man.

Yeah, he too good. He'd die of holiness.

And here's his little granddaughter reeking with cologne.

Ain't nobody ever told you you's on the road to hell?

Sure, that's what the preachers say

excepting, of course, I happens to know

that I'm on the road to the picnic grounds.

And at the present time, I'm waitin'

to keep engaged with my sweet pop.

He don't like people talking to me.

Hello, sugar.

Hi, mama. Sorry I'm late, baby.

The gals down at the barrelhouse just wouldn't let me go.

Doggone. One little wire-head swore she'd tear me down.

- What is your name, son? - Soap and water, country boy.

- 'What is your name?' - Cain the Sixth.

I was afraid so.

You a new preacher?

- Where do you live? - Me? I live most any place.

Yes, and you're gonna see them all.

Is all the other young men like you?

Well, the gals don't think so.

Ain't nobody in this world like my honey cake.

'They tells me last night.'

'you was talking to a creeper man, baby.'

You know there ain't nobody in this world for me but you.

I knows there ain't. I even got that guaranteed.

- You see that, baby? - Uh-huh.

That just makes me positive.

'Oh, you don't believe all 'em stories, papa.'

'I didn't believe 'em, baby.'

Course, that big gorilla Flatfoot

from the other side of the river is in town again.

Why, Flatfoot ain't nothing to me.

Course he ain't.

Go ahead and play some more, baby.

Bad business.

The birds is going about their business alright.

And how you little flowers making out?

We's okay, Lawd.

Yes, and you looking mighty pretty, too.

Thank you, Lawd.

It's only the human beings that make me downhearted.

Now here's as nice a Sunday as they turns out anywhere

and nobody making the right use of it.

'Lawd, you know I'm down here praying.'

Lawd, you know I ain't asked you for nothing for a long time.

There's people praying.

Oh, Lawd, the smokehouse is empty.

Oh, Lawd, let me get them groceries.

Oh, Lawd, let me see that little six.

'Wham!'

Gambling, and with frozen dice.

There's $1.50 talking for me. How much you want in, Flatfoot?

I take four bits. Wait, maybe I take a little more.

Hello, liver lips. Look at old liver lips.

Ain't his pockets high from the ground?

Old high pockets.

Come on, you gonna feed me or not? Hey!

Why, you just a little boy, gambling and sinning

and chewing tobacco, like you was your own pappy

and you've been drinking sonny kick mammy wine, too.

You gamblers oughta be ashamed of yourself

leading this boy to sin.

Why, he's the best crapshooter in town.

Does your mammy know what you's doing?

Can you beat him, high pocket, there's a dollar open here.

I ain't going to beat him. I must teach him.

I may have to teach you all.

If you find my mammy, you can do more.

His mammy ran off last week with a railroad man. She eloped.

Who wants any part of the dollar?

Fortune told, honey?

Where did you get this nice horse?

I stole it.

Nice horse.

- Morning, brother. - Morning.

I declare, you look like a good man.

Oh, I try to be. I'm the preacher here.

I don't believe I seen you at the meeting this morning.

I just got in town a while ago, I been pretty busy.

Most everybody say they pretty busy

so busy they can't come to meeting.

Today, there wasn't a single member for the choir.

There I was, just preaching to me.

Well, the people perfectly healthy, ain't they?

Oh, they're healthy, alright. They just lazy and full of sin.

Ain't you a preacher, too, brother?

Yes, I is in a way.

Well, I live right here.

Why don't you company us for dinner?

Believe the old lady has killed a chicken.

Well, now, that's mighty nice of you, brother..

I don't believe I caught your name.

Uh, Noah, just Noah. Come right in, brother.

This is the old lady.

This gentleman's a preacher, too, honey.

That's fine. You just catch me when I'm getting dinner ready.

Got a chicken in the pot. It'll be ready in five minutes.

I'll go call Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

They is our sons. They lives right across the way.

But they always have Sunday dinner with us.

You mens make yourselves comfortable.

Thank you. Thank you very kindly.

You got a fine wife, brother Noah.

She's a pretty good woman.

Yes, sir, and a mighty nice little home.

- Have a ten cent cigar? - Thank you.

Sit right down. Sit right down there.

Noah, just what seems to be the main trouble with mankind?

Well, the main trouble is the whole district is wide open.

That makes for loose living.

The menfolk spend all their time fighting

loafing, gambling and making bad liquor.

What about the women?

The women is worse than the men.

If they ain't making love powder, they're out

beg, borrowing, stealing money for the policy ticket.

Doggone, I come in to church Sunday before last

about a hour before the meeting was to start

and there was a lady stealing the altar cloth.

She was gonna hock it. They ain't got no moral sense.

Terrible! Terrible!

Yes, sir, and this used to be a nice, decent community

it seems like every time I preach the word

the place goes a little more to the dogs.

The good Lawd only knows what's gonna happen to 'em.

That is the truth.

- What's the matter? - Uh, got a little twitch.

My buck leg, I guess 'cause every now and then

it gets a little twitch in the knee.

Might be a sign of rain.

That's just what it is.

What's the most rain you've ever had around these parts?

Well, the water come down steady for about six days last April.

The river got so swollen it bust down the levee up above Freeport.

Rains came all the way down the delta.

What would you to say was it to rain for 40 days and 40 nights?

Well, I'd say that was a complete rain.

Noah, you don't know who I is, do you?

Oh, the face is easy, but I don't recall the name.

I should have known you, Lawd.

I should have seen the glory.

That's alright, Noah. You didn't know who I was.

I's just old preacher Noah, Lawd, and I is your servant.

I ain't very much, but I is all I got.

'Now you sit down, Noah'

and don't let me hear you shaming yourself

'cause you is a good man.

As far as I can see you and your family is the only

respectable people in the world.

They just all poor sinners, Lawd.

Yeah, I know.

And I'm a God of wrath and vengeance.

That's why I'm going to destroy this world.

Anything you say, Lawd.

Noah, I want you to build me a boat

and I want you to call it "The Ark"

and I want it to look like this.

Take two of every kind of animal and bird there is in the country.

I want you to take seeds and sprouts and put them on that Ark

'cause there is gonna be all that rain.

There's going to be a deluge, Noah and there's gonna be a flood.

The levees is going to bust and everything

that's fastened down is going to come loose.

But they ain't gonna float long

'cause I'm gonna make a storm that'll sink everything

from a hencoop to a barn.

There ain't a ship on the sea that'll be able to fight that.

They all got to go.

Everything! Everything in this pretty world I've made.

Except one thing, Noah.

You and your family and the things I said

is going to ride that storm in the Ark.

And here's the way it's to be.

Yes, sir. This seems to be complete.

Uh, now, about the animals, you say you want everything?

Two of everything.

Uh, that would include giraffes and hippopotamuses?

- Two of everything there is. - There was a circus in town.

I guess, I can find them.

Course I can get all the rabbits and possums

and wild turkeys easier.

Just send the boys out.

But I was just wondering.

- About what? - About snakes.

You think you might like snakes, too?

- Of course I want snakes. - I can get snakes, lots of 'em.

Course, some of 'em is a little dangerous.

Maybe I better take a keg of liquor, too.

You can have a keg of liquor.

Yes, sir, there sure is lots of different kind of snakes

come to think of it.

There's cottonmouths, water moccasins, rattlers.

There must be 100 different kind of snakes down in the swamps.

Maybe I better take two kegs of liquor.

- I think the one keg is enough. - No, I better take two kegs.

I can put one on each side of the boat and balance the ship

as well as having 'em for medicinal uses.

You can put one keg in the middle of the ship.

It's just as easy to take two kegs, Lawd.

I think the one keg is enough.

Yes, I know, Lawd, but you see 40 days and 40 nights..

'One keg, Noah.'

Yes, Lawd, one keg.

- 'Shem!' - 'Yes, sir, daddy.'

- 'Ham!' - 'Yes, sir, daddy.'

- 'Japheth!' - 'Yes, sir, daddy.'

I been checking the livestock again.

There's just one thing missing in the A's.

'What'd you find out about these here?'

'The circus people said they didn't have any.'

Guess we'll have to order them from De Lawd, too.

"Buffalos, bedbugs, butterflies."

Guess that winds up the "B's."

- The bees! - That's right, two bees.

- Pretty near suppertime, daddy. - Yeah, but we gotta keep going.

You got to keep it working all night, Noah, maybe, huh?

If the spirit moves me.

Don't you know the people are saying you're crazy?

What do you think you're doing, anyway?

I's building a ark.

"Foxes, fireflies, fleas."

There's Mrs. Noah and her daughter-in-laws.

You know the whole family's crazy.

Noah, do you know your old lady's telling everybody

it's going to rain 40 days and 40 nights?

I don't care what you think.

There it is, baby. Was I lying?

Well, I'll be split in two.

What do you think of it, Flatfoot?

I must say, it looks like a house with a whooping cellar.

This here vessel's a boat.

When I was a little boy, they built the boats

down near the river where the water was.

This time it's been arranged

to have the water come up to the boat.

There's the old fool and his monument just like I said.

Uh-oh!

- Now it's going to start. - Watch this.

- Hello, honey. - Hello, sugar.

Is that my old friend Flatfoot with you?

- Why, so it is. He's got a gun! - No, I ain't.

I guess he ain't.

No, I ain't got no gun for my old friend Flatfoot.

Hi, Cain, how the boy?

But I got a little knife for him!

'I knew that was coming.'

You sure take care of me, honey.

That's 'cause I think you is worth it.

That's alright, folks.

I just had to do a little cleaning up.

Be quiet!

You better pray, you poor children.

You mean, you better pray. You better pray for rain.

That's just what I ain't doing, sinners.

Listen!

Shem! Japheth!

I believe it is gonna rain a little.

- Just little shower. - Going home. Got a new hat on.

Me, too. I want to keep looking nice for my sweet papa.

Ham! Is you ready with them animals?

Yes, sir, pappy. They all here.

Tell them to line up! God's given his sign!

Alright, pappy.

Everybody, stay in line there!

Get back, you hogs, back in the H's behind the giraffes.

Dad, a couple of weasels got loose!

Fill them up any which way!

I got the bees, pappy!

Okay, Lawd, we's all aboard.

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, Lord ♪♪

Here's the little dove back with the greenery in his mouth.

You fly in and tell the others.

Thank you, Lawd. Thank you very kindly. Amen.

You're welcome, Noah.

Oh, Lawd, it's wonderful.

I sorta like it.

I likes the way you handle the ship too.

- Was you watching me, Lawd? - Every minute.

What's the orders now?

- Is all the animals safe? - They is fine and dandy.

Then open the starboard door and leave 'em out.

Have the family to take all the seeds and sprouts

and begin planting.

I'm startin' all over, Noah.

Right away, Lawd.

Gabriel, can you spare a minute?

'Yes, sir, Lawd.'

Well, it's did.

So, I see.

Don't seem to set you up much.

Well, Lawd, ain't none of my business.

Of course, it ain't. It's my business.

It was my idea.

Every bit of it is my business and nobody else's.

You know this thing has turned into quite a proposition.

I only hope it's gonna work out alright.

And did it work out?

'No, it didn't.'

The minute De Lawd turned his back

there they was, bad as ever.

What did the poor Lawd do then?

Oh, he let 'em go on for a spell.

Then one day he looked down from heaven

and what he see, he don't like at all.

That's 46 thunderbolts since breakfast.

De Lawd must be mad for sure this mornin'.

I wonder where he's pitching 'em.

Everyone of 'em is bound for the Earth.

You mean that little old draining place?

Carrie, don't you know that the Earth has a new scandal?

Everybody's talkin' about it.

De Lawd is mad as can be at the measly little planet.

Oh, I should say scum disown it.

That's mankind down there.

They must be scum too to get de Lawd so worked up.

He's certainly lettin' 'em feel the wrath.

Ain't it a shame to plague De Lawd that way?

They've been beggin' for what they gettin'.

My brother flew down to bring up a saint.

And he says from what he can see

most of the population down there has made the devil their king

and they're workin' in three shifts for him.

Them human beings will make anybody boil over.

Why don't De Lawd let us ladies fix up his office nice.

Wouldn't take a minute to make this desk gold plated.

I guess he keeps his private office

just plain and simple on purpose.

Everything else in heaven is so fine and glare.

Maybe every now and then

he just gets sick and tired of the glory.

Good morning, daughters.

Good morning, Lawd, we is all finished.

Good morning, Gabriel.

Good morning, sisters.

What's the total?

18,960 for the mornin'.

And that's including the village with the fortune tellers.

They certainly can breed fast.

They displeases me greatly. Look at 'em there.

Squirmin' and fightin' and bearing false witness.

Why did I ever make 'em?

Should I get some more thunderbolts?

No, they don't do no good.

It's gotta be somethin' else.

Or how would it be if you was to doom 'em all again

like that time you set down the flood.

I bet that would make them mind.

You know how much good the flood did.

How about cleanin' up the whole mess up

and startin' all over again with some new kinda animal?

And admit that I'm licked.

Oh, no, of course not, Lawd.

It ain't right for me to give up tryin' to do somethin' with 'em.

Doggone mankind must be alright at the core.

Else why did I bother in the first place?

It's just that I hate to see you worryin' about it, Lawd.

Gabe, they ain't nothing worthwhile nowhere.

that didn't cause somebody some worry.

I never told you the trouble I had gettin' things started up here.

Yes, sir, the more I keeps on bein' De Lawd

the more I know I gotta keep 'em provin' things.

The main trouble is, mankind takes up so much of my time.

He oughta be able to help hisself a little.

Hey, there, I think I got it.

Uh, what's the news?

Gabriel, did you notice that every now and then mankind

turns out some pretty good specimens.

They wouldn't come flyin' up here if they hadn't been.

Yes, sir, doggone it, the good man is the man that keeps busy.

I put the first one there to take care of that garden.

Then I'll let him go ahead and do nothin' but be mischievous.

That's it.

He ain't built just to fool around and not do nothin'.

Gabriel, I'm gonna try a new scheme.

Round up Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

'We get 'em, Lawd.'

- Uh, what's the scheme, Lawd? - I'll tell you later.

Go and tell them to put them thunderbolts back in the boxes.

I ain't gonna. use them for sometime

Okay, Lawd.

'Gabe, wait a minute.'

- Was you going by the big pit? - I could go.

Lean over the brink and tell old Satan he's just a plain fool

if he thinks he can beat me.

Yes, oh, Lawd.

Then I'll spit right in his eye.

That new polish on the sun makes it powerful hot.

Let it be just a little bit cooler.

That's nice.

Come in.

Sorry we's so long coming, Lawd.

But pappy and me had to give the boy a can of wing ointment.

- What was the matter, son? - They were chafing me a little.

They're fine now, thank you, Lawd.

That's good.

Now you boys just sit down and make yourselves comfortable.

Thank you, Lawd.

You is about the three best boys

of the same family that come up here

since I made little apples.

And I've decided to turn over to your descendants

the biggest and the best piece of property in the whole world.

Now you boys knows what's down there.

Where do you think it is?

If you ask me, Lawd, I don't think they come any better

than the land of Canaan.

The land of Canaan, yes, that's a likely neighborhood.

Of course there's Philistines there now.

But we'll clean that up.

Who do you think is the best one

to put in charge down there?

Do you want the brainiest or the holiest, Lawd?

I want the holiest. I'll make him brainy.

Well, if you want a number one goodness, Lawd

I don't know where you'll get more satisfaction

than in a great, great, great, great grandson of mine.

'Where is he at?'

I believe he's in the sheep business down in Midian Parish.

Over in Egypt he killed a man that was abusin'

our people in the brickworks.

You know, old King Pharaoh

has got all our people in bondage.

I hear of it.

Who do you think put them there?

'Oh, that's alright. I'm gonna take 'em out of it.'

I'm gonna turn over the whole land of Canaan to you.

You know who's gonna lead 'em there?

You great, great, great, great grandson.

- His name is Moses, ain't it? - Yes, Lawd.

'I've been watchin' him, and I knows he ain't a bad boy.'

Quite a favor for the family, Lawd.

That's why I told you.

It so happens I love your family.

And I delights to honor it.

- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning, Lawd.

- Enjoy yourselves. - Yes, dear, Lawd.

- Yes, dear, Lawd. - Yes, sir, Lawd.

I'm comin' down there, Moses.

And this time my schemes got to work.

That's funny.

Sun seem to be shinin' every place but right here.

Why ain't there no clouds up there?

'Cause I want it to be like that, Moses.'

Who's that?

'It's De Lawd, Moses.'

That's what you're sayin'.

This here shadow may be De Lawd's work.

But that voice sound pretty much to me

like a little echo or somethin'.

'Then keep your eyes open, son.'

'Maybe you noticed the bush ain't burned up.'

That's the truth.

'Now do you believe?'

Yes, sir, Lawd.

It's wonderful.

'No, it ain't, Moses. It's just a trick.'

Excuse me for doubtin' you, Lawd.

I always had the feelin' you was takin' care of me.

But I never suspected you'd find the time

to talk with me personally.

That was a good trick, Lawd.

I've seen some good ones.

B-but that was the beatenest.

You're gonna see lots bigger tricks than that, Moses.

In fact, you're gonna perform 'em.

Oh, me? I is gonna be a tricker?

- Yes. - And do magic?

Lawd, my mouth ain't got quick talk that goes with it.

It'll come to you now.

Is I going with a circus?

'You're going down to Egypt, Moses.'

And lead my people out of bondage.

And to do that, I'm gonna make you the best tricker in the world.

Egypt? You know I killed a man down there, Lawd.

Won't they kill me?

Not when they see your tricks.

- You ain't scared, is you? - No, sir, Lawd.

'Then here's what I'm gonna do.'

I'm sick and tired of the way old King Pharaoh

is treatin' my children, Moses.

And you're gonna lead 'em away.

You're gonna lead 'em out and across the river Jordan.

And it's gonna take a long time.

And you ain't going on no excursion train.

You're gonna work awfully hard

for somethin' you's gonna find when the trip is over.

- Oh, what's that, Lawd? - The Land of Canaan.

Of course old Pharaoh, he'll say no.

Not when he sees your tricks.

They tell me he's awfully fond of tricks.

I hear that's all he's fond of.

They say if you can't take a rabbit out of a hat

you can't even get in to see him.

'Wait till he see the trick we gonna show him.'

Doggone, huh, Lawd?

Yes, sir. Now the first trick--

Oh, just a minute, Lawd.

Now I'm gonna do just what you want me to.

I know it's gonna take time to learn all that quick talking.

Can't my brother Aaron go with me? He's a good man.

He is gonna help you with the Exodus.

I guess he can watch too.

- I'll call him. - Wait, I'll bring him.

Aaron.

- Hey. - It's alright.

Don't worry, son. I'm just tryin' some tricks.

And bringin' you here was one of 'em.

Now then..

...you see this hay cane?

It looks just like an ordinary walking stick.

- Don't it? - Yes, sir, Lawd.

Well, it ain't no ordinary walkin' stick.

Just look what happens when I lays it on the ground.

♪ Let my people go ♪♪

'Old King Pharaoh sits on his throne.'

We opens the meeting with the reports

from my confidential magician.

- Uh, good mornin', professor. - Morning.

How's the killer of the babies

amongst the Hebrews comin' along?

Just like you ordered. We killed about a thousand last night.

- That's pretty good. - Um, that's fair.

But I finds I ain't satisfied though.

There ain't nothing meaner than killing the babies, king.

Oh, there must be somethin'. Put your brains on it.

I tell you what I can do.

All of the Hebrews that ain't in the burial grounds

is laboring over in the brickworks.

How would it be to take the straw away from them

and tell they gotta turn out just as many bricks as usual.

Ain't that nasty?

Well, that's pretty trifling.

But go try it for the time being. Oh, wait a minute.

If any of 'em say they can't make the bricks that way

chop off their hands.

Now you is gettin' somewhere.

'Any newcomers today?'

Just these two country boys.

Oh, what you boys got to demonstrate?

We's got a wonderful walking stick, old King Pharaoh.

'Oh, what does it do?'

You can see for yourself.

'It's a snake.'

'Look at it squirm.'

He's the devil's baby.

That is a good trick.

Now turn it back into a walking stick again.

'They sure is trickers.'

'That's alright, alright.'

Oh, oh.

It made the round trip.

- What do you know? - Well, knock me down.

You is good trickers.

How come you never showed up at the palace before now?

We just come to town, old King Pharaoh.

Uh, what's your name?

Mine is Moses. This is my brother Aaron.

'Hebrews!'

They's Hebrews.

Is you Hebrews?

'Yes, sir.'

Put them to the sword.

You can't get in that circle.

- 'Did you feel that?' - 'What was that?'

- 'He couldn't hit him.' - My hands are stinging.

What's the idea here?

Real magicians, old King Pharaoh.

Oh, we've got some here too.

Where is the head trick of the land of Egypt?

I is here.

Now, we'll see who's got the best magic.

Come on. Give these boys the gri-gri.

No, he won't.

'Well, will you look at that?

What's the matter? They're laughin' at you.

Something got in the way of the spell.

You mean they got even you beat?

They have got a new kind of magic.

It got electricity in it.

Well that may make a little difference.

You boys is okay.

I suppose you know that I's a fool for conjuring.

If a man show me a trick I ain't never seen before

I do him a favor.

Any favor?

Name your fancy.

Let the Hebrew children go.

'Listen to him.'

What did you say?

Let the Hebrew children go.

- That's the limit. - Insultin' the king.

Don't you know that the Hebrews is my slaves?

I hate 'em.

All week I've been killin' the babies.

Ain't been five minutes ago

since I gave order to chop off their hands

if they can't make bricks without straw.

Let me see some more of your tricks.

I got one more trick, didn't name to work it unless I has to.

'Cause when I does this one, I can't undo it.

Work it. And I'll trick you right back.

You about the best tricker I ever seen, Moses.

But I can out-trick you any time of the day.

It ain't only me going to work this trick, but me and De Lawd.

- 'Who?' - De Lawd, God of Israel.

I can out-trick you and De Lawd, too.

Now yous done it, Old King Pharaoh.

Yous been mean to his people and he's been easy on you

in case you didn't know no better.

You been giving a lot of say-so and no do-so

and I didn't mind that.

But now you got to bragging about yous better than De Lawd

and that's too many!

He talks like a preacher.

And I ain't never liked no preachers.

You ain't gonna like it when I strikes down

the oldest boy in every one of your people's houses!

Listen, I is Pharaoh. I do the striking down here.

I strikes down my enemy.

Ain't no one in all Egypt can kill

who they wants to except me.

No, no, no, Pharaoh, Let them go.

You heard my word!

'Now... no more tricks, or I'll--'

Lawd, you'll have to do it, I guess.

Aaron, lift that rod!

'Oh, he did it.'

What you done here? Where's my boy?

'He killed my boy.'

King Pharaoh, here is your son.

'Oh, he did it.'

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

Oh, my son! My fine son!

I'm sorry, Pharaoh, but you can't fight De Lawd.

Will you let his people go?

Let them go.

♪ Let my people go ♪♪

♪ Lord I don't feel ♪

♪ No-ways tired childaren ♪

♪ Oh, glory hallelujah ♪

♪ For I hope to shout glory ♪

♪ When dis worl' is on fire Chillen ♪

♪ Oh, glory hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah ♪

♪ Lord I don't feel ♪

♪ No-ways tired Childaren ♪

♪ Oh, glory hallelujah ♪

♪ For I hope to shout glory ♪

♪ When dis worl' is on fire chillen ♪

♪ Oh glory hallelujah.. ♪♪

- What's the matter? - Why did they stop?

- It ain't sundown yet. - What they blowing for?

It's Moses. Something's happened to Moses.

- Oh, my goodness! - Oh!

'Moses?'

- What's the matter, Moses? - I so weary.

All at once, Aaron For 40 years, I've been leading you.

I led you out of the land of Egypt.

I led you past Sinai and through the wilderness.

Oh, I can't fall down on you now.

It's been a hard day.

The sun's gone down, ain't it?

'The sun ain't gone down, brother.'

- No? Then it's my eyes. - He's gone blind!

Oh, Lawd, they can't have a blind man leading them.

- Aaron, is it the time? - How you mean?

De Lawd said, I was to lead them to the Jordan.

That I was to see the Promised Land and that's all the further

I could go on account of I broke the law.

A while back, I did see a river ahead

and a land on the other side.

- 'There they are!' - 'Here come the scouts!'

- Scout's back! - Where's the troop's leader?

- Where's Joshua? - Here he come.

The river Jordan is right ahead

and Jericho is just on the other side!

Moses, we's there!

Hooray!

At last.

Joshua, you gonna take the city of Jericho before sundown.

But it's a big city, Father Moses

with walls all around it. Is we got enough men?

What should he do, Lawd?

Move up to the walls with our people.

Tell the priests to go with you with the ram's horns.

You starts marching round them walls..

And then..

Yes, sir?

...De Lawd will take charge.

...just like he's took charge

every time I've led you against a city.

He ain't never failed, has he?

'No, Father Moses.'

And he ain't gonna fail us now.

Oh, Lawd, I'm turning over all our brave young men to you..

'cause I knows you don't want me to lead them no further.

Just like you said..

I's got to the river Jordan and I can't get over it.

And here they's going now to take the city of Jericho.

In a little while, they'll be marching round it

and will you please be so good as to tell them what to do?

Amen.

Amen.

Go ahead.

Give the signal, that they moving on with everything.

You camps for the night in the city of Jericho.

What about you, Father Moses?

I'm staying behind. De Lawd has got his plans for me.

Sound the signal to march.

♪ Oh Lord I don't feel.. ♪

Take care of the Ark of the Covenant, Aaron.

I will.

- Goodbye, my brother. - Goodbye, Aaron.

Goodbye, children.

♪ When dis worl' is on fire chillen ♪

♪ Oh glory hallelujah ♪

♪ Oh Lord I don't feel ♪

♪ No-ways tired Childaren ♪

♪ Oh glory Hallelujah ♪

♪ For I hope to shout glory ♪

♪ When dis world is on fire chillen.. ♪♪

Well, Lawd, here I is.

The children has gone into the Promised Land..

...but you is with me, ain't you, Lawd?

Of course I is.

I guess I is through just like you said I'd be, Lawd

when I broke the tablets of De Lawd.

Just what was it I said to you, Moses? Do you remember?

That I couldn't go into the land of Canaan.

Moses, you angered me once

but in your heart yous been a good man.

Now you're going to have your own promised land.

I've been getting it ready for you for a long time.

- Can you stand up? - Yes, sir, Lawd.

Oh, come on, I'm gonna show it to you.

We's going up this hill to get to it.

It's a million times nicer than the land of Canaan.

- I can't hardly see. - Don't worry.

That's just 'cause you're so old.

Oh.

- What's the matter? - We can't be doing this.

I forgot about Joshua and the fighting men.

- What about them? - They is marching on Jericho.

I told them to march around the walls

and that De Lawd would be there to tell them what to do.

That's alright. He's there.

Then who is this helping me up the hill?

Your faith. Your God.

And is you over there helping them, too, Lawd?

Is you going to tell them poor children what to do?

Of course I is, Moses.

Listen, and I'll show you how I'mhelping them.

♪ Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho ♪

You did it, Lawd. You've tooken it.

Listen to the children. They's in the land of Canaan at last.

Oh, Lawd, you're the only god there ever was.

Ain't you, Lawd?

Come on, old man.

♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho ♪

♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪

♪ And the walls came tumbling down ♪

♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho ♪

♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪

♪ And the walls come tumbling down ♪♪

But even that scheme didn't work.

'Cause after they got into the land of Canaan

they went to the dogs again.

They even went into bondage again.

But this time, it was in the wicked city of Babylon.

What did they do that was so wicked?

They blasphemed and sinned against De Lawd

and a lots of things that you wouldn't understand yet.

Just a grown up knows what I mean.

Just like a all-night barrelhouse over in New Orleans, Mr. Clutty.

Mm-Hmm.

King, I want to bid you welcome in behalf of the management.

Much obliged. How is the revelry going?

- Oh, the sky's the limit. - Good.

I invited my friend, the High Priest of the Hebrews

to drop in later, you know what he looks like?

No, sir, but we'll be on the lookout.

He look like a grandpappy, but he knows his way around.

Okay, We'll have a little good times.

Let her go, boys.

Please the king. Please the king.

Hot fat! That's the way!

There ain't nobody in the world can squirm like the Babylon gals.

I'm glad I spotted you.

You'd have gone right by this place.

- The king's expecting you. - The king's expecting me?

Why, I don't know anybody in here.

I wouldn't have come in to such a place.

Stop! What's the idea of busting up my party?

Why, here's the high priest.

What? Why, the high priest is a fashion plate.

This is just a old drunk.

Why, of course. Throw this old drunk out of here.

'Wait a minute!'

What right you got busting into society?

What do you do for a living?

- I'm a prophet of De Lawd. - You is a prophet, is you?

Well, go ahead and prophecy.

Wait a minute. You heard the king.

Go ahead.

Sons and daughters of Babylon

the wrath of God ain't gonna be withheld much longer.

I'm telling you, repent, before it's too late.

Repent before Jehovah casts down upon you

that same fire that burned up Sodom and Gomorrah.

'Ye children of Israel that's given yourselves'

'over to the evil ways of your oppressors'

'repent before it's--'

Whoa, there!

What you bothering the king for?

You, the High Priest of all Israel

walk in to town with the scum of the Earth.

Seems to be a friend of yours, Jake.

He used to be a preacher but I kicked him out of the church.

He wasn't broad-minded.

Don't let him bother you none.

You have offended our Lawd..

...and he's going to smite you down

just like he's going to smite down all the rest of this wicked world.

Wait a minute. I'm getting tired of this.

Don't throw him out, shoot him down.

Oh, Lawd.

He's dead, King.

Don't know whether you should've done that, King.

'Why not?'

I dunno whether De Lawd would like it.

Now, Jake, you know that your Lawd ain't paying no attention

to this man's town.

Why, it's thoroughly protected by the gods of Babylon.

I guess I can square things up.

Lawd, please forgive my old friend, the King of Babylon.

He didn't know what he was doing. He was just--

'That's about enough!'

'I stood all I can from you.'

'I tried to make this a good Earth.'

'I helped Adam, and I helped Noah.'

'I helped Moses, and I helped David.'

'And what's the grain that grew out of the seeds?'

'Sin. Nothing but sin throughout the whole world.'

'I've given you every chance.'

'And now the High Priest of Israel' 'dares trifle with my name.'

'Listen, you children of darkness'

'your Lawd is tired.'

'I'm tired of the struggle to make you worthy'

'of the breath I gave you.'

'I put you in bondage again to save you'

'and you're worse than you was amongst the fleshpots of Egypt.'

'So I renounce you.'

'Listen to the words of your Lawd God Jehovah'

'for they is the last words you ever gonna hear from me.'

'I repent of these people I made'

'and I'll deliver them no more.'

- Who is it? - The delegation, Lawd.

Tell them to come in.

- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning, Lawd.

What can I do for you?

You know, Lawd. Go back to our people.

Every day for hundreds of years

you come in and ask the same thing.

The answer is still the same.

I repented of the people I made

and said I would deliver them no more.

- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning, Lawd.

Gabe, why do they do it?

I expect they think you're going to change your mind.

They don't know me.

And you down there don't know me, either.

Is something else wrong, Lawd?

It's a man.

He ain't exactly praying..

...but he's talking in such a way I got to listen.

His name is Hezdrel.

He's a man no one ever heard of.

I can hear his voice now.

Tell him to stop.

I find I don't wanna do that, even.

They's getting ready to take Jerusalem down there.

That was my big fine city.

This here man, Hezdrel, is just one of the defenders.

I ain't coming down. Does you hear me?

I ain't coming down.

Go along, Gabriel, and tend to your chores.

I'm going to be working here a while.

I hates to see you feeling like this, Lawd.

Oh, that's alright.

Even being God ain't no bed of roses.

I hear you. I know yous fighting bravely..

...but I done told you I ain't coming down there.

The fighting's stopped for the night, Hezdrel.

But it's gonna begin again at cockcrow.

King Herod said he's gonna take the temple tomorrow.

Burn the Ark of the Covenant, and put us all to the sword.

- Yous ready, ain't you? - Yes, Hezdrel.

Then take these wounded men here back and get them took care of.

So King Herod's going to burn the temple, is he?

Well, what if they do?

If they kills us we leaps out of our skins

right into the lap of God.

De Lawd will be here looking out for his people as usual.

Won't you, Lawd?

Why don't you leave me alone?

You know you ain't talking to me.

Is you talking to me?

I can't stand you talking that way.

I can only hear half what you say, and it puzzles me.

Don't you know you can't puzzle God?

You want me to come down very much?

You know, I said I wouldn't come down there.

Why don't he answer me a little?

Listen, I'll tell you what I'll do.

I ain't gonna promise you nothing

and I ain't gonna do nothing to help you.

I'm just feeling a little low.

But I'm only coming down there to make myself..

...feel a little better, that's all.

Why, he looks like the first one I made..

...like Adam.

But he ain't in no garden now.

- Hello, Hezdrel. - Who is you?

Don't you know?

- Is you a preacher? - Yes.

I've come a long ways to ask you something.

- What? - How come you all are so brave?

- 'Cause we's got faith. - Faith?

- In who? - In our dear Lawd.

But De Lawd said he was through with mankind.

You talking about that old God of wrath.

- We's got a new Lawd now. - Who said so?

Our preacher, old Mr. Hosea.

But you know there's only one God. Ain't there?

Maybe there is.

Maybe we just got tired of his appearance that old way.

What do you mean?

I mean that old God that walked the Earth

in the shape of a man.

I guess he lived with man so much till all he could see

was the sins in man.

'That's what made him a God of wrath.'

Of course, they's the same God.

He just ain't fearsome no more.

Now, he's a God of mercy.

Mercy?

How did you humans find out about mercy?

The only way we could find it.

The only way anyone can find it.

'How is that?'

Through suffering.

So that's what faith is.

Thank you, Hezdrel.

- For what? - For teaching me something.

I guess I been so far away

I was just way behind the times.

The cock's done crowed, Hezdrel. They started fighting again.

We's ready. Come on, boys!

This is the day they say they'll get us.

Let's fight until the last man. What do you say?

Let's go!

♪ You shall gain the victory ♪

♪ Beckon you to the promised land ♪

♪ You shall gain the day ♪

♪ Oh, Lord, and you shall gain the day ♪

♪ Oh, Lord, and you shall gain the day ♪

♪ Oh, Lord, and you shall gain the day ♪

♪ Rise and shine ♪

♪ And give Lord ♪

♪ Your glory glory ♪

♪ Rise and shine ♪

♪ And give Lord your glory glory ♪

♪ Rise and shine ♪

♪ And give Lord your glory glory ♪

You look a little pensive, Lawd.

- Want a cigar, Lawd? - No, thanks, Gabriel.

You look awful pensive, Lawd.

You've been sitting here, looking this way

a awful long time.

- Is it something serious, Lawd? - Very serious, Gabriel.

I'm just thinking.

What about, Lawd?

Something the boy Hezdrel told me

about Hosea and himself.

How they found mercy.

Mercy.

Through suffering, he said.

I'm trying to find it, too.

It's awful important, Gabriel, to all the people on my Earth.

Did he mean... that even God..

...must suffer?

Listen.

There's someone else on the Earth.

'Oh, look at him.'

'They're going to make him carry it up that high hill.'

'They're going to nail him to it.'

'Oh, that's a terrible burden for one man to carry.'

Yes!

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ God of mercy God of love ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ God of mercy God of love ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ God of mercy God of love ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ God of mercy God of love ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

♪ Hallelujah In Jesus ♪

We's going home, Mr. Clutty.

♪ God of love ♪♪