All language subtitles for The.Green.Pastures.1936.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG_3_English

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

[church bell tolling]

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.

(Mr. Deshee)
'"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!

(everyone)
Gabriel! Gabriel!

[indistinct chattering]

Gangway!

Gangway for De Lawd God Jehovah.

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

(female #1)
'I wonder what De Lawd
coming over here for.'

(female #2)
'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.

[indistinct chattering]

- 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!

[thunder rumbling]

[mellow music]

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

That's a lot of firmament.

(male #1)
'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.

[orchestral music]

Look at here!
Hey, look!

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah.
Hallelujah Lord ♪

♪ Hallelujah Lord ♪

[dramatic music]

- 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 ♪

[birds chirping]

[sighs]

- '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 ♪♪

[church bell tolling]

That's nice.

Nice and quiet.

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

[female humming]

Now that ain't so good.

[continues humming]

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.

[humming]

Bad business.

[birds chirping]

The birds is going
about their business alright.

And how you
little flowers making out?

(flowers)
We's okay, Lawd.

Yes, and you looking
mighty pretty, too.

(flowers)
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.

(male #2)
'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?

[indistinct chattering]

Fortune told, honey?

Where did you get this nice horse?

I stole it.

Nice horse.

[laughing]

- 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.

[thunder]

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..

[thunder]

'One keg, Noah.'

Yes, Lawd, one keg.

[indistinct chatter]

- '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.

[everybody laughing]

"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.

[everybody laughing]

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!

[girls shouting]

(female #3)
'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.

[everybody laughing]

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

[thunder]

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.

[dramatic music]

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 ♪

[indistinct singing]

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, moving Lord ♪

♪ Moving, moving, Lord ♪♪

[indistinct singing]

[singing continues]

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?

(Gabriel)
'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?

(Mr. Deshee)
'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.

[thunder]

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.

[thundering]

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.

(both)
Good morning, Lawd,
we is all finished.

(both)
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.

(Abraham)
'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.

(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.

[knocking on the door]

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.

(all)
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.

(Lawd)
'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.

(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.

[birds chirping]

That's funny.

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

Why ain't there
no clouds up there?

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

Who's that?

'It's De Lawd, Moses.'

[laughs]
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'.

(Lawd)
'Then keep your eyes open, son.'

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

That's the truth.

(Lawd)
'Now do you believe?'

Yes, sir, Lawd.

It's wonderful.

(Lawd)
'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?

(Lawd)
'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.

(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.

(Lawd)
'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.

[choir music]

♪ Let my people go ♪♪

[upbeat music]

[music continues]

(male announcer)
'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.

(Pharaoh)
'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.

(Pharaoh)
'Oh, what does it do?'

You can see for yourself.

[indistinct chattering]

(male #3)
'It's a snake.'

(male #4)
'Look at it squirm.'

[indistinct chattering]

He's the devil's baby.

That is a good trick.

Now turn it back
into a walking stick again.

(female #4)
'They sure is trickers.'

[indistinct chattering]

(male #5)
'That's alright, alright.'

Oh, oh.

It made the round trip.

[indistinct chattering]

- 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.

(male #6)
'Hebrews!'

They's Hebrews.

Is you Hebrews?

(Moses)
'Yes, sir.'

Put them to the sword.

[indistinct chattering]

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.

[indistinct chattering]

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

Come on. Give these boys
the gri-gri.

No, he won't.

(male #7)
'Well, will you look at that?

[laughing]

[indistinct chattering]

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.

(male #8)
'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!

[thunder rumbling]

[people screaming]

(female #5)
'Oh, he did it.'

[indistinct chattering]

What you done here?
Where's my boy?

(Pharaoh)
'He killed my boy.'

King Pharaoh, here is your son.

(female #6)
'Oh, he did it.'

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

♪ Oh God ♪

[indistinct singing]

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.. ♪♪

[trumpets blowing]

- 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.

[indistinct chattering]

- Oh, my goodness!
- Oh!

(male #2)
'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?

(Aaron)
'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!

(all)
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?

(all)
'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.

(all)
Amen.

Go ahead.

Give the signal, that they
moving on with everything.

[horn blowing]

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.

[horn blowing]

♪ 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.

[upbeat music]

[thunder rumbling]

♪ 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"]

♪ 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.

[upbeat music]

[crowd cheering]

Hot fat!
That's the way!

There ain't nobody in the world

can squirm like the Babylon gals.

[crowd cheering]

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.

[crowd laughing]

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

(King)
'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.

[all laughing]
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.

[gunshot]

[crowd screaming]

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--

[thunder roaring]

[crowd screaming]

[thunder rumbling]

(De Lawd)
'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.'

[indistinct singing]

- 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.

[explosions]

[horn blowing]

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.

[thunder rumbling]

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.

(Hezdrel)
'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.

[intense music]

[explosion]

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

We's ready.
Come on, boys!

[explosion]

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

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

(all)
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 ♪

[singing continues]

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.

(De Lawd)
'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 ♪♪

[instrumental music]

[music continues]