See Me Wear This Ring
Taken from Trip Three of my current project:
Beam Me Back to Bible Days
* * * * *
That devil’s been givin’ me trouble
Since I’ve been born again
But since I read my Bible
It showed me ways that I could win
God took this sad-faced sorry son of a gun
Made me one of His chosen sons
See me wear this ring
I’m a child of the King
And the devil can’t get me down
No-o-o-o
And the devil can’t get me down!
* * * * *
So many folks a-moanin’ and groanin’
Only faith can set them free
To get out of a jam
Open wide your hand
You’ll attract prosperity
Oh, won’t you come share a blessing with me
Plant a money seed to meet your need
Plant a blessing seed
Be a child of the King
And the devil won't get you down
No-o-o-o
And the devil won't get you down!
* * * * *
If you're down to your last penny
Sow a seed and you'll receive
Go out and borrow more money
Make a vow out of your need
Just mail more mites like the widow
And your blessings will overflow
Make a vow of faith
And you'll make no mistake
And that devil won't keep you down
No-o-o-o
And that devil won't keep you down!
* * * * *
Ben belted out this refrain, in an operatic tone:
When old Sluefoot comes a-callin'
To pinch my dollars and dimes
Get your hooks off my dollars I HOLLER-R-R-R
You dirty rotten bucket of slime!
I’m a-buildin’ a mansion in glory
With bricks of gorgeous green
The ritziest palace is a-waitin’ for me
That eye hath ever seen
No devil in hell can stop me
From livin’ like a king
See me wear this watch
I've come out on the top
'Cause no devil could keep me down
No-o-o-o
'Cause old sluefoot can't keep me down!
* * * * *
Ben danced and sang to synthesized bagpipe chords and a throbbing drumbeat:
You’ll feel so good if you give like you should
Cast your wampum on the waters now
Don’t you grumble just hustle
Make them dollars rustle
Toss ‘em into the bucket now
Better stop and think
Don’t you make a clink
Only birds oughta go cheep cheep!
See me wear this ring
I’m a child of the King
And the devil can’t get me down
No-o-o-o
And the devil can’t get me down!
* * * * *
A swirling harp intro launched Ben on this verse:
I got a great big piece of blessing pie
You can see before your eyes
I got a great big castle in the skies
In a land where no one dies
I got cars and stars in my glory crown
You’ll never see this feller frown
See me wear this ring
I'm a child of the King
And the devil can't get me down
No-o-o-o
And the devil can't get me down!
* * * * *
A gentle o-o-o-o-ing aria from the choir, a muted twinkling of blue stage lights, a somber reflective look on Ben’s face, then he earnestly sang:
Faith gives me showers of power
To shout and dance and sing
If ya got a need
Just plant a seed
The buckets are a-comin’ round
Make a joyful noise
All ye girls and boys
Get a star in your glory crown
And you'll get the ring
Of a child of the King
And the devil won't get you down
No-o-o-o
And the devil won't get you down!
* * * * *
An abrupt brightening of the lights, then a rolypoly man, dressed in a red-striped shirt and straw hat skittered onstage. He bowed to the audience, then strummed a ukulele to Ben’s frantic plea:
If you’re in a pickle
Don’t fiddle with nickels
Take a tenner from your wallet now
If ya wanna have plenty
Just toss in twenty
And I don’t mean peanuts, pal
Write a big fat check
Go to heaven, not heck
Put your money where your mouth is now
See me wear this ring
I’m a child of the King
And the devil can’t get me down
No-o-o-o
And the devil can’t get me down!
* * * * *
Ben’s voice swelled up into a brassy refrain:
When ol’ sluefoot comes a-callin’
To cause commotion within
Get your hooks off my dollars I HOLLER-R-R-R-R
You dirty rotten sack of sin!
I’m gonna sing and shout
Cast the devil out
With a mighty cry of victory
Gonna tell the story
To the saints in Glory
How I left a life of poverty
O won't you come and join with me
In the great glad jubilee
Plant your blessing seed
Be a child of the King
And the devil won't keep you down
No-o-o-o
And the devil won't keep you down!
* * * * *
Ben scratched his head and said: “Honest Injun, folks, I'm tryin' to stop, but I absolutely swear I’ll shut up after I share just one more secret for successful livin’...
A guy in a straw hat and patched overalls moseyed onstage, strumming his banjo at frantic speed as Ben sang his fastest:
If ya wanna be a winner
Don’t be a sinner
Cast your wampum on the waters now
Pass the buckets round
Make a joyful sound
Be a joyful jolly giver now
Bring all your cares to the man upstairs
And he’ll shower you with your fair share
See me wear this ring
I’m a child of the King
And the devil can’t get me down
No-o-o-o…
Ben whirled on his heel and boomed out his finale with a blast from his big brass band:
And the devil can’t get me dow-ow-ow-own
Down! Dow-ow-ow-own! YEAH!
