Variations, Oh Yes! – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett

Instrumentation: clarinet, piano

Duration: Approx. 4 minutes

Date Written:  2008

Composer’s note: 

Variations, Oh Yes! was commissioned by Dr. James Gholson, principal clarinetist in the Memphis Symphony for nearly forty years, and Professor Emeritus of Clarinet at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis. The spiritual Oh, Yes! has many verses. The shape of this arrangement was inspired by the following choices, the same ones I used in the choral arrangement that inspired Dr. Gholson to commission this one. 

Oh, yes! Oh, yes! 
Oh, wait till I put on my robe, 
wait till I put on my robe, 
wait till I put on my robe. 
Oh, yes! Oh, yes! 

I tell you, bretheren, a mortal fact:
if you want to get to heaven don’t ever look back. 
I want to know before I go, 
yea, whether you love-a the Lord or no. 
Ever since I have been newly born, 
I love to see God’s work go on.

 refrain – Oh, wait till I put on my robe.

 I was in the church and prayin’ loud, 
and on my knees to my Jesus bowed.
Ol’ Satan told me to my face, 
“I’ll get you when you leave-a this place!” 
Oh, brother, that scared me to my heart. 
I was afraid to walk when it was dark. 
I started home but I did pray, 
and I met ol’ Satan on the way. 
Ol’ Satan made-a one grab at me, 
but he missed my soul and I went free. 
My sins when lumb’rin’ down to hell, 
and my soul went a-leapin’ up Zion’s hill. 

refrain – Oh, wait till I put on my robe. 

If ever I land on the other shore,
I’ll never come here for to sing no more. 
All ‘round my waist a golden band, 
and the palms of vict’ry in my hand, 
and the golden slippers on my feet, 
gonna walk up and down that golden street. 

refrain – Oh, wait till I put on my robe.