1930 single by Blind Willie Johnson
| "Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Blind Willie Johnson | |
| Released | c. 1930 |
| Recorded | Atlanta, Georgia, April 20, 1930 |
| Genre | Gospel blues |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Unknown |
"Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1930 by Blind Willie Johnson with backing vocals by Willis B. Harris, who may have been his first wife. The song was released in 1930 on Columbia 14597 as B-side to "Go with Me to That Land".
The chorus consists of the lines:
Everybody should treat a stranger right, long ways from home,
Everybody should treat a stranger right, a long way from home.
The verses comment on that idea, notably with reference to the Three Wise Men offering gifts to the Christ-child in the manger.
In 2018, Ry Cooder recorded the song for his album The Prodigal Son. He commented that it was "one of Blind Willie Johnson’s great songs – he’s the go to guy".
References
- "Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
- Charters, Samuel (1993). The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (CD booklet). Blind Willie Johnson. New York City: Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings. C2K 52835.
- ^ "Video Premiere: Ry Cooder "Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right" (Live in studio)". Relix. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
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