I'd Rather Be and Old-Time Christian- Melvin Wine

I'd Rather Be A Christian- Version 1
Melvin Wine 

I'd Rather Be an Old Time Christian Than Anything I Know

Old-Time Gospel Attributed to Albert Brumley copyright 1934

ARTIST: Melvine Wine; plus copyrighted lyrics by Brumley 1934

CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes; DATE: 1934;

RECORDING INFO: I'd Rather Be an Old Time Christian

Rt - Walking in Old-Time Religion
Blake, Norman and Nancy. Just Gimme Something I'm Use To, Shanachie 6001, Cas (1992), trk# 13
Wine, Melvin. Hannah at the Springhouse, Marimac AHS 2, Cas (1989), trk# 20
Wine, Melvin. Silberberg, Gene (ed.) / Complete Fiddle Tunes I Either Did or Did Not., Silberberg, Fol (2005), p 86

Walking in Old-Time Religion

Rt - I'd Rather Be an Old Time Christian
Reams, James;, Walter Hensley & the Barons of Bluegrass. James Reams, Walter Hensley, and the Barons of Bluegrass, Copper Creek CCCD 0214, CD (2002), trk# 13
 

OTHER NAMES: "I'd Rather Be an Old Time Christian" "Walking in Old-Time Religion"

SOURCES: Mudcat; Melvin Wine;

NOTES: 2/4 time key of D major; one part;

Melvin Wine learned the tune from an revival preacher named Tom Skinner, who rode his horse to revivals and other religious events. Wine recalled, "We was in a tent revival, and he would be singing it, shouting and patting his hands as he went." Wine recorded the tune as an instrumental and these are Wine's lyrics:

I'd Rather Be an Old Time Christian- Melvin Wine
On Hannah at the Springhouse

I'd rather be an old time Christian
And I want the world to know.
Goin' to be a Christian,
(With) a Christian love to show.
While walkin' down the  highway
And I'm telling everywhere  I go
That I'd rather be an old time Christian, Lord
Than anything else I know.

Wine didn't know the origin of the old hymn he had learned. It was copyrighted by Albert Brumley in 1934. Brumley copyrighted some traditional songs that he arranged and rewrote.

I'D RATHER BE AN OLD TIME CHRISTIAN (Than Anything I Know)
(Albert E. Brumley, 1934)

In this world I've tried most everything
And I'm happy now to say
There is nothing like religion
In the good old-fashioned way
I am walking in the old-time way
And I want the world to know
That I'd rather be an old-time Christian (Lord)
Than anything I know.

CHORUS: I'd rather be an old-time Christian (Lord)
Than anything I know.
There's nothing like an old-time Christian
With a Christian love to show.
I'm walking in the grand old highway
And I'm telling everywhere I go
That I'd rather be an old-time Christian (Lord)
Than anything I know.

There are many things I'd like to be
As my journey I pursue
I have longed to be a leader
Like a mortal man would do
I would like to be a millionaire
With a million to bestow
But I'd rather be an old-time Christian (Lord)
Than anything I know.

chorus

All the world is bright since I got right
Now I sing and pray and shout
All my burdens have been lifted
Since the Savior brought me out
I will tell the world both far and near
As I travel here below
That I'd rather be an old time Christian (Lord)
Than anything I know.

chorus