Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen is a spiritual. The song is well known and many cover versions of it have been produced, although the rendition by Louis Armstrong[1] is the best known.[citation needed] Marian Anderson had her first successful recording with a version of this song on the Victor label in 1925.[2] Lena Horne recorded a version of the song in 1946.[3] Deep River Boys recorded their version in Oslo on August 29, 1958. It was released on the extended play Negro Spirituals Vol. 1 (HMV 7EGN 27). The song was arranged by Harry Douglas.
Contents |
[edit] Traditional Lyrics
- Nobody knows the trouble I've seane
- Nobody knows my sorrow
- Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
- Glory hallelujah!
- Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down
- Oh, yes, Lord
- Sometimes I'm almost to the ground
- Oh, yes, Lord
- Although you see me going 'long so
- Oh, yes, Lord
- I have my trials here below
- Oh, yes, Lord
- If you get there before I do
- Oh, yes, Lord
- Tell all-a my friends I'm coming to HEAVEN!
- Oh, yes, Lord
[edit] Variations
- The second line ("Nobody knows my sorrow") is changed in some renditions to be "Nobody knows but Jesus".
[edit] In popular culture
- In the film Spaceballs (1987), Princess Vespa sings this while being held prisoner, revealing her bass singing voice.[4]
- In the film Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), Lt Proctor sings this song in prison while running a metal cup along the bars.
- In the 1994 season 1 finalé (episode 23) of seaQuest DSV entitled "Higher Power", the Mahalia Jackson 1954 cover of this song is played during the montage of a volleyball match between Calvin Shelley's "real navy" officers and some of the seaQuest crew.
- In Disney's The Lion King (1994), Zazu sings the first two lines; 'Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, Nobody knows my sorrow'.[5]
- In the pilot episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will smith plays this song on the piano.
- In the popular childrens show "Recess", Mickey sings the whole song in place of the US national anthem.
- In the 2006 stand up special Girth of a Nation. Ralphie May references midgets picking cotton while singing the song.
- In the 2010 episode The Bus Pants Utilization of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory, character Sheldon Cooper sings this song while playing a theremin.[6]
- In the E-Trade Baby series of commercials, the baby starts singing this song at the end of the Solitary commercial[7]
- In the popular web series Red vs. Blue, in the Season 3 bloopers, Private Grif sings the first line during the prison scene in Sidewinder.
[edit] References
- ^ Decca Records in the 2000 to 2499 series
- ^ Joel Whitburn, Pop Memories 1890-1954 (1986), Record Research Inc.
- ^ Black and White Records
- ^ imdb.com - Spaceballs (1987) - Memorable Quotes
- ^ imdb.com - The Lion King (1994) - Memorable Quotes
- ^ Transcript of The Big Bang Theory episode The Bus Pants Utilization
- ^ E-Trade Baby 'Solitary' commercial
