"Gospel Plow" (also known as "Hold On" and "Keep Your Hand on the Plow") is a traditional African American spiritual. It is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, number 10075. The title is biblical, based on

Luke People *Luke (given name), a masculine given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke (surname) (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as ...

br>9:62.

Recordings

* Duke Ellington at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival * The Folksmiths, including

Joe Hickerson Joseph C. Hickerson (born October 20, 1935, in Highland Park, Illinois) is a folk singer and songleader. A graduate of Oberlin College, for 35 years (1963–1998) he was Librarian and Director of the Archive of Folk Song at the American Folklife ...

- ''We've Got Some Singing To Do'' 1958 *

Odetta Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, lyricist, and a civil rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire co ...

on ''Odetta at Carnegie Hall 1961 *

Clara Ward Clara Mae Ward (April 21, 1924 – January 16, 1973) was an American gospel singer who achieved great artistic and commercial success during the 1940s and 1950s, as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward adopted ...

and Her Singers 1962 *

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

on '' his self-titled debut album'' 1962 * Peggy Lee - '' 2 Shows Nightly'' 1968 *

Screaming Trees Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1984 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time ...

- ''

Dust Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution. Dust in ho ...

'' 1996 *

Old Crow Medicine Show Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been recording since 1998. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2013. Their ninth album, '' Remedy'', released in 2014, won the ...

- ''Greetings from WAWA'' - 2000 *

The Hackensaw Boys The Hackensaw Boys are a string band based in central Virginia that formed in 1999. The band has drawn on many musical influences and are " own best for rowdy, energetic live shows." They have performed at Bonnaroo, Lockn', FloydFest, and the All ...

- ''Look Out'' - 2007 *

Charlie Parr Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician. Born in Austin, Minnesota, he spent part of his childhood in Hollandale before starting his music career in Duluth. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, Dave ...

- ''Keep Your Hands On The Plow'' - 2011 *

Uncle Sinner An uncle is usually defined as a male relative who is a sibling of a parent or married to a sibling of a parent. Uncles who are related by birth are second-degree relatives. The female counterpart of an uncle is an aunt, and the reciprocal relat ...

- ''Ballads and Mental Breakdowns'' - 2008 *

Elizabeth Cook Elizabeth Cook (born July 18, 1972) is an American country music singer and radio host. She has made over 400 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry since her debut on March 17, 2000, despite not being a member. Cook, "the daughter of a hillbilly s ...

- ''Gospel Plow'' - 2012 *

Moses Hogan Moses George Hogan (March 13, 1957 – February 11, 2003) was an American composer and arranger of choral music. He was best known for his settings of spirituals. Hogan was a pianist, conductor, and arranger of international renown. His works ...

- ''The Moses Hogan Choral Series 2003: This Little Light of Mine'' *

Slim Cessna's Auto Club Slim Cessna's Auto Club is an American country music, country band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 1992, the band is known for lyrics which describe apocalypse, apocalyptic and religious imagery. History Formation Original lineup The sole ...

- ''Always Say Please & Thank You'' (2000) * Chance McCoy - ''Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band'' (2008) * Vondie Curtis-Hall 2019 Official soundtrack Harriet

Published versions

* Alan Lomax and

John A. Lomax John Avery Lomax (September 23, 1867 – January 26, 1948) was an American teacher, a pioneering musicologist, and a folklorist who did much for the preservation of American folk music. He was the father of Alan Lomax, John Lomax Jr. and Bess ...

''Our Singing Country'' 1941 (pp 44–45)

References

Bob Dylan songs Year of song unknown African-American spiritual songs Songwriter unknown {{folk-song-stub

Recordings

Published versions

See also

References