You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond
{{More citations needed|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name = You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond
| cover = You'll Need Someone on Your Bond single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Blind Willie Johnson
| released = {{Start date|1930}}
| recorded = New Orleans, Louisiana, December 11, 1929
| genre = Gospel blues
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=05}}
| label = Columbia
| writer = Traditional or Blind Willie Johnson
}}
"You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" (later titled "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond") is a gospel song that is attributed to both tradition and to gospel blues musician Blind Willie Johnson. Johnson first recorded the song in December 1930, although Delta blues musician Charley Patton recorded a similar "You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die" in October 1929. Over the years, several other musicians have recorded renditions of the song.
Blind Willie Johnson
The lyrics of "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" deal with "the idea that we will all need a legally binding guarantee to gain access to heaven" and that Jesus as our advocate "will provide us with a guarantee or bond, if we follow His ways".{{quote without source|date=February 2024}}
Johnson sang the song on the streets of towns in Texas as both entertainment and a calling to adhere to the teachings of Jesus. As with many of his songs, "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" is performed with Johnson on lead vocals and slide guitar and an unknown female singer accompanying him on vocals. While it was first believed that his wife Angeline Johnson provided those backing vocals, it has since been refuted by Johnson's lead biographer. The second version, titled "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" is nearly identical to the first, with slightly more subdued vocals and backing vocal provided by Willie B. Harris, sometimes considered to be Johnson's first wife.
{{cite AV media notes
| title = The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
| others = Blind Willie Johnson
| year = 1993
| last = Charters
| first = Samuel
| authorlink = Samuel Charters
| type = CD booklet
| publisher = Columbia/Legacy
| id = C2K 52835
| pages = 22, 25–26
}}
Johnson recorded the first version of the song for Columbia Records as "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" on December 11, 1929, in New Orleans, Louisiana.{{cite web|url=https://www.wirz.de/music/johnsbw.htm|title=Illustrated Blind willie Johnson Discography|website=Wirz.de|access-date=May 30, 2021}} He later recorded a second version titled "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" on April 20, 1930, in Atlanta, Georgia, which was Johnson's last recorded song. The songs appear on several Johnson compilation albums – both are included on The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (1993).
Buffy Sainte-Marie version
In 1964, Buffy Sainte-Marie recorded "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" with slightly altered lyrics and included the song on her debut album, It's My Way!.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-my-way!-mw0000089256|title=It's My Way! - Buffy Sainte-Marie | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}} While her debut album did not chart, it proved influential to both the American and British folk communities.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} Sainte-Marie recorded the song on acoustic guitar without using a slide and sang without any backup vocals.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
Donovan version
{{Infobox song
| name = You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond
| type = single
| artist = Donovan
| album = What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid
| B-side = The Little Tin Soldier
| released = {{Start date|1965|11}} (US)
| recorded = 1965
| genre = Blues
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=04}}
| label = Hickory
| writer = Traditional or Blind Willie Johnson
| producer = *Terry Kennedy
- Peter Eden
- Geoff Stephens
| chronology = Donovan US
| prev_title = Universal Soldier
| prev_year = 1965
| next_title = To Try for the Sun
| next_year = 1966
}}
Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan recorded "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" in early 1965 for inclusion on his debut album What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/whats-bin-did-and-whats-bin-hid-mw0000215181|title=What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid - Donovan | Songs, Reviews, Credits|access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}} Since Donovan recorded a version of "Universal Soldier" after hearing it on Buffy Sainte-Marie's debut album, it is likely that he first heard "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" from the same source. Hickory Records released "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" backed with a cover of the song "The Little Tin Soldier" by Shawn Phillips, in November 1965 (Hickory 45–1375), but it did not appear in the singles chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/451375|title=Donovan - You're Gonna' Need Somebody On Your Bond|access-date=May 30, 2021|website=45cat.com}}
Other versions
Blues artists Roy Rogers and Norton Buffalo collaborated on a blues album, Travellin' Tracks, producing a remake of "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond", used for the TV series Dog the Bounty Hunter, S3E20 episode "Ticket to Ride", which first aired September 19, 2006.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Blind Willie Johnson}}
{{Donovan}}
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Category:Blind Willie Johnson songs