Maria Muldaur: Somebody Was Watching Over Me

It’s Spiritual Sunday and today’s song was written by Brenda Burns and performed by Maria Muldaur - “Somebody Was Watching Over Me.”

This great little gospel influenced number has Maria Muldaur on lead vocals during the first half of the verse and then the verse's second half contains a duet featuring Maria and Bonnie Raitt.

In addition, the chorus' all-star studded choir consisting of Muldaur, Raitt, Mavis Staples (of the Staples Singers), Ann Peebles, and others is reminiscent of an inner-city revival service on a hot Friday night in August.  Can I get witness?

LYRICS

I’ve been shot up and took down;
I’ve been turned away and turned around
With nobody to call my own;
In this mean old world alone.
Many, many nights I cried;
Somebody was on my side;
Down in my soul I knew that. . .
somewhere, somehow - yes, too well;
Lookin’ back now I see, somebody was watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

I’ve been locked up and locked out;
I’ve been used and abused and didn’t know
Didn’t know if I was uptown or downtown;
You know my life was so confused;
Lived in a state of depression,
Couldn’t find peace from my oppression;
My strength was put to test;
My weakness put to rest’
Lookin’ back now I see, somebody was watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’,

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Now my bad times’ better than my good times used to be.

There was a time, when,
Peace I could not find.
Nothin’ to call my own; No job, no car, no home;
Lived in a one room shack,
All I had was the clothes on my back;
Used to be my only plan was to have a bottle in my hand;
Lookin’ back now I see, somebody was watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’,

Well, somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.
Well, somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Now my bad times’ better than my good times used to be.

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Oh yeah

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Well, somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Well, somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

For you know

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Oh , Lord.

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

In the midnight hour

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

No doubt they was.
Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.

Yes they was

Somebody was a watchin’.
Somebody was a watchin’.

Somebody was a watchin’,
Somebody was a watchin’ over me.