Trials, Troubles, Tribulations
Encyclopedia
Trials, Troubles, Tribulations is a popular American bluegrass gospel song written by Estil C. Ball
. It was originally entitled simply "Tribulations" and was recorded in 1959.
The song is the most famous composition written by E.C. Ball. The lyrics were based, as Ball told Alan Lomax
in 1959, "on the last book in the Bible: Revelations
." Original versions of Ball's song are featured on “White Spirituals”; “Sounds of the South”; and volume five in the Southern Journey series, “Deep South… Sacred and Sinful,” 1960 (Prestige). The song was reissued on “Southern Journey #6: Sheep, Sheep, Don’cha Know the Road” in the Alan Lomax Collection CD series, 1997 (Rounder). It is currently in print on “E.C. Ball and Orna: Through the Years” (Copper Creek) and "I'm Gonna Live Anyhow Until I Die," volume 5 in the "Alan Lomax's Southern Journey, 1959–1960" series (Mississippi Records / Global Jukebox).
The song has been frequently covered by other musicians, such as Andrew Bird
as "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations."
Estil C. Ball
Estil Cortez Ball was an American singer-songwriter, fingerstyle guitarist, and country gospel and folk musician from Rugby in Grayson County, Virginia.-Career:...
. It was originally entitled simply "Tribulations" and was recorded in 1959.
The song is the most famous composition written by E.C. Ball. The lyrics were based, as Ball told Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
in 1959, "on the last book in the Bible: Revelations
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
." Original versions of Ball's song are featured on “White Spirituals”; “Sounds of the South”; and volume five in the Southern Journey series, “Deep South… Sacred and Sinful,” 1960 (Prestige). The song was reissued on “Southern Journey #6: Sheep, Sheep, Don’cha Know the Road” in the Alan Lomax Collection CD series, 1997 (Rounder). It is currently in print on “E.C. Ball and Orna: Through the Years” (Copper Creek) and "I'm Gonna Live Anyhow Until I Die," volume 5 in the "Alan Lomax's Southern Journey, 1959–1960" series (Mississippi Records / Global Jukebox).
The song has been frequently covered by other musicians, such as Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
as "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations."