Rev. Gary Davis
If I Had My Way (1967)
[Verse 1]
You read about Sampson, and you read about his birth
He was the strongest man that ever lived on Earth
One day Sampson he was walking alone
He looked down on the ground, he saw an old jawbone
He lifted up that jawbone and he swung it over his head
And when he got to moving ten thousand was dead
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down
[Verse 2]
Sampson and the lion they got in attack
Sampson he crawled up on the lion's back
You can read about the lion - he killed a man with his paw
(Had my way, had my way)
And ol' Sampson he got his hands around the lion's jaw
(Had my way, had my way)
And he ripped that beast 'til the lion was dead
(Had my way, had my way)
And the bees made honey in the lion's head
(Had my way, had my way)
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down, yeah
[Verse 3]
Delilah she was a woman, fine and fair
Lovely looks and coal black hair
Delilah she climbed up on Sampson's knee
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
She said "Tell me where your strength lies, if you please"
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
And she talked so fine, and she talked so fair
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
And ol' Sampson said "Delilah, now cut off my hair
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
You can shave my head clean as your hand
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
And my strength will be like a natural man"
(Well if I had my way, well if I had my way)
[Chorus]
If I had my way
If I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down, yeah!