“Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way”
Song by Ray Charles and Cleo Laine
Porgy And Bess, the sprawling 2-LP box by Ray Charles and Cleo Laine from 1976, ends its long and classic tale with “Oh Lord, I’m On My Way”. Featuring Ray and not Cleo, the performance is a rousing gospel-soaked raveup. Ray cries out to the heavens above while a large chorus echoes his every line. There’s a great duality in “Oh Lord, I’m On My Way” taken directly from southern black churches: death is happening and I’m happy to go see the Lord. It’s a joyous kind of happiness, exultation in the face of the ultimate sadness.
Minutiae for Ray Charles nerds
On the album this song is called “Oh Lord, I’m On My Way” but when released as the only single from Porgy And Bess its name was altered to read “Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way”.
Single releases
“Oh Lord, I’m On My Way”
by Ray Charles and Cleo Laine
b/w
“Oh, Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess”
by Ray Charles and Cleo Laine
Listen to “Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way”
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Songs on Porgy And Bess