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The term “Doubting Thomas” comes to us by way of the New Testament. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, said he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the grave until he had real physical proof. He needed to see and feel the wounds on Jesus’ hands and sides, the wounds suffered in his crucifixion. Jesus extended his hands to Thomas and no further convincing was needed. *

Many songs in the country, bluegrass and Appalachian genres in the better part of the twentieth century were inspired by stories of people’s faith in Christ. There could be no recognition of doubt. Perhaps a country singer proclaiming The Word in song had little or no faith himself. But he knew much of his audience was inspired by faith. It kept them going through the tough times. The singer recognized that just as he recognized the need to make a living. Thus many performers sung of a risen Christ and the audiences were made happy.

One of the best bluegrass songs exemplifying that faith is “I Am the Man, Thomas,” written by the legendary Ralph Stanley with Larry Sparks, a member of The Clinch Mountain Boys, a group long associated with Stanley. It is a hard-charging song, one that brings to mind what a friend said about musical styles, “Bluegrass is to country what heavy metal is to rock and roll.”

The string instruments are played aggressively. The tempo is fast and urgent. The words are direct. They are presented as the words of Jesus as he greets Thomas some eight days after the resurrection. The message is not delivered as eloquently as in John’s Gospel, but the point is made.

Oh, I am the Man, Thomas, I am the Man
Look at these nail scars here in my hands

They pierced me in the side, Thomas, I am the Man.
They made me bear the cross, Thomas, I am the Man

They laid me in the tomb, Thomas, I am the Man
In three days I arose, Thomas, I am the Man

Ralph Stanley’s recording of “I Am the Man,Thomas” is one of many high points in his career, which included a twenty year stint with his brother, Carter. Upon Carter’s passing in 1966, Stanley decided to carry on. There was a new generation that would embrace his music. Many rock fans of the sixties and seventies, curious about rock’s roots and traditional music forms, began attending concerts and festivals featuring Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys, Doc and Merle Watson, The Osborne Brothers and Ralph Stanley. But it was his rendition of “O Death” on the soundtrack of the 2000 film, “O Brother Where Art Thou,” that gave Stanley his greatest exposure. Interest in his albums reached a peak level. Especially popular were more recent efforts such as “Clinch Mountain Country” which featured guest artists Alison Krauss and Bob Dylan.

The best known performances of “I Am the Man, Thomas” in the last decade have been by Bob Dylan. He has never recorded the song for official release but in little more than three years, he performed it live at least 59 times, first on September 4, 1999 in Atlanta. “I Am the Man, Thomas” fits perfectly with the musical approach taken by Dylan since the early nineties. Old hymns, traditional folk songs and blues numbers have been included in his sets, along with “Like a Rolling Stone” and scores of other Dylan originals. That may have surprised many fans, but then again it shouldn’t have. In his 2004 interview with rock critic Robert Hilburn in 2004, Dylan said, “My songs are based on old Protestant hymns or Carter family songs or variations of the blues form.” He then went on to say that he wrote “Blowin’ In the Wind” “in 10 minutes, just put words to an old spiritual, probably something I learned from Carter Family records.”

Several of the Dylan performances of “I Am the Man, Thomas” can be seen on You Tube. There are also renditions by other performers that convey the rural sensibilities so much a part of Southwestern Virginia’s Ralph Stanley. The most compelling are those performed in tiny churches, perhaps Primitive Baptist churches, like the one Stanley has attended most of his life. Also of interest is a seventies performance of the song by an acoustic group called The Gordons (check these guys out for sure, they’re really good).

*The Gospel According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 24-29

Note: This story continues the Southern Song of the Day series.

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3 Responses to “Ralph Stanley: “I Am the Man, Thomas””

1. Tom Baxter says:

   August 18, 2009 at 10:21 am

   I quoted those verses from John in the eulogy at the funeral for my father. I doubt the passage has been used in many funerals, but he was a remarkably inquisitive and skeptical man, and my point was that I believe the passage is often misread. Jesus may have rebuked Thomas for doubting, but John relates the story to the point that if Thomas believed it, it had to be so. He should be the patron saint of journalists.

   Reply
2. Markus Prieur says:

   October 22, 2009 at 3:59 am

   I have a page on my website listing all 59 performances by Bob Dylan, including an mp3 link to one of the latest ones from August 2002.

   http://www.notdarkyet.org/man.html

   Reply
3. Robert says:

   October 22, 2009 at 8:03 am

   I enjoyed your article on the song I am the man Thomas,which i was familiar with from hearing the live versions by Bob Dylan.This is a truly great song and one which i like more and more each time i hear it.The version on the link by the Gordons who i had’nt heard of before is also very good.Ralph Stanley has such a wonderful unique voice.There is a recording of him and Bob Dylan singing The lonesome river and it is amazing.

   Reply

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