[2] Similar renditions followed by Elder Charles D. Beck (1949),[3] Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1950),[4] the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (1953),[5] and the Hightower Brothers (1956).
[6] Reverend Gary Davis recorded the song in 1962;[7] his lyrics include:[8] You may run, can't be caught You may hide, can't be found Brother when God gets ready, you got to move Soul singer Sam Cooke recast the song with lyrics about a broken relationship for his 1963 album Night Beat.
"[9] In 1965, Mississippi bluesman Fred McDowell recorded it as a slow, slide guitar hill country blues solo piece.
[10] McDowell uses lyrics closer to Davis' 1962 rendition,[10] but adds a haunting slide guitar line that doubles the vocal.
[11] A verse from the song is inscribed on his headstone:[12] You may be high, you may be low You may be rich child, you may be poor But when the Lord gets ready, you got to move McDowell's version has been used for several memes themed around racism against Black Americans, mainly in TikTok.