“Talk About Suffering,” sometimes titled “Talk About Suffering Here Below,” is a traditional gospel song. It became widely known through Doc Watson, who recorded it for his self-titled 1964 album, an early landmark of the folk revival’s interest in mountain music.
The song sets the suffering of this world against the promise of following Jesus. Its refrain pairs the two ideas directly — talk about suffering here below, and let’s keep following Jesus — and a later verse pictures a gospel train coming to carry believers away from a world of trials.
The song’s spare, hymn-like shape suits the close harmony of bluegrass duets.
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