518
Long White Robe
This seems to be a Negro spiritual mixed in the last stanza with
a more mundane element. "Cotton-eyed Joe" figures in various
songs, mo.stlv sung by Negroes; see ANFS 359, TNFS 69-70.
JAFL xxvii'i 190, AMS 67, BTFLS v 25— this last a play-party
song.
'Long White Robe.' Contrilnited by A. J. and J. H. Ikn-rus of W'eaver-
ville, Buncombe county, in 1922.
CJlorHS:
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
Can't you hand down that l<)ng white robe?
Can't you hand down that hmg white robe?
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
I Old Satan thought he had me fast,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
But I broke his old chain and I come at last.
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
2 If ever I reach that mountain top,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
I pray to ni}- Lord I may never stop,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
3 Oh. I'd 'a' been married twenty-seven years ago,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
If it had not 'a' been for cotton-eyed Joe.
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
---------
Long White Robe
'Long White Robe.' Sung by A. J. and J. H. Burrus, Weaverville, Buncombe
county, in 1922. All phrases are terminally incremented. For another ver-
sion cf. AMS 67.
F-463
Can't you hand down — that long white robe? Can't you
hand down — that long white robe? Can't you hand down — that
long white robe? Can't you hand down — that long white robe?
Old Sa tan thought he had me fast,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
I broke his old chain and I come at last,
Can't you hand down — that long white robe?
Scale : Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center : g. Structure : aba^cabiac (2,3,2,
3,2,3,2,3) =z aa^aai (S,5,5,S). Certainly a very unusual structure among
these songs, which, however, is due to the augmentation of the last three
notes in each phrase.
518(1)
'Long White Robe.' Sung by Mrs. Nilla Lancaster of Goldsboro, Wayne
county. Recorded at Durham, July 1923. For additional text cf. AMS 67.
F-464
Chorus
Can't you hand down that long white robe? Can't you hand
down that long white robe? Can't you hand down that long white
robe? Can't you hand down that long white robe?
Old Sa - tan thought he had me fast,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
But I broke his old chain and I come at last,
Can't you hand down that long white robe?
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abacabac
(2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) = aa^aa^ (4,4,4,4).