527. Don't You Grieve after Me
["Don't You Grieve After Me" is a traditional spiritual that appeared in the JOAFL Vol. 35 article Negro Spirituals From The Far South by A.E. Perkins; 1913. This has the "Climbing Jacobs ladder" lyrics found in Brown below. There are many related songs, titles and versions. Meade lists three early country recordings under the title "Don't You Grieve After Me":
Carson Brothers- Smith 1925
Ernest Phipps Holiness Quartet 1927
George Stevens 1930.
The earliest printed version I know appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 42 By Philip Gengembre Hubert 1878 (excerpt):
These real "negro minstrels " are as fond of refrains as any poet of the modern mediaeval school, and even more ingenious in their misapplication. For instance, how would it be possible to show a loftier indifference to the logical connection of ideas than is found in that first poem of collection No. 1: —
A mighty war in heaven, Don't you grieve after me;
A mighty war in heaven, Don't you grieve after me;
I don't waut you to grieve after me.
Another early version is No. 95. Don't You Grieve After Me (excerpt) by The Fisk Jubilee Singers, circa 1880:
1. Oh, who is that a coming? Don't you grieve after me,
Oh, who is that a coming? Don't you grieve after me,
Oh, who is that a coming? Don't you grieve after me,
Lord, I don't want you to grieve after me.
Matteson 2011]
527. Don't You Grieve after Me
Though related in A. and B versions to 'Jacob's Ladder' (q.v.), this seems to be a different song. Cf. W. A. Fisher. Seventy Negro Spirituals (Boston. 1926). pp. 198-9; J. Rosamond Johnson, Rolling Along in Song (New York, 1937), pp. /O-i.
A. 'Climbin' Up Jacob's Ladder.' From typescript copy of a MS copy contributed by Miss Mary Morrow. Greensboro, Guilford county. January 29, 1928. (The MS copy was returned.) A plionograph recording of the song was made at Greensboro in 1928.
1 Old Sister Susan, don't you grieve after me.
Old Sister Susan, don't you grieve after me.
Old Sister Susan, don't you grieve after me,
'Case I don't want you to grieve after me.
2 When I'm daid and buried, don't you grieve after me.
When I'm daid and Iniried. don't you grieve after me.
When I'm daid and buried, don't you grieve after me,
'Case I don't want you to grieve after me.
3. Climbin' up Jacob's ladder — don't you grieve after me ;
Climbin' up Jacob's ladder — don't you grieve after me;
Climbin' up Jacob's ladder — don't you grieve after me;
'Case I don't want you to grieve after me.
4. Old Brotber Epbraim. don't you grieve after me.
Old I brother Epbraim, don't you grieve after me,
Old Brother Epbraim, don't you grieve after me,
'Case I don't want you to grieve after me.
B. 'Jacob's Ladder.' Contributed by Julian P. Boyd, c. 1927-28, as collected from Catberine Bennett, a student in the school at Alliance, Pamlico county.
Climbin' up Jacob's ladder — don't you grieve after me;
Climbin' up Jacob's ladder — don't you grieve after me.
I don't want you to have to grieve after me !
C. Contributed by William C. Cumming, Brunswick county (?); undated. "Another of Uncle Billie's songs, but one we didn't like nearly as well." The first line and refrain are repeated in stanzas 2 and 3 as in stanza 1.
1 John on the island, don't you grieve after me,
John on the island, don't you grieve after me,
John on the island, don't you grieve after me,
For I don't want you to grieve after me.
2 Long neck bottle, don't you grieve after me, etc.
3 When I get married, don't you grieve after me, etc.
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527. Don't You Grieve After Me (Music)
'Climbin' Up Jacob's Ladder.' Anonymous singer, Greensboro, Guilford county, 1928. Cf. SCS 2 and NSSUS 56 and 117. The last two measures with upbeat are the same as in the Artillery Song: 'And the caissons go rolling along."
F-467
Oh, I'm climb - in' up Ja - cob's lad - der — don't you grieve af - ter me;
Yes, I'm climb - in' up Ja - cob's lad - der — don't you grieve after me;
I'm climb - in' up Ja - cob's lad - der — don't you grieve af ter me.
I don't want you to grieve af - ter me!
For melodic relationship cf. ***OFS 11 336, No. 262. Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa^a^b (2,2,2,2).