577
Hkar That Rumblixc; (I IIkard a AIic.htv Rumri.ing)
The following are apparently ditYerent versions of this song. It
resemhies stanza 5 of a copyrighted song, 'I've Got a Home in the
Rock. Don't You See,' in Carl Diton, Thirty-Six Soittli Carolina
Spirituals (New York, 1928), pp. 16-19.
A
'Hear That Rumliling." With musii.-. From G. S. Bhick of ^^)llngs-
towii. Ohio. May 14. iy20. There is a phonograph recording, dated 1920.
1 Hear that rumhling down under the ground.
Hear that rumhling down under the ground.
Hear that rumhling down under the ground ?
Oh, why don't you pray for me?
CJwnis:
You pray for me and I'll ])ray tor you.
You pray for me and I'll pray for you.
Yoti pray for me and I'll ])ray for you.
Oh. whv don't vou pray for me?
2 I helieve it's (jid Satan a-walkin' around,
I believe it's old Satan a-walkin" arouiid,
I believe it's old Satan a-walkin' around.
Oh, why don't you pray for me ?
B
Xo title. With music. Text from Miss Ella Smith, Pitt county; tune
by Mary Barbour, Raeford, Hoke county. Recording, Raeford. 1922 (?).
The last two lines are matched by a song from North Carolina rcp<Trtcd
by Henry JAFL XLiv 445.
I heard a mighty rumhling up in the sky.
Must 'a' been Jehovah from on high.
I heard a mighty rumhling under the ground.
Must 'a' been the devil a-turning around.
C. 'I Heard a Mighty Lumbering." From Julian P. Boyd, as collected
from Jeannette Tingle, a pupil of the school at Alliance, Pamlico county ;
undated, but c. 1927-28.
1 I heard a mighty himbering in the ground ;
I thought it was Satan turning around.
Oh, you know, oh, you know.
You know. Sinner, we got to go.
2 I heard a mighty lumbering in the sky ;
I thought it was Jesus drawing nigh.
Oh, you know, oh, yoti know.
You know. Sinner, we got to go.
3 Look back yonder, what I see?
Two pretty angels coming atter me.
Oh, you know, oh, you know.
You know, Sinner, we got to go.
4 Listen at dem horses' feets
Poppin' on dem golden streets.
Oh, you know, oh, you know.
You know, Sinner, we got to go.
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577
Hear That Rumbling (I Heard a Mighty Rumbling)
'Hear That Rumbling.' Sung by G. S. Black, recorded in Cabarrus county,
in 1920.
F-506
Hear that- rum-bling down un - der — the ground, Hear that —
rum-bling down un - der — the ground, Hear that — rum-bling down
un - der — the ground? Oh, why don't — you pray for me?
You pray- for me an' I'll pray — for you. You pray —
for me an' I'll pray — for you. You pray- for me an
I'll pray — for you. Oh, why don't — you pray for me?
For melodic relationship cf. *CPS, measures 1-2 of chorus with our
3-4-
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abcdaib^c^d (2,2,2,
2,2,2,2,2) := aba^b^ (4,4,4,4). There is considerable rhythmic relationship
between a, b, and c, as well as c and d.
---------------------
'I Heard A Mighty Rumblin'.' Sung by Miss Mary Barbour, Raeford, Holt
county, in 1922. The title is that given in the catalogue. For similar text
cf. SCS 19, fifth stanza.
F-507
heard a might - y rum - blin' up in the sky.
Must 'a' been Je ho - vah from on high. — I heard
mighty rum - blin' der the ground.
a turn - in' round.
Must 'a' been the dev - il
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: d. Structure: abbib2 (2,2,2,2).
'I Heard a Mighty Lumbering.' Sung by Miss Jeanette Tingle; contributed by
Julian P. Boyd of Alliance, Pamlico county, in 1927.
F-508
I heard a might -y lum-ber - ing in the ground;
I thought it was Sa - tan turn-ing a - round. Oh, — you know,
Oh, you know. Oh, — you know. Sin - ner, we got to go.
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: b-flat. Structure: abed
(2,2,3,2) ; this most unusual structure of nine measures results from the
terminal incrementation of the third phrase. If the third measure of the
latter is omitted — it is merely a literal repetition of measure 5 — we have the
conventional eight-measure phrase without in any way forcing the melodic
progression. Every phrase cadences on v. Circular tune (V).