579
Heaven* Is a Beautiful Peace
A song with the same title, from Kentucky, in Mary A. Gris-
som's The Xcgro Sings a Xcw Heaven (Chapel Hill, ig.^o), has
the following similarities: same opening, except that the first line
is not repeated and "Ain't no . . ." lines follow; "plumh the line";
stanzas devoted to "lyuhs," "drunkards," "troubles"; last line of
each stanza repeating "Heaven is. . . ."
a
W'itli music. From Will ("Shorty") Love, janitor in Trinity College and
Duke University; undated, hut c. 1920. MS in hand of Dr. Ilrown.
Chorus:
Heaven is a beautifnl place. 1 know.
Heaven is a beautifnl ])lace. I know.
li you want to ,^0 to Heaven on time,
Sure got to plumb de line.
Heaven is a beautiful place, I know.
I Ain't no sorrow in Heaven. I know.
Ain't no sorrow in Heaven. 1 know.
H you want to go to Heaven f)n time.
Sure got to plumb de line. ,
Ain't no sorrow in Heaven, I know.
Chorus
628 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
2 Ain't no murders in Heaven, I know.
Ain't no murders in Heaven, I know.
If you want to go to Heaven on time.
Sure got to plumb de line.
Ain't no murders in Heaven, I know.
Chorus
3 Ain't no gamblers in Heaven, I know.
Ain't no gamblers in Heaven, I know.
If you want to go to Heaven on time.
Sure got to plumb de line.
Chorus
4 Loving union in Heaven, I know.
Loving union in Heaven, I know.
If you want to go to Heaven on time,
Sure got to plumb de line.
Loving union in Heaven, I know.
Chorus
5 There's shouting in Heaven. I know.
There's shouting in Heaven. I know-.
If you want to go to Heaven on time,
Sure got to plumb de line.
There's shouting in Heaven, I know.
Chorus
B
'Heaven Is a Beautiful Place, I Know.' From Julian P. Boyd, as col-
lected from one of his pupils. Rosebud West, in the school at Alliance,
Pamlico county, c. 1927-28. Dr. Brown notes: "Negro fragment. See
air in Shorty's list" (referring to Will Love, communicant of A text).
1 Elisha has done and seen the beautiful place.
Heaven is a lovely place, I know, I know ;
I have started out for Heaven,
I am praying as I go.
If I make it my journey,
I won't come here anv mo'.
Chorus:
Heaven is a beautiful place, 1 know.
Heaven is a beautiful ])lace. I know.
2 * If you want to get to Heaven on time.
You got to sho' plumb de truth [line].
Heaven is a l)eautiful |)lace, 1 know, 1 know.
3 l''lisha dciiK' Sfc llie siijlu
And said hv didn't uvv(\ any lis^ht.
He has gone on to llt'aM-n to rest.
Heaven is a heantitul i)lace, 1 know.
Oh, yes. Heaven is a beantiful place, 1 know.
---------
579
Heaven Is a Beautiful Place
'Heaven is a Beautiful Place, I Know.' Sung by Will (Shorty) Love, janitor
in Trinity College and Duke University, about 1920. The record begins
with the chorus. The rhythmical and melodic variety achieved in the first
half of the chorus and stanza is quite remarkable. For additional texts cf.
SSGSI 69-70; SHIS 16.
F-509
Heav
beau - ti - ful place, I know.
Heav - en is a beau - ti - ful place, I
know.- If you
want to go to Heav - en on time, Sure got
to
plumb the Une. Heav - en
beau -ti- ful place, I
Heav'n I know.
know. Ain't no sor - row in
Ain't no Heav'n I know.
If you want to to Heav-en on time. Sure got to plumb the line.
Heav - en beau - ti - ful place, I know.
Scale: Hexatonic (2). Tonal Center: d. Structure: abca^a^btcai (3>3,3.3.2,2,
3.3) ; a^ and b^ are free and compressed variations of a and b. All phrases
(measures 2-3 and 5-6, for example), partake of the same cadcntial turn, al-
though, in some cases, displaced in time. There are other similarities between
the individual phrases. Over-all form: aba^bi (6,6,4,6). The tonal center
is the lowest tone.