599
1 Was Once ix a Dark and Lonesome Valley
Fruni lulian P. Bovd, as collected from Ruby Casey, a pupil of the
school "at Alliance, Pamlico county ; undated, but c. 1927-28. "Negro
fragment."
I was once in a dark and lonesome valley,
And Satan led with trouble on de way.
But de devil tryin' hard to stop me,
And dey laugh at me whatever dey hears me say.
Chants:
Here's a light, chillun;
Here's a light, chillun ;
Here's a light where de angels led before us.
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599
I Was Once in a Dark and Lonesome Valley
We have no tune for this, but cf. SS 5, No. 7, footnote.