614
The New Burying Ground
A version of this song, from Georgia, appears in Sandburg ASb
473. It is related to 'Let's Go to de Buryin' ' in Lawrence Gellert,
Negro Songs of Protest (New York, 1936), pp. 46-7.
^ The informant indicates "So low Wsry bowed" as an alternative
reading of the repeated clause.
654 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
A
'Hus Keep uh-RoUin'.' With music. From the Misses Andrews (no
address). October 1922. "Negro fragment."
1 Hits [Hearse] keep uh-rollin",
Hus keep uh-rollin'.
An' uh hus keep uh-rollin'.
Oh, me ! Oh, my !
2 Peops [People] keep uh-dyin',
Peops keep uh-dyin'.
An' uh peops keep uh-dyin'.
Oh, me ! Oh, my !
3 Hus keep uh-rollin'
Somebody to de grabeyard,
An' uh hus keep uh-rollin'.
Oh. me ! Oh, my !
4 Hus keep uh-rollin'.
Peops keep uh-dyin',
An' uh hus keep uh-rollin'.
Oh. me! Oh, my!
B
'The New Burying Ground.' From Miss Fannie E. \'ann, Clinton,
Sampson county : undated. The repetition indicated in stanza i con-
tinues in 2 and 3.
1 The hammer keeps a-knocking,
And somebody's dying.
The hammer keei)s a-knocking,
And somebody's dying.
The hammer keeps a-knocking.
And somebody's dying
Way oyer in the new burying ground.
2 The hearse keeps a-roUing.
And somebody's dying, etc.
3 The clods kee]) a-f ailing
On somebody's coffin, etc.
c
'New Burying Ground.' From G. B. Caldwell, Monroe, Union county ;
undated. The informant's arrangement of the text does not seem clear
and consistent.
I Come on, come on, let's go to heaven.
Come on, come on, let's go to heaven.
Come on, come on, let's go to heaven.
Way over, over in de new burying gjround.
2 I hear a niiglity rumbling.
Lawd. Lawd. I bear a mighty rumbling.
3 Hammer keeps a-ringing on.
On somebody's coffin,
Lawd. Lawd. de hammer keeps a-ringing on,
On somebody's coffin.
4 De hearse keej) a-rolling —
Somebody's dying.
De hearse keep a-rolling —
Somebody's dying.
De hearse keep a-rolling —
Somebody's dying.
Lawd. Lawd. over in de new burying ground.
5 De hearse keeps a-rolling
My mudder to de graveyard.
The hearse keeps a-rolling
IVly mudder to the graveyard.
----------------
614
The New Burying Ground
'Hus Keep uh Rollin.' Sung by the Misses Andrews, Raleigh, October 1922.
Negro fragment. For additional versions cf. WNS 218-19; OSC 31; ANS
116, 127, 135; RAS 66; and BANS 11 174.
F-S27
Hus keep uh roll - in', Hus keep uh — roll
An' uh hus — keep uh — roll
Oh, me! Oh, my!
Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: c. Structure: aa^bc (2,2,2,2); the fifth
measure with up-beat is evolved from the third measure with up-beat ; the coda
stems from measure 4 or 6. Over-all form = ab (4,4). The tonal center
is the lowest tone.
'New Burying Ground.' Sung by Alfonso Coleman, Alliance, Pamlico county,
1927. For additional text cf. OSC 31.
F-528
Oh, de bell — keep a - toll - ing Some - bod - y's
in de grabe - yard, Oh, de bells keep a tollin
Some - bod - y's in de grabe - yard.
Oh, de bells- keep a - toll Some - bod - y's in de grabe-yard, But I thought my time ain't long.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa^bb^cde
2,2,2,4) ; d is somewhat related to a. Over-all form: abed (4,4,4,4). (2,2,2,