Ananias
Brown Collection of NC Folklore

OTHER NAMES: Old-Time Religion

SOURCES: Brown Collection;

NOTES: "Ananias" a tradtional spiritual was collected in 1907 and appears in the Brown Collection of NC Folklore. Curiously a differnt spiritual titled "Ananias, Ananias"
appears in the Tartt Collection that uses a biblical role for Ananias.

520. Ananias - Brown Collection of NC Folklore 

There are two slightly different variants of this song in our collection.

A. 'Funeral Song of Uncle Ananias.' From Mrs. Jacques Busbee, Raleigh; MS and typed versions dated November 1907 and January 1915, respectively, with one or two trivial variations. The tune is given as 'The Old Time Religion' but, adds Dr. White, "does not fit the tune I know." There is a picture of Uncle Ananias, and the letter giving the story of the song follows:

108 Park Avenue
January 22, 1915

Mv DEAR Mr. Brown:

I have been waiting to find an accommodating musician before answering your letter. As soon as one is found, I'll mail you the air of the Funeral Song. The air is very sim-
ple and plaintive. I wish I could sing it for you.

About the origin : I have done much illustrating for magazines and have rather specialized on our old-time *African-American — Uncle Ananias was one of my most delightful models. Several years ago he died. His wife, Aunt Mitty Ann, urged me to attend the funeral. Needless to say, I went. They were Baptists, but as -Aunt Mitty had heard that the Methodist preacher preached the "prettiest funeral in town, with ninri' ri'lij^imi in it," she had her husband's funeral cunducted from the Methodist Church. I wish I could tell you all this — my right hand won't convey my knowledge of that wonderful orgy.

The sermon was astounding. This song was made up then and there hy the preacher, and was lined out to the congregation, who moaned and sang it with every possible
Methodist quaver (I'm one myself). There were many more verses. 1 wrote down all that I could rememher, at the time. I have some very good pictures of the old man
They're yours if you want them.

Yours very cordially,

Juliana R. Busbee (Mrs. Jacques Busbee)

1 Ananias wuz er-layin' in his bed,
Ananias wuz er-layin' in his bed,
Ananias wiiz cr-layin" in his bed,
An' er knockin' came at de do'.

2 Ananias he say. 'Who dat?'
Ananias he say, 'Who dat ?'
Ananias he say. 'Who dat?'
An' de Lord he say, 'Hit's me.'

3 De Lord say, 'Whar yo' 'ligion?'
De Lord say, 'W'har yo' 'ligion?'
De Lord say, 'Whar yo' 'ligion?'
Ananias say: 'Search me.'

4 'Look in de bureau,
Look bin' de washstand,
Pull down de bed-clothes,
An' see what you kin fin'.'

5 De Lord say, 'Lay down yo' rheumatism,'
De Lord say, 'Lay down yo' rheumatism,'
De Lord say, 'Lay down all yo' ailments,
An' come along wid me.'

6. Ananias he say. 'Yes. Lord,'
Ananias he say, 'Yes, Lord,'
Ananias he say, 'Yes, Lord,
I'll go along wid you.'

B. 'Ananias.' It is not entirely clear whether the following is a real variant or a careless copy of 'Funeral Song of Uncle Ananias.' At any rate, when Mrs. L. D. Latta, Wilmington, N. C, in Novemher 1927, requested a copy Dr. Brown sent her a typescript ; and this typescript corresponds to an anonymous copy in the Collection which may have been sent by an informant different from Mrs. Busbee, who sent 'FuneralSong.' On the other hand, with the 1927 typescript copy and the undated anonymous copy may have come from Mrs. Busbee's 1907 MS version and the typescript version made in 191 5. Whatever the facts may be, the following version shows differences not only in the representation of the dialect but also in wording.

1. Ananias was a-layin' in his bed,
Ananias was a-layin' in his bed,
Ananias was a-layin' in his bed,
When a knockin' hit come at de do'.

2. Ananias he say, 'Who dat?"
Ananias he say, 'Who dat?'
Ananias he say, 'Who dat ?'
And de Lord he say, 'Hit's me.*

3. De Lord he say, ' Whar yo' "ligion ?'
De Lord he say, 'W'har yo' 'ligion ?'
De Lord he say, 'W'har yo' 'ligion?'
And Ananias he say: 'S'arch me.

4. 'Look 'hind the wardrobe.
Take down the bed clo's,
S'arch in the washstan'.
And see what you kin find.'

5. And de Lord he say, 'Lay down yo' rhetunatiz,'
And de Lord he say, 'Lay down yo' rheumatiz,'
And de Lord he say, 'Lay down yo' rheumatiz.
And come an' go 'long wid me.'

6. Ananias he say, 'Yes, Lord,'
Ananias he say, 'Yes, Lord,'
Ananias he say, 'Yes, Lord,
I sho will go 'long wid you.'