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Battle Moses/Little Moses/Moses in the Bulrushes
Tradtional, Old-Time Gospel;
ARTIST: From Jimmy Driftwood and Neal Morris/ Wolf Collection
Click here to listen to the original recording: http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/driftwoodbattle1244.mp3
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1800s;
RECORDING INFO: Little Moses [Me III-A 2]
Dunson, Josh; & Ethel Raim (eds) / Anthology of American Folk Music, Oak, Sof (1973), p 74
Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof (1959), 3, p30
Luboff, Norman; and Win Stracke (eds.) / Songs of Man, Prentice-Hall, Bk (1966), p346
Albert E Brumley's Songs of the Pioneers, Brumley, Fol (1970), 27
Baez, Joan. Joan Baez, Vanguard VRS 9078, CD/ (1960), trk# 10
Ball, E. C. and Orna. Land of Yahoe, Rounder 8041, CD (1996), trk# 24
Carter Family. Anthology of American Folk Music, Smithsonian/Folkways SFW 40090, CD( (1997), trk# 53 [1929/02/14]
Carter Family. Last Recordings, Vol. 1, Old Homestead OHCS 330, Cas (1991), trk# B.05
Carter Family. Carter Family Album, Liberty LRP 3230, LP (196?), trk# A.04
Freeman, Arlie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 97/#662 [1941/12/10]
Gover, Carla; and Charlotte Lester. American Fogies. Vol. 1, Rounder 0379, CD (1996), trk# 11
Maura & Maria. Songs Made Famous by Joan Baez, Wyncote W 9075, LP (1964), trk# B.04
McCutcheon, John. Barefoot Boy with Boots On, Front Hall FHR-021, LP (1981), trk# 10
Morris, Neil. Sounds of the South, Atlantic 7-82496-2, CD( (1993), trk# 4.30 [1959/07ca]
New Lost City Ramblers. Cohen, John, Mike Seeger & Hally Wood / Old Time String Band Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976/1964), p128
Roan Mountain Hilltoppers. Down Home, Roan Mountain, CD (2000), trk# 7 [1982/02]
Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy. Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy / Favorite Mountain Ballads & Old T..., Sizemore, fol (1932), p 5
Stanley, Ralph. Distant Land to Roam. Songs of the Carter Family, Columbia DM2, CD (2005), trk# 2
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Folk Style Autoharp, Oak, Sof (1967), p 62
OTHER NAMES: "Battle Moses," "Little Moses," "Moses in the Bulrushes"
SOURCES: Belden, p. 449, “Moses in the Bulrushes.”
NOTES: "Battle Moses" or "Little Moses," is a traditional gospel ballad about Moses early life. This version from the Wolf Collection is titled- unusally- "Battle Moses" either to avoid copyright problems (the lyrics are taken directly from the Carter Family) or because the title was misheard. Since Jimmy Driftwood recorded this version, it was probably the former reason- he probably knew this was from the Carter Family.
The story of Moses is related in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, and has also been retold numerous times in popular culture (perhaps most famously in Cecil B. DeMille's film The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston). Moses has been depicted by artists throughout history, including Michelangelo, William Turner, Giotto di Bondone, Gustave Doré, and countless others. His likeness has appeared in paint, marble, stained glass, wood, and bronze, among many other mediums. Images of Moses appear in the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Arguably the most important prophet in Judaism, Moses is also venerated by Christians - who hold him as the embodiment of God's law - and by Muslims. Moses is mentioned 502 times in the Koran, more than Noah, Jesus and Abraham, and is often described in ways that parallel the prophet Mohammad. The story of Moses was also central to African American slaves. The song "Go Down Moses" is one of the most popular Negro spirituals. Moses was famously invoked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he declared that he had "been to the mountaintop."
The song "Little Moses" focuses primarily on the early life of Moses, particularly the story of his being set adrift in the Nile and found among the reeds and rushes by Pharaoh's daughter, Thermuthis, although the song then skips a good deal and goes straight to the crossing of the Red Sea (an event central to the Jewish festival of Passover) and Moses's ascension of Mt. Sinai.
Unlike most of the the other songs on the religious section of "Social Music," "Little Moses" makes no promises. It is a simple Sunday school lesson. "Little Moses" is a simple narrative song (a "religious ballad," in the words of Alan Lomax) that retells several events in the life of Moses, arguably the most important prophet in the Old Testament.
Little Moses- Carter Family (excerpt)
Away by the river so clear,
The ladies were winding their way,
And Pharaoh's little daughter stepped down in the water
To bathe in the cool of the day.
Before it was dark she opened the ark
And found the sweet infant was there.
Before it was dark she opened the ark
And found the sweet infant was there.
And away by the waters so blue,
The infant was lonely and sad.
She took him in pity and thought him so pretty
And it made little Moses so glad.
She called him her own, her beautiful son,
And sent for a nurse that was near.
She called him her own, her beautiful son,
And sent for a nurse that was near.
Little Moses- Ballad Index
DESCRIPTION: The story of Moses in brief: Set adrift in a small boat in Egypt, he is found and raised by the daughter of Pharaoh. When grown, he leads his people across the Red Sea to safety while Pharaoh's host is destroyed
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (Belden)
KEYWORDS: Bible religious Jew royalty abandonment river rescue hiding Jew
FOUND IN: US(Ap,So)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Belden, p. 449, "Moses in the Bulrushes" (1 text)
Randolph 662, "Little Moses" (1 text)
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 74, "Little Moses" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 128-129, "Little Moses" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 361, "Little Moses" (1 text)
DT, LITMOSES
Roud #3546
RECORDINGS:
Carter Family, "Little Moses" (Victor 23641/Victor V-40110, 1929; Bluebird B-5924, 1935; Montgomery Ward M-5010, 1936; on AAFM2)
A. P. Carter Family, "Little Moses" (Acme 992, n.d. but post-WWII)
Harmon E. Helmick, "Little Moses" (Champion 16705, 1934; Decca 5498, 1938)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Finding of Moses" (subject)
ALTERNATE TITLES: By the Side of a River
Notes: The story of Moses being abandoned by his parents (who had to hide him to prevent him from being killed) is told in Exodus 2:1-10. These verses also tell of his sister (presumably Miriam, since she is Moses's only known sister, though she is not named in this passage) following him as he floated away (his brother Aaron would have been only three and too young for the task), and of his mother nursing her own child. The crossing of the Red Sea is covered in Exodus chapter 14.
The final lines of the Carter Family version, "When his labors did cease, he departed in peace, And rested in the Heavens above" are more interesting. The only official word on Moses's fate is in chapter 34 of Deuteronomy: "Then Moses went up... to Mount Nebo... and the LORD howed him the whole land.... Then Moses... died... in the land of Moab. He was buried in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-Peor, but no one to this day knows where hs is buried."
At the time of Moses's death, there was no Jewish tradition of an afterlife; all, good or bad, were thought to go to Sheol (which was quite clearly underground). Later, the idea of a heaven became widespread -- and a Jewish legend had it that Moses went there, or that he was taken up bodily to heaven, as was clearly reported of Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) and less clearly of Enoch (Genesis 5:24).
This view seems to be supported by the New Testament account of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8 and parallels), since Jesus is reported to have been talking with Moses and Elijah (though nothing ever makes it clear how Peter and James and John knew that the other two were Moses and Elijah...). - RBW
BATTLE MOSES- Sung by: Jimmy Driftwood and Neal Morris
Click here to listen to the original recording: http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/driftwoodbattle1244.mp3
By the side of the river so clear,
The ladies were winding their way,
When pharaoh's daughter
Stepped down to the water
To bathe in the cool of the day.
Before it was dark,
She opened the ark
And found the sweet infant was there.
Before it was dark,
She opened the ark
And found the sweet infant was there.
By the side of the river so clear,
This infant was lonely and sad.
She took him in pity,
And thought him so pretty,
Which made little Moses so glad.
She called him her own,
Her beautiful son,
And sent for a nurse that was near.
She called him her own,
Her beautiful son,
And sent for a nurse that was near.
By the side of the river so clear
They carried that beautiful child
To his own tender mother,
His sister and brother.
Then Moses looked happy and smiled.
His mother, so good,
Done all that she could
To rear him and teach him with care.
His mother, so good,
Done all that she could
To rear him and teach him with care.
Then away by the sea that was red
Stood Moses, the servant of God.
While in Him confided, the deep was divided,
Wheres upward he lifted his rod.
The Jews safely crossed,
While Pharaoh's host
Was drowned in the waters and lost.
The Jews safely crossed
While Pharaoh's host
Was drowned in the waters and lost.
Then away on that mountain so high,
The last one he ever might see,
. . . was victorious,
His hope was most glorious,
He'd soon over Jordan be free.
His labor did cease,
He departed in peace,
And rests in the heavens above.
His labor did cease,
He departed in peace,
And rests in the heavens above.
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