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Come Down, Angel, And Trouble The Water/Rock-a My Soul
NOTE: See also "Rock My Soul"
Traditional Spiritual
ARTIST: from E.A. Perkins; 1922 Journal of American folklore, Volume 35 By American Folklore Society
SHEET MUSIC:
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1800s; 1922
RECORDING INFO: Come Down, Angel, And Trouble The Water
Jubilee Singers. The Story of the Jubilee Singers with Their Songs "Come Down, Angels"
E.A. Perkins; Journal of American folklore, Volume 35 By American Folklore Society
RECORDING INFO: Rock My Soul
Allen, William Francis, et.al (eds.) / Slave Songs of the United States, Dover, Sof (1995/1867), # 94 [1860s] (Rock o' My Soul)
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p212 (Rock-a My Soul)
Boni, Margaret Bradford (ed.) / Fireside Book of Folk Songs, Simon & Schuster, Bk (1947), p306 (Oh, A-Rock-A My Soul)
Herder, Ronald (ed.) / 500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics, Dover dn500/500, Sof (1998), p292 (Rock-a My Soul)
Lawson, Doyle; and Quicksilver. Rock My Soul, Sugar Hill Sh 3717, LP (1981), trk# A.02
Rock o' My Soul
OTHER NAMES: "Rock My Soul"
RELATED TO: "Rock My Soul" "Come Down, Angel"
SOURCES: Folk Index; E.A. Perkins "Negro Spirituals From The Far South"
NOTES: "Come Down, Angel, And Trouble The Water!" a traditional spiritual collected by E.A. Perkins and published in his article "Negro Spirituals From The Far South"
in the Journal of American Folklore, Volume 35 by American Folklore Society. Perkins titles it "Come Down, Angel, And Trouble The Water!" Or, "O Rock Er My Soul!" to say that it is a version of "Rock-a my Soul."
Perrow's Observations and Comment:—I do not think the early rendition of this old and popular spiritual by the early Fisk Jubilee Singers was strictly true, either to words or music. This would be expected, as the original would be exceedingly difficult to put to music. There are, in fact, no keys and chords that could fully comprehend many of these melodies. The only true and exact rendition would have to be made by the use of the graphophone. Different sections of the South have different renditions, of course, as most of the spirituals have, varying but slightly usually in both words and music. The above rendition or wording differs from the Fisk Singers' rendition, and I believe it more true to the original song. It is provincial to Mississippi, Louisiana, and western Alabama.
I can only assume Perrow is refering to "Come Down, Angels" from Jubilee Singers "The Story of the Jubilee Singers with Their Songs" with musical score. It is nearly identical to Perrow except in the Perrow version the group response is, "O rock er my soul!" instead of "Let God's saints come in." Perrow's version has an added "rock-a my soul" refrain. Perrow also notes: Not "angels," as it is often rendered, but "angel." He adds this biblical reference:
("For an angel* went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." — St. John v. 4.)
No. 106. Come Down, Angels- Jubliee Singers
Chorus: Come down, angels, trouble the water,
Come down angels, trouble the water,
Come down, angels, trouble the water,
Let God's saints come in,
Oh, Let God's saints come in.
1. I love to shout, I love to sing,
Let God's saints come in,
I love to praise my heav'nly King,
Let God's saints come in.
30. Come Down, *Angel, And Trouble The Water!- EA Perkins; Journal of American folklore, Volume 35 By American Folklore Society
Chorus: Come down, angel, and trouble the water,
Come down, angel, and trouble the water,
Come down, angel, and trouble the water,
O rock er my soul!
Before I'd lay in hell one day,
O rock er my soul!
I sing an' pray my soul erway,
O rock er my soul!
(Chorus)
I love to shout, I love to sing,
O rock er my soul!
I love to praise my heavenly King,
O rock er my soul!
Refrain: Rock er my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Rock er my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Rock er my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
0 rock er my soul!
I think I hear the sinner say,
O rock er my soul!
My Saviour taught me how to pray,
O rock er my soul!
(Chorus)
Jesus told me once before,
O rock er my soul!
To "go in peace an' sin no more,"
0 rock er my soul!
(Chorus)
I hope to meet my brother there,
O rock er my soul!
That used to join me here in prayer,
O rock er my soul!
(Chorus)
*Not "angels," as it is often rendered, but "angel."
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