I. RELIGIOUS SONGS: 1. Negro Spirituals
[There are some great songs here. "Blood-Stained Banders" was recorded as "Good Shepherd" by the Jefferson Airplane on their 1969 album Volunteers. It was arranged and sung by the group's guitarist Jorma Kaukonen.
I've arranged and put on youtube a version of "I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long," titled "Church Bells." Church Bells http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTkqQgDvrsE.
Vera Hall and Dock Reed were two of Alan Lomax's favorite singers-he recorded them several times. The recordings from the 1939 trip are on-line and also on my web-site.]
CONTENTS
Prayer—This evening, our Father
Adam in the Garden Pinnin' Leaves
Samson
The Man of Calvary
Job
John Done Saw That Number
John Was A-Writin'
Dem Bones
The Blood-Strained Banders
God Moves on the Water
God Don't Like It
Soon One Mornin' Death Come Creepin'
I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long
If I Got My Ticket, Can I Ride?
Choose You a Seat 'n' Set Down
Low Down Chariot
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PRAYER
No. 333. Negro, Raleigh, N.C., 1936.
This evening, our Father,
We begin before death in early judgment----
This evening, our Father,
I come, in the humblest manner I ever knowed
Or ever thought it,
To bow.
I'm thanking Thee, O Lord,
O Lord, thanking Thee this evening, my Father,
That my laying down last night voasrft my cooling board,
O Lord, thanking Thee this evening, my Father,
That my cover was not my minding sheet;
O Lord, thanking Thee this evening, my Father,
That my dressing room this morning was not my grave;
O Lord, thanking Thee this evening, my Father,
That my slumber last night was not for eternity.
O Lord,
Just bless the invalids and orphans in this land,
I pray Thee in Jesus' name,
Take care of them, my Father,
And guide them;
And then, my Father,
When they all is standing in Glory
And Thou art satisfied at my staying here,
Oh; meet me at the river, I ask in Thy name.
Amen.
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[Listen: Georgia Sea Island Singers; Adam in the Garden]
ADAM IN THE GARDEN PINNIN' LEAVES
No. 105. Alberta Bradford, 72, and Becky Elsy, 86. Avery Island, La., 1934. Text partly from Me, p. 37.
Chorus: "Oh, Eve, where is Adam?
Oh, Eve, where is Adam?
Oh, Eve, where is Adam?"
"Adam in the garden pinnin' leaves."
1. I know my God is a man of war,
Oh, Adam in the garden pinnin' leaves,
Yes, he fought that battle at Jericho walls,
Oh, Adam in the garden pinnin' leaves.
2. First time God called, Adam 'fused to answer,
Adam in the garden layin' low,
Second time God called, Adam 'fused to answer,
Adam in the garden layin' low.
3. Nex' time God called, God hollered louder,
Adam in the garden, pinnin' leaves,
Nex' time God called, God hollered louder,
Adam in the garden pinnin' leaves.
Alternate Chorus: "You, Eve, can't see Adam,
You, Eve, can't see Adam,
You, Eve, can't see Adam."
"Adam 'hin' the fig-tree pinnin' leaves."
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SAMSON
No. 2659. Sylvester Johnson, Knight, La., 1939. Additional stanzas: Jesse Allison and Dock Reed, Livingston, Ala., 19395 Willie Johnson, Golden Gate Quartet, New York City, 1940. Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/268/2683a1.mp3
1. Delilie was a woman, fine an' fair,
A-very pleasant-lookin' an' coal-black hair,
Delilie she gained old Samson's mind
When he saw the woman an' she looked so fine.
Oh whether he went to Timothy I cannot tell
But the daughters of Timothy they treated him well.
He 'plied to His Father, go an' see,
"Can't you get this beautiful woman fo' me."
Chorus:
He said, "An' if I had-n my way,"
He says, "An' if I had-n my way,"
He says, "An' if I had-n my way,
I'd tear the buildin' down."
He cried, "O Lord, O Lord, O Law Lordy, Lordy, O Lord."
He cried, "O Lord, O Lord, O Law Lordy, Lordy, O Lord, yes!"
He said, "An' if I had-n my way,"
He says, "An' if I had-n my way,"
He says, "An' if I had-n my way, I'd tear the buildin' down."
2. Samson's mother 'plied to him,
"Can't you find a wife among our kin?"
Samson's father said, " 'T grieve your mother's mind
To see you marry a woman of the Philistines."
Read about Samson from his birth,
He was the strongest man that ever lived on earth.
Read away down in ancient times
He killed three thousand Philistines.
3. Stop an' let me tell you what Samson done,
He looked at the lion, an' the lion run,
It's written that the lion had killed men with his paw,
But Samson had his hand in the lion's jaw.
He kilt the lion, the lion is dead,
Bees made honey in the lion's head.
Samson was a man, large in size.
Overpowered a man and plucked out his eyes.
4 Samson burnt up a field of corn,
They looked for Samson but he was gone,
A-so many thousand formed a plot.
It wasn't many days 'fore he was caught.
They bound him with rope and, while walkin' along,
He looked on the ground and he saw an old jawbone;
He moved his arms, the rope popped like threads,
When he got through killing three thousand was dead.
5 Samson, he went wanderin' about,
Samson's strength was never found out,
Till his wife sat on his knee,
She said, "Tell me where your strength be, if you please."
Samson's wife, she talked so fair,
Samson told her, "Shave off my hair,
Shave my head as clean as my hand
And my strength will be like a natural man."
6 Shave his hair like the pa'm o' his hand,
His strength become as a natural man.
Took po' Samson to the judgment hall,
Bind him and chained him to the wall;
He called a little boy about three foot tall,
Said, "Place my hands up against the wall."
He placed his hands up against the wall
And he tore that buildin' down.
Second Chorus:
He said, "An' now I got my way,"
He says, "An' now I got-n my way,"
He says, "An' now I got-n my way,
I'll tear the buildin' down."
He cried, "O Lord, O Lord, O Law Lordy, Lordy, O Lord,"
He cried, "O Lord, O Lord, O Law Lordy, Lordy, O Lord, yes!"
He said, "An' now I got-n my way,"
He says, "An' now I got-n my way,"
He says, "An' now I got-n my way,
I'll tear the buildin' down."
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THE MAN OF CALVARY
No. 186. Sin Killer Griffin, Darrington, Texas, 1934.
Reverend Sin Killer Griffin is pastor of one of the largest congregations in the world—the Negro convicts of the penitentiary. This is a fragment of his Easter Sunday sermon, transcribed from a group of records made in 1934. His sermon is at once poetry and song and must be chanted and sung in a highly dramatic manner. (See record for the manner of rendition.)
Roman soldiers come ridin' at full speed on their horses and splunged Him in the side.
We seen the blood and water come out.
Oh-h, Godamighty placed it in the minds of the people,
Why, the water is for baptism
And the blood is for cleansin'.
I don't care how mean you've been, Godamighty's blood!
I cleanse you from all sin.
I seen, my dear friends,
The time moved on. . . . '
I seen while he was hangin',
The mounting begin to tremble on which Jesus was hangin',
The blood was dropping on the mounting,
Holy blood, dropping on the mounting,
My dear friends, corrupting the mounting.
I seen about that time while the blood was dropping down,
One drop after another, I seen the sun Jesus made in creation;
The sun rose, my dear friends,
And it recognized Jesus hanging on the cross.
Just as soon as the sun recognized its Maker,
Why, it clothed itself in sack clothing and went down.
Went down in mourning!
"Look at my Maker hangin' on the cross."
And when the sun went down,
We seen the moon—that was his maker, too,
Oo-oo, he made the moo-oon,
My dear friends, yes, both time and the seasons.
We seen, my dear friends,
When the moon recognized Jesus hangin' on the cross,
And seen the moony yes!
Took with a judgment hemorrhage and bleed away.
Good God, the dying thief on the cross
Saw the moon going down in blood.
Saw it go down and bleed away.
I seen the little stars, great God, that was there,
They remembered Jesus when he struck on the anvil of time,
And the little stars recognized their Maker dying,on the cross,
Each little star leafed out of its silver orbit
To make the torches of a dark and unbenointed world.
It got so dark until the men who was puttin' Jesus to death,
They said they could feel the darkness with their fingers.
Great Godamighty! they was close to one another,
And it was so dark they could feel one another,
And feel one another talk, but they couldn't see one another.
I heard one of the centurions say,
"Sholy, sholy, this must be the son of God."
'Bout that time we seen, my dear friends—
The prophet Isaiah said the dead in the graves would hear His voice and come forward—
We seen the dead getting up out ot their graves on the east side of Jerusalem,
Getting out of their graves,
Walking about,
Going down in town,
Oh-h-h, way over on Nebo's mounting!
I seen the great lawgiver
Get up out of his grave and begin to walk about, my dear friends,
Walk about, because Jesus said it was finished.
I shouldn't wonder, my dear friends,
That the church will save you when you get in trouble.
I heard the church so many times singing when you get in trouble,
The church would sing, How can I die while Jesus lives?
[Here the pastor sings a hymn beginning with these seven words, and the men join in.]
I seen the horse come steppin' on Calvary's bloody brow,
Pawing, my dear friends, with thunder in his train,
And the lightnin' was playing on the bridle reins which Death had in his hands.
He come ridin'! He come ridin'!
And the dyin' thief looked Death in the face.
Caught sight of the object side of the horse,
He saw a new name written there,
He read the name, and the name read like this—
"Death and Hell jolloweth him."
I heard the dying thief say,
"Lord, O Lord! Lord, O Lord!
When thou come to thy father's kingdom,
I pray remember me.
Oh, motherless child,
Hangin' on the cross,
And I want you to remember me."
Jesus, my dear friends—
The dying thief had so much confidence in Him—
Jesus, hung just like He was,
Jesus, daggered in the side,
Blood dripping, great God! —
Jesus caught ahold of the bridle, my dear friends,
Caught it by the bridle,
And the old horse began to paw,
Oh-h-h, Elijah didn't catch ahold of him, when he was comin',
Oh4i-h, Job didn't catch ahold of him when he was comin',
Oh-h-h, Great Godamighty!
Moses, the great lawgiver, didn't catch ahold of him,
But over yonder, the incarnate Son of God
Caught the horse by the bridle and held him still.
Jesus begin to speak,
Yes! says to the dyin' thief,
"Pay no attention to death."
Says to the dyin' thief,
"This day your spirit will be with me in heaven,"
Says, "Oh, yes, this day it will be with me. . . ."
God met the Devil when He seen him comin'.
We began to wonder where he was goin'
(You needn't wonder, but just keep still,
He'll let you know what He's comin' for),
And then He fastened the great dragon.
Great God! bound him for so many thousand years.
Seen Him, my dear friends, when He got ahold of Death,
Twist the stinger away from Death—
Death haven't got no dominion over a child of God!
I seen Jesus whisper from hell to His Father,
Told Him to send down angels of grace—
"Let them roll back the stone.
Then stay there and let my mother know I am gone as I said."
Great Godamighty!
We seen when Godamighty with His omnipotent power,
Good God!
Called Michael and Gabriel,
Both peaceful angels,
"Both angels that obey me."
Praise God! Seen when Jesus told the boys,
"Don't, don't harm those peoples that is settin' at the grave,
Don't say nothin' to 'em,
I'll give power,
I'll cause the earth to quake ahead of yuh!"
Those angels left Godamighty's throne,
Leaped over the battlements of glory.
I seen forty and four thousand angels in heaven,
Just in a moment, the twinklin' of an eye,
Great God! bowed on their knees,
Hung up their harps on the willow,
Great God! Three and twenty elders
Left their seats, each one cryin',
"Holy, ho-ly, holy!"
And when the angels got near the earth,
The earth began to quake and tremble,
The peoples began to say, "What's the matter here?"
Good Godamighty!
First and second day, no harm, nothing happened,
But here on the third mornin',
Looky here! the earth quakin'!
Good God! the earth began to quake!
'Bout that time while they were a-watchin' the earth.
The angels darted down and took a seat right by the side of 'em.
Rolled back the stone.
Took a seat by the side of dem,
Never said a word to 'em, but just set there.
And when the angels took their seats,
Good God! Jesus got up!
Yes, got up out of His grave,
Began pulling off His graveclothes,
Great God! taken the napkin from 'round His jaws,
Laid 'em down in the grave.
We seen the angels watch old Mary and Marthy;
Shook the girls and told 'em just about when the morning star would
appear, Told the girls to go on down into the grave,
Told the girls not to grieve and cry,
Because He would come again.
Every child of God has something to carry to Jesus!
Oh-h-h, how you abused me in this world,
And how you caused me to shed briny tears,
How you caused me to stand with folded arms!
But some day, some day,
Some long, lonesome day, when the final roll is called,
I will fly to the arms of Jesus and be at rest.
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JOB
No. 1321. Vera Hall and Dock Reed, Livingston, Ala., 1937.
"Job" is an early type of spiritual in which the leader sings a story in short phrases and the congregation responds by singing "uh-huh" after each phrase and by joining in on the chorus at the conclusion of each stanza. Listen (1939 version): http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/355/3555b1.mp3 In group singing the part sung by the woman would be sung by hte group. The (un-huh)'s are nasalized.
1. O Job, Job, (uh-huh)
Oh, what you reckin? (uh-huh)
Your children's dead. (uh-huh)
O Job, Job, (uh-huh)
Oh, what you reckin? (uh-huh)
Your servant's dead, (uh-huh)
O Job, Job, (uh-huh)
Oh, what you reckin? (uh-huh)
Your daughter's dead, (uh-huh)
Just listen at Job, (uh-huh)
What Job said, (uh-huh)
"Oh, blessed be (uh-huh) the name of the Lord, (uh-huh)
The Lord he giveth, (uh-huh)
And the Lord take away, (uh-huh)
An' blessed be (uh-huh)
The name of the Lord." (uh-huh)
Chorus: Oh, run Mount Zion,
Run Mount Zion,
Oh, run Mount Zion in the mornin'.
2. Oh, Joshu-ay, (uh-huh)
He prayed to God (uh-huh)
To stop the sun (uh-huh)
Right on the line, (uh-huh)
An' the battle was foughten (uh-huh)
Ten seven times, (uh-huh)
Choruses:
An' the sun stop steady,
Sun stop steady,
Sun stop steady in the mornin'.
Oh, swing low, chariot,
Swing low, chariot,
Oh, swing low, chariot, in the mornin'.
I want to go to heaven,
Want to go to heaven,
Want to go to heaven in that mornin'.
3 Well, Methuselah Was the oldest man,
The oldest man Ever lived on earth,
He lived nine hundred And sixty-nine,
And died and went to Heaven, Well, in due time.
4 Joshu-ay
Was the son of Nun,
And God was with him
Until his work was done.
God opened the window
And began to look out,
The ram horn bio wed
And the children did shout,
The children did shout
Till the hour of seven.
Till the walls fell down
An' God heard it in Heaven.
Choruses:
Ah, weep on, Mary,
Weep on, Mary,
Oh, weep on, Mary, in the mornin'
Oh, mourn on, Marthy,
Mourn on, Marthy,
Oh, mourn on, Marthy, in the mornin'.
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JOHN DONE SAW THAT NUMBER
No. 1335. Vera Hall, Livingston, Ala., 1937. See Sa, p. 155. Moderate J = 84
Listen: (1939 version) http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/355/3554a1.mp3
Sung:
1. John done saw that number.
Way in the middle of the air,
John done saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
2 John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.
Chanted:
3 See, see, see, man, read,
Read the Revelation,
Third chapter, third verse,
And there you'll find it there;
There was a man of the Pharisees,
Named Nicodemus, ruler the Jews,
Same came to him by night,
Says, "No man can do these mi'acles
Except God be with him there."
Sung:
4 Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy."
5 John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.
Chanted:
6 There was a beast came out of the sea
Havin' ten horns and ten crowns,
On his horns was a-written blaspheme—
Sung:
7 Weep like a willow, mourn like a dove,
You can't get to heaven 'thout you go by love.
8 John saw that number.
Way in the middle of the air,
John saw that number,
Way in the middle of the air.
9 John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.
10. Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy."
Chanted:
11 God told the angel,
"Go down, see 'bout old John."
Angel flew from the bottom of the pit,
Gathered the sun all in her fist,
Gathered the moon all 'round her wrist;
Gathered the stars all under her feet;
Gathered the wind all 'round her waist.
Sung:
12 Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy, my Lord,"
Cry'n', "Holy."
13. John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, Lord,
John couldn't read it, my Lord,
John couldn't read it.
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JOHN WAS A-WRITIN'
No. 257. Group of Negro men in State Penitentiary, Milledgeville, Ga., 1934.
* The group sings in parts.
1. God, He called John while he was a-writin?, (3)
Chorus: "Oh, John, John, seal up your book,
John, John, don't you write no more."
Lord told John, "Don't you write no more."
2. Yes, he wrote the Revelation while-a he was a-writin', (3)
3. Yes, he wrote my mother's name while he was a-writin', (3)
4 Yes, he wrote my father's name while he was a-writing (3)
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[I have about 20 recorded versions of this song under different titles, (usually Dry Bones). Here's one by Elder Curry and Elder James Beck that is from the 1930s and is similar- Listen: Dry Bones]
DEM BONES
No. 177. Group of Negroes, Nashville, Tenn., 1933
1. Dem bones, dem bones, dem jee-umpin' bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem jee-umpin' bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem jee-umpin' bo-o-ones.
Chorus: Bones, bones, won't you tell me the word of God?
My Lawd, down in the valley one day.
2 Well, de toe bone jump to de foot bone.
And de foot bone jump to de ankle bone.
And de ankle bone jump to de leg bone.
3 Well, de leg bone jump to de knee bone,
And de knee bone jump to de thigh bone,
And de thigh bone jump to de hip bone.
4 Well, de hip bone jump to de back bone,
And de back bone jump to de neck bone,
And de neck bone jump to de head bone.
5 Well, de finger bone jump to de hand bone,
And de hand bone jump to de wrist bone,
And de wrist bone jump to de arm bone.
6 Well, de arm bone jump to de elbone,
And de elbone jump to de muscle bone,
And de muscle bone jump to de shoulder bone.
7 Well, de shoulder bone jump to de back bone,
And de back bone jump to de neck bone,
And de neck bone jump to de head bone.
8 Dem bones, dem bones, dem jee-umpin' bones, (3)
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THE BLOOD-STRAINED BANDERS (Blood-stained bandits—probably.)
No. 744. Ace. on guitar and sung by Jimmie Strothers. Virginia State Prison Farms, 1936. Recorded by Dr. Harold Spivacke. See Fe, p. 38. Listen: Jimmie Strothers
The itinerant street singer has been an important factor in the life of the Negro spiritual. Usually blind, piloted by his wife or by some little boy, he inches along through the streets and down the alleys of Negro working-class neighborhoods, shouting and groaning out a spiritual in his hoarse, twelve-hour-a-day voice, reminding saints and sinners that the blind must eat. The comrade of his dark, slow journeys is the battered guitar he plays.
It provides his drum and tambourine accompaniment, it hums his background harmony, it comes in strong on the chorus, it stomps his two-four rhythm and claps a counter-rhythm against itself. And when his breath is gone, "Talk it for me, now," says the blind singer, and his old box sings the words of the chorus, plaintively and high on little E.
* This rest is always omitted by the singer, who proceeds without pause.
1. If you want to go to heaven,
Just over on the other shore,
Keep out the way of the blood-strained banders.
O good Shepherd, feed my sheep.
Chorus: Some for Paul, some for Silas?
Some for to make-a my heart rejoice.
Don't you hear lambs a-cryin'?
O good Shepherd, feed my sheep.
2 If you want to go to heaven,
Just over on the other shore.
Keep out the way of the gunshot devils.
O good Shepherd, feed my sheep.
3 If you want to go to heaven,
Over on the other shore.
Keep out the way of the long-tongued liars,
O good Shepherd, feed my sheep.
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[One early recording is Blind Willie Johnson; Listen: God Moves On The Water]
GOD MOVES ON THE WATER
No. 188. Lightnin' (Washington) with group of Negro convicts, Darrington State Farm, Texas, 1933. See Whi, p. 347; Ga.2, p. 295. The notation below is a transcription of the principle vioce parts (continuous) heard on the record:
Chorus: God moves on the water, (3)
And the people had to run and pray.
1. In the year of nineteen and twelve,
On-a April the thirteenth day.
When the great Titanic was sinkin' down,
Well, the peoples had to run and pray.
2. When the great Titanic was sinkin' down,
Well, they throwed lifeboats around,
Crying "Save the womens and childrens
And let the mens go down."
3 When the lifeboats got to the landin'
The womens turned around,
Cryin', "Look 'way across that ocean, Lawdy,
At my husband drown."
4 Cap'n Smith was a-lyin' down,
Was asleep for he was tired;
Well, he woke up in a great fright
As many gunshots were fired.
5 Well, that Jacob Nash was a millionaire,
Lawd, he had plenty of money to spare;
When the great Titanic was sinkin' down,
Well, he could not pay his fare.
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[Sister Rosetta Tharpe covered this old gospel song. Listen: God Don't Like It]
GOD DON'T LIKE IT
No. 1026. Pearson Funeral Home Choir, Columbia, S.C., 1937. See Ni, p. 25 Jo.3, p. 85.
Chorus: Well, God don't like it, no, no,
God don't like it, no, no,
God don't like it, no, no,
It's a scandalous and a shame.
1 Some people stay in the churches,
They settin' in a deacon's chair,
They drinkin' beer and whisky,
And they say that they don't care.
2 Some people say that yaller corn
Can make you the very best kind;
They better turn dey yaller corn into bread
And stop that makin' 'shine
3. Some member in the churches,
They dressed and they dressed so fine;
But when you come to find out,
They been somewhere drinkin' 'shine.
4 You say you've been converted,
You ought to quit telling lies;
Quit drinking so much whisky,
Live more civilized.
5 Preacher in the pulpit,
Preaches so loud and bold;
He's preachin' all about money,
Nothin' about savin' your soul.
6 Your brother borrow your money,
He promise shore to pay;
When he see you comin'
He turn some other way.
7 When the preacher was a-preachin' while ago
Sister was about to shout;
Now deacon wants a little collection,
You got your lips poked out.
8 Fuss comes up in the church house,
Comes from the deacons' side;
If you ask them anything about it,
They will ask you out to fight.
9 Some preachers are out preachin'
Just for the preacher's name;
Their doctrine and preachin'
Are a scandal and a shame.
10 Some deacons in the churches
Are livin' with two wives;
You tell them of true glory
And you'll see their tempers rise.
11. Some preacher come to your house;
You ask him to rest his hat;
He sits right down and begins to grin,
Saying, "Sister, where's your husband at?"
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SOON ONE MORNIN' DEATH COME CREEPIN'
No. 1319. Vera Hall and Dock Reed, Livingston, Ala., 1937. See Whi, p. 785 Boa, No. 19, Jo.2, p. 174.
* In stanza 2, this incomplete measure and the upbeat to stanza 3 are omitted entirely. In all stanzas, the 2nd and 3rd beats are omitted.
1. Soon one mornin' death come creepin' in my room, (3X)
O my Lord, O my Lord, what shall I do to be saved?
2. Death done been here, tuck my mother an' gone,
3 Death done been here, left me a motherless child,
4 Don't move my pillow until my Jesus comes,
5 When Jesus comes, you can turn my bed around,
6 I'm so glad I got my religion in time,
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I FEEL LIKE MY TIME AIN'T LONG
No. 1310. Vera Hall, Livingston, Ala., 1937. See Na, p. 144.
We're going home, where they ain't no shedding tears,
Where you can't hear the hum of sewing machines
Making the winding sheets for the dead,
It's home, home,
Don't have no backbiters,
Where liars can't go,
Where every day is Sunday and the congregation ain't never dismissed;
It's home,
Got no high sheriff to ride in it,
No defuty to serve warrants.—
Many of you got a mother,
And ev'y morning she walks out on the battlements of glory.
A few more rising suns
And the silver tune'll be heard in my heart.
1. Oh, de hearse keep a-rollin' somebody to de graveyard.
Oh, de hearse keep a-rollin? somebody to de graveyard.
Oh, de hearse keep a-rollin' somebody to de graveyard.
O Lord, I feel like my time ain't long.
2. Oh, my mother outrun me, an' she gone on to glory,
3. Oh, hush cryin', Mary, you'll see your brother,
4. Lord, I know I'll see him resurrection mornin',
5. Oh, look a-here, Mary, I am the resurrection mornin',
6. Oh, the bell keep a-tonin', somebody is dyin',
7. Oh, my father outrun me, an' he gone on to glory,
8 Oh, my brother outrun me, an' he gone on to glory,
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IF I GOT MY TICKET, CAN I RIDE?
No. 209. Jim Boyd and Percy Ridge, Huntsville, Texas, 1934. See Boa, No. 76.
Now wait till I fut on my gospel shoes,
Gwine to walk about heaven an' tote de news.
When I gits to heaven gwine take my stand,
Gwine to rassle with my Lord like a natchal man.
Two milk-white horses side by side.
Me an' my Jesus gwine take an evenin' ride;
Gwine to argy wid de Father an' chatter wid de Son,
Talk about de old world I come fum.
Chorus: Lawd, if I got my ticket, can I ride?
Lawd, if I got my ticket, can I ride?
Lawd, if I got my ticket, can I ride?
Ride away to the heaven that mornin'.
1. Tell you one thing, it certainly is sho',
The Judgment's comin' an' I don't know;
Want to be ready when I'm called to go,
If anything lackin', Lawd, let me know.
(Chorus.)
2 Hear a great talk of the Judgment Day,
Got no time to projick away:
Away by and by, without a doubt,
Jehovah will order His angels out.
Clean out the world and leave no sin.
Tell me, please, where have you been?" {Chorus.)
3 Hear big talk of the gospel train,
"You want to gtt on it?" "Yes, that's my aim."
Stand at the station and patiently wait.
The train is coming and it's never late.
So long coming that it worried my mind,
Thought it waVt coming, but was just on time. (Chorus.)
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CHOOSE YOU A SEAT 'N' SET DOWN
No. 1317. Dock Reed, Henry Reed, Vera Hall, Livingston, Ala., 1937.
An ex-slave, an old Negro woman, talked to us of her life and her songs:
"l been drug about and fut through the shackles, till I done forgot some my children's names. My husband died and left me with nine children, and none of }em could full the others out of the fire iff en they fell in. I had mo'n that, but some come here dead and some didn't. Dey ain't a graveyard in this here settlement where I ain't got children buried} and I got children dead in Birmingham and Bessemer."
"I mos' blind now and I can't hear good and I ain't never read no verse in no Bible in my life, 'cause I can't read. I sets 'cross the road here from the church and can't ?o 'cause I'm cripple and blin' but I hear 'em singin'."
1. O Lordy, jes' give me a long white robe!
O Lordy, jes' give me a long white robe!
Chorus: In de heaven, choose you a seat an' set down;
In de heaven, choose you a seat n' set down;
Trouble over, choose you a seat n' set down;
Trouble over, choose you a seat n' set down.
2. O Jesus, was my mother there? O Jesus, was my mother there?
3 O Jesus, jes' give me a starry crown, O Jesus, jes' give me a starry crown. *
4. O Lordy, was my brother there? O Lordy, was my brother there?
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LOW DOWN CHARIOT
No. 1315. Vera Hall and Dock Reed, Livingston, Ala., 1937. See Boa, No. 26.
1. Oh, let-n me ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Oh, let-n me ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Oh, let-n me ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Oh, low down the chariot, let-n me ride.
2. Got a right to ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Got a right to ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Got a right to ride, oh, let-n me ride,
Oh, low down the chariot, let-n me ride.
3 Got a ticket to ride,
4 I'm humble to ride,
5 I'm beggin' to ride,
6 I'm a soldier,
7 My mother done rid,
8 Train's coming
9 I'm a warrior,
10 I'm praying
11 Prayin' to ride,