Spirituals from St. Helena, South Carolina
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 38, No. 148 (Apr. - Jun., 1925), pp. 217-238
These spirituals were written by the pupils of Penn School, in 1923. Of the tales contributed only those are published which are not contained in Memoir 10 of the American Folklore Society or which are particularly interesting variants of the tales in that collection from the Sea Islands.
SPIRITUALS
I GIT A LETTER DIS MORNIN'
I git a letter dis mornin', Aye Lo'd,
I git a letter dis mornin', Aye Lo'd.
Who you t'ink dat letter from, Aye Lo'd.
Letter from my Jesus, Aye Lo'd.
Take um to my brother, Aye Lo'd,
Take um to my brother, Aye Lo'd,
My brother could not read it, Aye Lo'd.
Take it to my sister, Aye Lo'd
My sister could not read it, Aye Lo'd.
YO RELIGION NEVER MAKE YOU SHAME
Oh yo religion never make you shame,
Oh yo religion never make you shame,
Oh yo religion never make you shame,
Hold out.
Oh I'm gwine down to Jordan, hold out.
Gwine down to Jordan. Hold out, hold out.
Oh if that's yo aim, hold out.
Oh if that's yo aim, hold out,
Hold out.
I think my mother say hold out.
Oh I think my mother say hold out, hold out.
I think my brother say hold out.
Oh I think my brother say hold out, hold out.
I think my sister say hold out.
Oh I think my sister say hold out, hold out.
Oh yo religion never make you shame.
Oh yo, oh Lordie, religion never make you shame.
Yo religion never make yo shame,
Hold out.
I AM GOING TO LAY MY BODY DOWN
Hush mamma baby don't you mou'n,
I am going to lay this body down.
Hush mamma baby don't you mou'n,
I am going to lay this body down,
I am going to lay this body down.
Sense for my mother, father give me over.
I am going to lay this body down,
I am going to lay this body down.
I am going to lay this body down.
Sense for my preacher, preacher give me over.
I am going to lay this body down.
I am going to lay this body down.
I am going to lay this body down.
I AM RUNNING FOR THE LIFE
1. I'm running for the life,
I'm running for the life,
If anybody ask you what's the matter with me,
Tell um I said, I'm running for the life.
2. I'm mourning for the life,
I'm mourning for the life,
If anybody ask you what's the matter with me,
Tell um I said, I'm mourning for the life.
3. I'm a praying for the life,
I'm a praying for the life.
If anybody should ask you what's the matter with me,
Tell um I said, I'm praying for me life,
I'm praying for me life.
COME AND GO WITH ME
CHORUS: Come, come, come and go with me.
Come, come, come and go with me.
Come, come, come and go with me.
Oh! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
1. If you are a Christian, come and go with me.
If you are a Christian, come and go with me.
If you are a Christian, come and go with me.
Oh ! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
(Chorus)
2. If you are a warrior, come and go with me.
If you are a warrior, come and go with me.
If you are a warrior come and go with me.
Oh! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
(Chorus)
3. If you are a true believer, come and go with me.
If you are a true believer, come and go with me.
If you are a true believer, come and go with me.
Oh! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
(Chorus)
4. Christ told the blind man go down to the river and bade.
Christ told the blind man go down to the river and bade.
Christ told the blind man go down to the river and bade.
Oh! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
(Chorus)
5. Christ told Nicodemus, " You must be born again, "
Christ told Nicodemus, " You must be born again. "
Oh! hal - le - lu - iah, amen.
(Chorus)
I'M GINE TO DIE WID DE STAFF IN MY HAND
I'm gine to die wid de staff in my hand,
I'm gine to die wid de staff in my hand,
No matter what dey say,
No matter what dey do,
I'm gine to die wid de staff in my hand.
1. Some people in de world
And dey don' know what to say,
For when dey look aroun'
It seems like judgment day.
But I'm gine to die wid de staff in my hand.
Some are fighting in the air,
Some are kneeling down to prayer,
But I'm gine to die wid de staff in my hand.
JESUS DONE JUST WHAT HE SAID
1. Jesus done just what he said, - yes he did.
He healed the sick, and he raised the dead, - yes he did.
CHORUS: You can tell the world about this.
I will tell the nation about that.
Tell them that my Lord has come.
Tell them what the Comforter has done.
That he brought joy, joy, joy, to my soul.
2. Upon the mountain my Lord spoke, - yes he did.
Out of his mouth came fire and smoke, - yes he did.
3, John the Baptist, he declared, - yes he did.
Ain't but the righteous shall go there, - yes he did.
4. I remember the hour, I remember it well, - yes he did.
When Jesus washed my sins away, - yes he did.
PLAY ON YOUR HARP LITTLE DAVID
1. I have a leader over there,
I have a leader over there,
I have a leader over there,
In the kingdom of my Lord.
Trumpet of God going to sound.
Members, if you die in Christ
You going to rise.
In the Resurrection morning
You got to shine.
2. Play on your harp little David,
Play on your harp little David,
Play on your harp little David,
In the kingdom of my Lord.
Trumpet of God going to sound.
Members, if you die in Christ
You going to rise.
In the Resurrection morning
You got to shine.
3. I have a Savior over there,
I have a Savior over there,
I have a Savior over there,
In the kingdom of my Lord.
Trumpet of God going to sound.
Members, if you die in Christ
You going to rise.
In the Resurrection morning
You got to shine.
4. I'm going over there,
I'm going over there,
I'm going over there,
In the kingdom of my Lord.
Trumpet of God going to sound.
Members, if you die in Christ,
You going to rise.
In the Resurrection morning
You got to shine.
JESUS IS MY ONLY FRIEND
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is jny only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
When the doctor he done give me over,
When the doctor he done give me over,
When the doctor he done give me over,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
When the preacher he done give me over,
When the preacher he done give me over,
When the preacher he done give me over,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
CHORUS: Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
When my room became a public highway,
When my room became a public highway,
When my room became a public highway,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
When my face became a looking-glass,
When my face became a looking-glass,
When my face became a looking-glass,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
CHORUS: Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Jesus, Jesus is my only friend,
Lord King Jesus is my only friend.
DE ANGELS ARE WATCHIN' OBER ME
CHORUS: All night, all night
De angels are watchin' ober me.
All night, all night,
Oh de angels are watchin' ober me.
1. Some say Peter and some say Paul,
De angels are watchin' ober me,
Ain't but one God made us all,
Oh angels are watchin' ober me.
2. If you get there before I do,
De angels are watchin' ober me,
Tell all my friend I am coming, too,
Oh de angels are watchin' ober me.
WE GOT A SOUL TO SABE
CHORUS: Go round, go round look at de morning star,
Go round, go round, we got a soul to save.
Hadn't been for Satan
We wouldn't had to pray.
Now Satan broke God holy law,
And we got a soul to save.*
When I was a laying at Hell's dark door
No one to pity poor me,
Massa Jesus he came riding by
And brought my liberty.
*Variant of verse 1.:
Hadn't been for Satan we wouldn't had to pray,
And we got a soul to sabe.
I LOVE MY BLESSED SAVIOR
1. I love my blessed Savior
And sorry when He died
It hurted me to my blessed heart
To see Him crucified.
CHORUS: He cried how long, how long,
He cried how long, how long,
He cried how long, how long,
For my Lord told me so.
When Jesus was hanging on the Cross,
And the Jews were standing round.
One picked up the sword and plunged it in his side
And the blood came trickling down.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW JUST HOW I DIE
Everybody wants to know just how I die,
Just how I die,
Just how I die.
Everybody wants to know just how I die,
Everybody wants to know just how I die.
Just how you live, just how you die.
Just how you die,
Just how you die.
Just how you live, just how you die.
Everybody wants to know how I die.
I am going to read my testimony on my bed,
On my bed,
On my bed.
I am going to read my testimony on my bed,
Everybody wants to know how I die.
I am going to have it written in my for'head,
In my for'head,
In my for'head.
I am going to have it written in my for'head,
Everybody wants to know how I die.
WHEN THE ROCK AND THE MOUNTAIN GIVE WAY
1. I wonder what the gamblers going to do that day,
When the rock and the mountain give away.
CHORUS: Give away, give away,
When the rock and the mountain give away,
Give away, give away,
When the rock and the mountain give away.
2. I wonder what the liars going to do that day
When the rock and the mountain give away.
3. I wonder what the sinners going to do that day
When the rock and the mountain give away.
LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES
1. Let us break bread together on our knees,
Let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh ! Lord, have mercy on me.
2. Let us drink wine together on our knees,
Let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh! Lord have mercy on me.
3. Let us praise God together on our knees,
Let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh ! Lord have mercy on me.
Chorus: Oh ! Lord, have mercy on me,
Oh ! Lord have mercy on me.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh! Lord have mercy on me.
I WANT TO DIE EASY WHEN I DIE
I want to die easy when I die,
I want to die easy when I die,
I want to die easy when I die,
Shout salvation as I fly.
Lord, I want to die easy when I die.
I want to see my mother when I die,
I want to see my mother when I die,
I want to see my mother when I die,
Shout salvation as I fly.
Lord, I want to see my mother when I die.
I want to see my pastor when I die,
I want to see my pastor when I die,
I want to see my pastor when I die,
Shout salvation as I fly.
Lord, I want to see my pastor when I die.
I want to see my Jesus when I die.
I want to see my Jesus when I die.
I want to see my Jesus when I die,
Shout salvation as I fly.
Lord, I want to see my Jesus when I die.
I want to go to Heaven when I die,
I want to go to Heaven when I die,
I want to go to Heaven when I die,
Shout salvation as I fly.
Lord, I want to go to Heaven when I die.