The Negro and his Songs- Odum & Johnson 1925

 "The Negro and his Songs: A Study of Typical Negro Songs in the South"

[This page contains: 1) Preface, 2) Contents, 3) Bibliography and 4) Index. The individual chapters are found attached to this page on the left-hand column]

LIBRARY OF WELLESLEY COLLEGE

THE NEGRO AND HIS SONGS

A STUDY OF TYPICAL NEGRO SONGS IN THE SOUTH

BY HOWARD W. ODUM, Ph.D.

KENAN PROFESSOR OP SOCIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THESCHOOL OP PUBLIC WELFARE, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

AND GUY B. JOHNSON, A.M.

INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN SOCIAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA


CHAPEL HILL, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS
Copyright, 1925, By
The University of North Carolina Press

LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1925

PREFACE

This volume is presented simply as a part of the  story of the Negro. Other volumes are planned to  follow: another collection of songs brought more  nearly up to date; a presentation of song and story  centered around case studies; a series of efforts to portray objectively the story of race progress in the United States in the last half dozen decades. In each  case the material will be presented simply for what it  is and not for cosmic generalizations or ethnic interpretation. In the present volume the use of the term  Negro refers only to the Negro singer and to that  which he represents. The term folk song is used in  this collection in a general way and for comparative  reference. In neither case are the terms employed  with an all-inclusive and technically comprehensive  meaning. The Negroes in this book are real Negroes,  but they do not represent all the Negro race; the songs are real songs, but many of them are not folk songs  in the accurate sense of the word.

The volume will be found to abound in paradoxes  and contradictions. The songs are not alike; the  dialect is not consistent. There are lyrics of power  and appeal, and there are verses crude and sordid.  There are lines of elegance and inelegance. There  are ballads of worth and disjointed, inconsequential  lines of trash. There is sorrow and there is joy; pathos stands alongside humor. If, as W. T. Dawson says,  the secret of true poetry is to see and to feel, then there  is poetry in the Negro songs. If images and allegories  are better than material things, then the Negro singer  is good. But if one is to find poetry, like some Richard Jeffries, dwelling on the mystery and beauty of the  flesh, on the sensitive elegance of nature and the soul, or like Wordsworth's man-to-man poet, there will be  many who dissent from such a judgment of crude  creative effort. For there abounds much coarseness.  Well it is that this collection has no duty to evaluate  overweening physical expression alongside spiritual  aspiration, to judge whether buttercups are grazing  grass or the substance of sun-spilt immortal gold! Other contrasts there are: stately measures and  broken rhythm, forced triseme and ragged trochee,  illogical asyndeton and mixed meters, and such other  untamed technique as will undoubtedly do justice to  the singer of the songs.

But here are the songs as they were found with  something of their setting. Some of them have been  published in The Journal of American Folklore, and  some in The American Journal of Religious Psychology.  Acknowledgment of previous publication in these  journals is here rendered. Considerable material could  not be included in this collection but will follow in the next. This material includes a group of songs collected in Tennessee by Anna Kranz Odum, to whom  we are indebted for much help in the utilization of the  material in this volume; new songs recently collected  in North Carolina and other localities; and a miscellaneous collection of rhymes, games, improvisations,  original compositions and riddles.

The songs in this volume were collected in Northern  Mississippi, counties of Pontotoc and LaFayette, and  in Northern Georgia, counties of Newton and Rockdale. A few other songs and fragments, chiefly from  North Carolina and Tennessee, have been used here  and there for comparative purposes.

Whatever of special merit the present volume may  have besides the inherent value of the collection, is due  to the work of Mr. Guy B. Johnson, who has taken the  entire original collection, rearranged and reclassified  many of the songs, eliminated much duplication, made  comparative studies of other collections, and added  generally to the effectiveness of the presentation. Special thanks are due Dr. L. R. Wilson, Director of the  University of North Carolina Press, for his valuable  suggestions in working out many important details,  and to Dean J. F. Royster for his kindness in going  over most of the original manuscript and making  helpful suggestions.

Chapel Hill, N. C. H. W. 0.

February, 1925.

CONTENTS

Preface PAGE

I. Presenting the Singer and His Song 1

II. The Religious Songs of the Negro 14

III. Examples of Religious Songs 59

IV. Examples of Religious Songs, Concluded . . .111

V. The Social Songs of the Negro 148

VI. Examples of Social Songs 168

VII. Examples of Social Songs, Concluded .... 196

VIII. The Work Songs of the Negro 246

IX. Imagery, Style, and Poetic Effort 269

Bibliographical Notes 297

Index of Songs 30

 

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NEGRO FOLK SONGS

BOOKS

Allen, W. F., and others, Slate Songs of the United States. New York, 1867. Words and music of 136 songs are given.

Armstrong, M. F., Hampton and Its Students. New York, 1874. Fifty plantation songs.

Cox, J. H., Folk Songs of the South. Harvard University Press, 1924. Most of these songs are songs of the whites of the mountains, but they are particularly valuable in that they throw light on the origin of many Negro songs.

Fenner, T. P., Religious Folk Songs of the American Negro. Hampton Institute Press, 1924. (Arranged in 1909 by the Musical Directors of Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute from the original edition by Thomas P. Fenner. Reprinted in 1924.) This volume contains the words and music of 153 religious songs.

Fenner, T. P., and Rathbun, F. G., Cabin and Plantation Songs. New York, 1891. Old Negro plantation songs with music.

Harris, Joel Chandler, Uncle Remus, His Songs and Sayings. New York, 1880. Nine songs.

Harris, Joel Chandler, Uncle Remus and His Friends. New York, 1892. Sixteen songs.

Hobson, Anne, In Old Alabama. New York, 1903. Ten dialect stories and songs.

Kennedy, R. Emmet, Black Cameos. Albert & Charles Boni, New York, 1924. A collection of twenty-eight stories, mostly humorous, with songs interwoven. The words and music of seventeen songs are given.

Krehbiel, H. E., A fro- American Folk Songs. G. Schirmer, New York and London, 1914. A careful study of Negro folk  songs from the point of view of the skilled musician. Songs and music from Africa and other sources are analyzed and  compared with American Negro productions. The music of sixty or more songs and dance airs is given.

Marsh, J. B. T., The Story of the Jubilee Singers. Boston, 1880.  An account of the Jubilee Singers, with their songs.

Peterson, C. G., Creole Songs from New Orleans. New  Orleans, 1902.

Pike, G. D., The Jubilee Singers. Boston and New York,  1#73. Sixty-one religious songs.

Talley, Thomas, W., Negro Folk Rhymes. Macmillan, New  York, 1922. This volume contains about 350 rhymes and songs  and a study of the origin, development, and characteristics of Negro rhymes. Besides a general index of songs, a comparative  index is included.

Work, John Wesley, Folk Song of the American Negro.  Fisk University Press, Nashville, 1915. The words of fifty-five  songs and music of nine, together with a study of the origin and  growth of certain songs.

PERIODICALS

Backus, E. M., "Negro Stings from Georgia," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 10, pp. 116, 202, 216; vol. 11, pp. 22, 60.  Six religious songs.

Backus, E. M., "Christmas Carols from Georgia ," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 12, p. 272. Two songs.

Barton, W. E., "Hymns of Negroes," New England Magazine,  vol. 19, pp. 669 et seq., 706 et seq. A number of songs with  some musical notation and discussion.

Bergen, Mrs. F. D., "On the Eastern Shore," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 2, pp. 296-298. Two fragments, with  a brief discussion of the Negroes of the eastern shore of Maryland.

Brown, J. M., "Songs of the Slave," Lippincotts, vol. 2, pp. 617-623. Several songs with brief comments.

Cable, George W., "Creole Slave Songs," Century, vol. 31,  pp. 807-828. Twelve songs with some fragments, music of  seven.

Clarke, Mary Almsted, "Song Games of Negro Children  in Virginia," Journal of American Folk Lore, vol. 3, pp. 288-290.  Nine song games and rhymes.

Garnett, L. A., "Spirituals," Outlook, vol. 130, p. 589. Three  religious songs. However, they appear to have been polished  considerably by the writer.

Haskell, M. A., "Negro Spirituals," Century, vol. 36, pp. 577  et seq. About ten songs with music.

Higginson, T. W., "Hymns of Negroes," Atlantic Monthly,  vol. 19, pp. 685 et seq. Thirty-six religious and two secular  songs, with musical notation.

Lemmerman, K., "Improvised Negro Songs," New Republic,  vol. 13, pp. 214-215. Six religious songs or improvised fragments.

Lomax, J. A., "Self-pity in Negro Folk Song," Nation, vol. 105,  pp. 141-145. About twenty songs, some new, others quoted  from Perrow and Odum, with discussion.

"Negro Hymn of Day of Judgment," Journal of American  Folk Lore, vol. 9, p. 210. One religious song.

Odum, Anna K., "Negro Folk Songs from Tennessee," Journal  of American Folk Lore, vol. 27, pp. 255-265. Twenty-one religious and four secular songs.

Odum, Howard W., "Religious Folk Songs of the Southern  Negroes," Journal of Religious Psychology and Education, vol. 3,  pp. 265-365. About one hundred songs.

Odum, Howard W., "Folk Song and Folk Poetry as Found in  the Secular Songs of the Southern Negroes," Journal of American  Folk Lore, vol. 24, pp. 255-294; 351-396. About 120 songs.

Perkins, A. E., "Spirituals from the Far South," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 35, pp. 223-249. Forty-seven songs.

Perrow, E. C, "Songs and Rhymes from the South," Journal of American Folk Lore, vol. 25, pp. 137-155; vol. 26, pp. 123-173;  vol. 28, pp. 129-190. A general collection containing 118 Negro  songs, mostly secular.

Redfearn, S. F., "Songs from Georgia," Journal of American  Folk Lore, vol. 34, pp. 121-124. One secular and three religious  songs.

Speers, M. W. F., "Negro Songs and Folk Lore," Journal of American Folk Lore, vol. 23, pp. 435-439. One religious and one secular song.

Steward, T. G., "Negro Imagery," New Republic, vol. 12,  p. 248. One religious improvisation, with discussion.

Thanet, Octave, "Cradle Songs of Negroes in North Carolina,"  Journal of American Folk Lore, vol. 7, p. 310. Two lullabies.

Truitt, Florence, "Songs from Kentucky," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 36, pp. 376-379. Four white songs, one  of which contains several verses often found in Negro songs.

Webb, W. P., "Notes on Folk Lore of Texas," Journal of  American Folk Lore, vol. 28, pp. 290-299. Five secular songs.

 

INDEX TO SONGS

RELIGIOUS SONGS---PAGE

After 'While 133

All My Sins Done Taken Away 60

Bear Yo' Burden 82

Blessed Hope 146

Blow, Gable, Blow 86

Brother, You'd Better Be a Prayin' 80

By and By I'm Goin' to See Them 144

Come, Sinner, Come 78

Cross Me Over 89

Dat Sabbath Hath No End 63

Death is in Dis Land 109

De Blood Done Sign My Name 122

De Udder Worl' is Not Lak Dis 123

Dere's No One Lak Jesus 93

Didn't It Rain ? 129

Do, Lord, Remember Me 92

Don't You See? . 96

Drinkin' of the Wine 136

Dry Bones Goin' Rise . . . . 102

Every Day 119

Fohty Days an' Nights 127

For My Lord 90

Free, Free, My Lord 68

Get in the Union 85

Give Me Jesus 93

Glad I Got Religion 70

Go, and I Go Wid You 135

God Knows It's Time 71

God's Goin' Wake up the Dead 75

Goin' Down to Jordan 124

Goin' to Outshine the Sun 109

Great Judgment Day 99

Gwine Lay Down My Life for My Lord ..... 91

Hangin' Over Hell 88

Heal Me, Jesus 139

Heaven 98

He Is Waiting 83

I Ain't Goin' to Study War No More 101

I Am de Light uv de Worl' 64

I Cannot Stay Here by Myself 115

I Don't Care for Riches . 108

I Goin' Put on My Golden Shoes 107

I Goin' Try the Air 106

I Got a Home 95

I Heard the Angels Singin' 140

I Know My Time Ain't Long 119

I Look for Jesus All My Days 79

If I Keep Prayin' On 98

If I Was a Mourner 73

I'm on My Journey Home 99

In the Morning 100

It Just Suits Me 121

Jesus Done Bless My Soul 65

Jesus Is Listenin' 81

Jesus Wore the Crown 108

Join de Heaven Wid de Angels 103

Keep Inchin' Along 89

King Jesus Is the Rock 92

Lord, Bless the Name 67

Lord, I Just Got Over 66

Love the Lord 94

My Lord's Comin' Again 74

My Mother Got a Letter 120

My Soul's Goin' to Heaven 101

My Trouble Is Hard 130

Oh, the Sunshine! 67

Oh, What a Hard Time! 87

Ole Ship of Zion 117

Paul and Silas 126

Po' Sinner Man 88

Same Train 112

Sinner Die 75

Steal Away 139

Talk About Me . . , 84

The Angel Ban d 104

The Big Fish 141

The Blind Man Stood by the Way and Cried . . . 136

The Downward Road Is Crowded 73

The Gospel Train 113

The Ole Time Religion 142

The Pilgrim's Song 137

They Nail Him to the Cross 125

This Ole World's a Hell to Me 116

This Old World's a Rollin' 118

True Religion 83

Walkin' in the Light 137

'Way in de Middle of de Air 105

Whar' Shall I Be? 134

What You Goin' Do? ....... 77

Wheel in Middle of Wheel 81

When de Train Come Along Ill

Witness for My Lord 132

Working on the Building 72

You Better Git Yo' Ticket 112

You Can't Stay Away 117

You Got a Robe 97

SOCIAL SONGS

An Opossum Hunt (Talley) 241

Baby, Let Me Bring My Clothes Back Home . . . 187

Baby, Let the Deal Go Down 230

Baby, What Have I Done? 185

Baby, You Sho Lookin' Warm 175

Bad Lan' Stone 212

Brady 208

Brer Rabbit 215

Can't Be Yo' Turtle Any Mo' 183

Carve Tm to de Heart 240

Casey Jones 207

Cocaine Habit 218

Cross-eyed Sally 241

Diamon' Joe 184

Don't Never Git One Woman on Your Mind .... 223

Eddy Jones 205

Ev'ybody Bin Down on Me 215

False Alarm 232

Farewell 195

Frank and Jesse James 209

Frightened Away From a Chicken Roost (Talley) . . 237

Frisco Rag Time 171

Get That Money 231

Give Me a Little Buttermilk 225

Got Nowhere to Lay My Weary Head 175

Greasy Greens 226

Honey, Take a One on Me 193

Honey, Take a Whiff on Me 193

Hop Right 190

I Ain't Bother Yet .*.... . 179

I Couldn't Git In 189

I Got Mine 232

I Love That Man, O God, I Do 193

If I Die in Arkansas 174

If You Want to Go a Courtin' 192

If You Want to Marry 192

I'm a Natu'al-Bohn Eastman 211

I'm Goin' Back 217

I'm Going 'Way 178

I'm on My Last Go-round 180

It's Lookin' fer Railroad Bill 200

It's That Bad Railroad Bill 199

Joe Turner 206

Joseph Mica 208

Julia Waters 219

K. C 221

Kelly's Love 194

L. and N 222

Learn Me to Let All Women Alone 181

Lilly 228

Long an' Tall an' Chocolate to the Bone 187

Looked Down de Road . 173

Looking for a Fight (Talley) 213

Lookin' for That Bully of This Town 203

Lost John 227

Make Me a Palat on de Flo' 183

Mule Song 154

No More Good Time 184

Nobody's Bizness but Mine 216

O Babe! 178

O My Babe, Won't You Come Home 182

Odd Fellows Hall 231

On a Hog 170

One Mo' Rounder Gone 210

Pans o' Biscuit 235

Po' Boy Long Way From Home 169

Poor John 155

-Railroad Bill 198

Right on, Desperado Bill 202

Rollin' Mill 218

She Roll Dem Two White Eyes 238

Simon Slick's Mule (Talley) 238

Stagolee 196

Stagolee Done Kill Dat Bully Now 197

Started to Leave 188

Sweet Forget-me-not 195

Sweet Tennessee 179

'Tain't Nobody's Bizness but My Own 177

Take Yo' Time 176

The Negro Bum 210

Things Ain't Same, Babe, Since I Went 'Way . . . 186

This Mornin', This Evenin' so Soon 214

Thought I Heard That K. C. Whistle Blow .... 220

What's Stirrin', Babe? 190

When de Band Begins to Play 235

When I Was a "Roustabout" (Talley) 182

Whoa Mule! 153

Wild Negro Bill (Talley) 213

You May Leave, but This Will Bring You Back . . . 213

You Shall Be Free 233

WORK SONGS

A Hint to the Wise 257

Ain't It Hard to Be a Nigger? 254

Baby Mine 261

Baby's in Memphis 248

Early in de Mornin' - 260

Gang Songs 263

Grade Song 252

Heave-a-hora 265

Ho-ho 261

I Thought I Had a Friend 250

If You Don't Like the Way I Work 256

It's Movin' Day 250

Jay Gooze 248

Lawdy, Lawdy, Lawdy 257

Pick-and-shovel Song 255

Raise the Iron 262

Satisfied 249

The Day I Lef' My Home 259

Under the Rail 260

Well, She Ask Me in de Parlor 258

Workmen's Jingles 251