294. Last Words of William Shackleford


294

William Shackleford's Farewell Song
As Sung by Shackleford

From Southgate Jones, Durham, N. C, May 5, 1920, with a letter,
quoted in the headnote to 'Last Words of William Shackleford,' above :
"the last page [of the old darkey's MS] contains a song that this
preacher wrote in the same connection." This is not the three-stanza
prayer-poem published in the Chatham Record, March 20, 1890, and
attributed by the editor to Shackleford. It is a typical spiritual, with
phraseology common to the type ; e.g., "The warfare . . . ended" occurs
in Nos. Lxiv, 66B, and lxvi of Jackson WNS 190-1. It is here printed
as transcribed.

I My Warfair will soon be ended
My trouble is almost don
My warfair is almost ended
And then I am going home.

* The stanza corresponding to the ninth in the original is wanting.

 

NORTH CAROLINA BALLADS 683

2 God bless the Holy people
The Presbetiran twoo,
Those shoutain Meterdos
And the prayin Babtis twoo.^

3 My Warfair will soon be ended
My trouble almost don

My warfair will soon be ended
And then I am goin home.