524. Daniel in the Lion's Den
[The gospel song "Daniel in the Lion's Den" has the same title but is a different song entirely, this is a ballad. The ballad version, found in the Brown Collection below, is essentially the same as the one in the 1830 Camp-Meeting Chorister (see that version: http://bluegrassmessengers.com/daniel-in-the-lions-den-ballad--chorister-1830-.aspx) Part 1.
The group of different traditional gospel songs titled, "Daniel in the Lion's Den," were recorded by both white and black groups starting in the mid-1920s. "Daniel in de Lion's Den" was recorded by the Dixon Brothers for OKeh and the North Carolina Cooper Boys recorded "Daniel in the Den of Lions" in 1927. The black gospel group, Norfolk Jubilee Quartette recorded Daniel in the Lions' Den in 1927.
A version of this different song appears under the title "Who Did" in Yale Songs: A Collection of Songs in use by the Glee Club and students of Yale in 1882 and again in the 1889 edition (with music) that can be viewed online- you'll need to enter p. 128 to find it (google book search).
WHO DID- 1882 version of Daniel in the Lion's Den (Yale Songs) First verse:
Daniel (Daniel) Daniel (Daniel)
Daniel in the li- li- li- li-
Daniel (Daniel) Daniel (Daniel)
Daniel in the li- li- li- li-
Daniel (Daniel) Daniel (Daniel)
Daniel in the li- li- li- li-
Daniel in the lion's
Daniel in the lion's den.
The ballad, a different song from the above, "Daniel in the Lion's Den," is found in 1830 in Camp-Meeting Chorister (see that version in my collection) and the version collected in 1916 that came from the mid-1800s is below. Matteson 2011]
524. Daniel in the Lion's Den
In a miscellaneous untitled collection of American broadsides in the Houghton Library of Harvard University there is a broadside of 'Daniel in the Lion's Den.' undated and without indication of printer or publisher. It is in sixteen stanzas and begins, "Among the Judith captives, one Daniel there was found."
'Daniel in the Lion's Den' appears (without music or indication of authorship) in Peter D. Myers's The Zion Songster: A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Sung at Camp and Prayer Meetings, and in Rez'ii'als of Religion (New York, 1829, 1834, 1844), pp. 304-6 (1844 ed.). The same ballad also appears, with a "Second Part" relating the fate of Daniel's enemies, in The Camp-Meeting Chorister: or, A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, for the Pious of All Denominations to Be Sung at Camp Meetings, etc. (Philadelphia. 1852). pp. 173-6. SharpK II p. 273 prints one stanza with music. The Library of Congress Check-List lists two songs with this title, both from South Carolina. Davis FSV 311-12 lists two texts by title.
Between the Zion Songster and the Blades texts (eleven stanzas in each) there are verbal differences in every stanza, twenty-six in all; e.g.: stanza 1, Zion "nations" for Blades "captives," and "They say him" for "He was": stanza 6, "Now when Darius" for "When King Darius," "soul" for "heart," "The Prince then" for "His Nobles all." These indicate copying from memory. There are similar differences from The Camp-Meeting Chorister text.
'Daniel in the Lion's Den.' From Camden Charles Blades. Elizabeth City, Pasquotank county, March 25, 1916; with the note: "The words to this were sent to my Grandfather by his sister in a letter she wrote sometime between 1845- 1854. It is not known where she got them from. This was found in his scrapbook."
524 Daniel in the Lion's Den
1. Among the Jewish captives one Daniel there was found,
Whose unexampled piety astonished all around.
He was so very pious and faithful to his Lord,
Three times a day he howed to supplicate his God.
2. Amongst the King's high princes this Daniel was the first —
The King preferred the spirit this Daniel did possess.
His unexampled piety sustained a jealousy;
The princes sought his ruin, obtained a firm decree.
3. Should any man or woman a supplication bring
For thirty days ensuing, save to thee, O King —
Or any Lord or Master or any other man —
They should without distinction fall in the lion's den.'
4. But soon as Daniel heard it, straight to his home he went;
To beg his God's protection, it was his whole intent.
His windows being open, before his God he bowed.
The princes were assembled and saw him worship God.
5 They came to King Darius and spoke of his decree.
Saying, 'This Hebrew Daniel doth nothing care for thee —
Before his God he boweth three times in every day.
With all his windows open — and we have heard him pray.'
6 When King Darius heard it, his heart did so relent;
He set his heart on Daniel his sentence to prevent.
His Nobles all assembled and to the King they said,
'Remember you great honor, likewise the law you made.'
7. Then King Darius ordered that Daniel should be brought
And cast into the lion's den because the Lord he sought.
The King then said to Daniel, 'The God whom you adore
Will save you from the lions and bless vou evermore.'
8 The King went to his palace and fasted all the night.
He neither ate nor drank, nor in music took delight.
So early the next morning he stole along the way
And came unto the lion's den where this bold Hebrew lay.
9. Then with a voice of mourning, to Daniel cry'd aloud.
Saying, 'O Daniel, Daniel- the servant of the Lord--
Is not thy God sufficient for to deliver thee?
That God in whom they trusteth and serves continually.'
10 "My God has sent His angel and shut the lion's jaws,
So that they have not hurt me — my enemies He saw.'
Straightway the King commanded to take him out the den —
Because in God he trusted no harm was found in him.
11 See how this faithful Daniel feared not the face of clay.
'Was not the King's commandment could make him cease to pray,
lie knew that God was ahle to save his soul from death.
He trusted in Jehovah — he prayed at every breath.
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524 Daniel in the Lion's Den
'Daniel in the Lion's Den.' Sung by Camden Charles Blades, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank county, March 25, 1916. See the note in III 582.
F-466
Among the Jew - ish cap - tives one Dan - iel there was
found, Whose un - ex - am - pled pi - e - ty as - ton - ished
all a - round. He was so ver - y pi - ous and
faith - ful to his Lord, Three- times a day he bowed- to God.
sup - pli - cate his
Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abcdcieeib (2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) — abed (4,4,4,4). In the last subdivision, the ending of d is like that of a; the beginning of c is very similar to that of b, and the ending of c is related to the beginning of d. The tonal center is the lowest tone.