569. Going to Heaven by the Light of the Moon

569

Going To Heaven by the Light of the Moon

Concerning the origin of the song, Dr. White conjectures: 'Very possibly connected with early minstrel song books, like 'Golden Slippers.'" Cf. Steely 242-3 (i935)-

From Mrs. Alice Cooke, with imisic. A phonograph recording was made at Boone in 1922.

Going to Heaven bv the light of the moon,

Halle, halle, halle. halle-lu-jah,

Up to meet them darkies soon.

Halle, halle, halle, halle-lu-jah.

In the morning, in the morning by the bright ligbt.

When Cabriel blows his trumpet in the morning.
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569

Going to Heaven by the Light of the Moon

'Going to Heaven by the Light of the Moon.' Sung by Mrs. Alice Cooke,
Boone, Watauga county, in 1922. About the conjectural connection with early
minstrel song books which Dr. N. I. White suggests, one can refer to MSON
166-7 which shows the very close relation to 'In the Morning by the Bright
Light,' credited to James Bland. Incidentally, the chorus there is almost
identical. For additional texts cf. OFS 11 389-90 and SFSEA 234, last line
of stanza.

 


F-50I


Goin' to Heav'n by the light of the moon, Hal - le,

 


hal - le, hal - le, hal - le - lu - jah.

Up to meet them dark soon,

Hal - le, hal - le, hal - le, hal - le - jah. }
In the morn - ing, in the morn - ing by the


bright light. When Ga - briel blows his trum-pet in the morn - ing.

For melodic relationship cf. **MSON 166-7, first half of chorus only.

Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aa^bc (4,4,3,3);
b is a considerably varied contraction of a. Over-all form: mm^n (4,4,6) ^
barform.