AFS L 10: Negro Religious Songs and Services
NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Recorded in southern U.S. by John and Alan Lomax, 1934-42. Edited by B. A. Botkin.
1."Do, Lord, Remember Me", sung with guitar by Jimmie Strothers and Joe Lee
2."House Done Built Without Hands" and "Oh, the Lamb of God, the Lord Done Sanctified Me", sung by Joe Lee
3."We Are Almost Down to the Shore", sung with banjo by Jimmie Strothers
4."Shine Like a Star in the Morning", sung by Joe Lee
5."Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down", sung by Bozie Sturdivant and group
6."Down on Me", sung by Dock Reed
7."Certainly, Lord", sung by Dock Reed and Vera Hall
8."The Man of Calvary", spoken by Sin-Killer Griffin with congregation
9."Wasn't That a Mighty Storm", sung by Sin-Killer Griffin and congregation
10."Holy Babe", sung by Kelley Pace and group
11."Meet Me in Jerusalem", "When I Lay My Burden Down", "In New Jerusalem", and "Steal Away", sung with harmonica by Turner Junior Johnson
Liner Notes:
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
MUSIC DIVISION-RECORDING LABORATORY
FOLK MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
Issued From the Collections of the Archive of American Folk Song
A. 1. DO, LORD, REMEMBER ME
Sunr "lIh banjo by Jimmie Sirolhen and Joe L .. al Siale Farm, Vlrclnla, 1936.
2. HOUSE DONE BUILT WITHOUT HANDS
I. OB, THE LAMB OF GOD, mE LORD DONE SANCTIFIED ME
Sunr by Joe Lee al Siale Farm, Vlrrinla, 1936.
B. 1. WE ARE ALMOST DOWN TO THE SHORE
Sung With banjo by Jimmie Strothers at State Farm, Virginla, 1916.
2. SHINE LIKE A STAR IN THE MORNING
Sung by Joe Lee at State Farm, Vlrginia, 1936. Recorded by John A. Lomax and Harold Spineke. BLIND Jimmie Strothers learned hia hearty minstrel style of gospel-singing while traveling with & medicine show. Joe Lee sings jubilee songs in truly spiritual fashion. Both have conliderable ahowmanship. In the first selection Joe Lee beats two pieces of wire on the finger-board of the banjo, deftly avoiding the fingen of Ihe player. For "Do, Lord, Remember Me!" see Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New by Edward Boatner and Mrs. Willa A. Townsend (Nashville, Tennessee, 1927), No. 54, and American Negro Songs, by John W. Work (New York,1940), p. 82. For another version of "We Are Almost Down to the Shore" ("Fighting On! Hallelujah!"), see Jubilee and PlantatiOfi Song. (Boston, 1887), p. 53.
B. A. B.
DO, LORD, REMEMBER ME
CHORUS:
Oh, Do, Lord, do, Lord, Lord, remember me
Do, Lord, do, Lord, oh; Lord, remember me.
Hallelujuh!
Do, Lord, do, Lord, oh, Lord, remember me.
Oh, do, Lord, remember me.
1. Oh, when I'm in trouble,
Down on my knees,
When I was in trouble,
Lord, remember me.
Oh, when I'm in trouble,
Lord, remember me,
Lord, do, Lord, remember me.
2. Oh, when I am dyin',
Lord, remember me,
Oh, when I am dyin',
Lord, remember me,
Oh, when I am uyin',
Lord, remember me,
Oh, do, Lord, remember me.
3. Oh, I'm gonna take a little journey,
Lord, remember me.
I'm gonna take little Journey,
Lord, remember me.
Oh, I'm gonna take a little journey,
Lord, remember me,
Oh; do, Lord, remember me.
HOUSE DONE BUILT WITHOUT HANDS
That was Mary and Martha In the garden,
---------?---------
Silter Mary took wing of the eagle,
Sailed away to Galilee.
Oh. Mary, may I go out with you
Oh, Mary, may I go out with you.
Where you goin' up yonder'!
House, done built without hands,
Up yonder.
House done built without hands,
Who told you!
House done built without hands.
Jesus told me,
Houae done built without hands.
Walk in,
House done built without hands,
Walk in,
House done built without hands.
Sit down,
House done built without hands.
Sit down,
House done built without handa.
With the Father,
Houlle done built without handa.
And the Son,
House done built without handa.
Talk about
House done built without hands.
Where you from?
House done built without hands.
Oh, Mary, may I go out with you?
Oh, Mary, may I go out with you!
OH, THE LAMB OF GOD, THE LORD DONE SANCTIFIED ME
CHORUS:
[Children,] Oh, the Lamb of God,
The Lord done sanctified me.
Oh, the Lamb of God [Oh, that holy Lamb],
He done sanctified my soul.
1. Let me tell you what some people will do,
The Lord done sanctilled me.
Go all about and talk about you,
He done sanctified my soul.
2. Some laY Idlver, aome say gal',
The Lord done sanctified me.
But I say Jesus Christ to my soul,
He done sanctified my soul.
WE ARE ALMOST DOWN TO THE SHORE
CHORUS: Fight on, fight on,
Children, and don't turn back.
We are almost down to the shore.
1. Peter, Peter, on the sea,
Drop your nets and tollow me.
We are almost down to the shore.
2. Moses died in the days of old.
Where was he buried, never been told.
We are almost down to the shore.
3. God called Moses on the mountain top.
Praise the Lord, Aid Moses' heart.
We are almo&t down to the shore.
4. His commandments in Moses' mind,
Said Moses, "Gonna leave my children behind.
We are almost down to the shore.
SHINE LIKE A STAR IN THE MORNING
1. John was standing alone one day,
Heard a voiee behind him say,
I am Alpha Omega, the first and last
To conquer death in hell did cut.
CHORUS:
Shine, shine, shine like a star in the morning.
Shine, shine all day around the throne of God.
God knows I'm going to ahine,
Shine, ahine like a star in the morning,
Shine, shine all day around the throne of God.
2. There's what I see right in the book,
For from old death that St. John took
Jahn turned to see that voice repeat.
He begin to tremble. he begin to quake.
3. Then at first he opened, first he said,
He too risen from the dead,
Nailed to the cross and as he fell,
Went through that grave down into hell.
Then second he opened, then second he said, Jew, rose up from the dead,
Right up that road, he said,
God gonna take me from that earthly board.
47 A. AIN'T NO GRAVE CAN HOLD MY BODY DOWN
Sung by Bozie Sturdivant at Silent Grove Baptfat Church, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1942. Reeorded by Alan L0mas: and Lewis Jones. "AIN'T No Grave Can Hold My Body Down" is an excellent example (If the intrusion of jazz into Negro religion. In many cases a jazz singer or musician simply carries his art over from secular entertainment into the religious service, where it still partly serves the purpose of entertainment. The song itself illustrates the new kind of gospel song growing out of the union of jazz and religion.
B.A.B.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down, my body down.
When the first tnunpet sound,
I'll be gettin' up, walkin' round.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down, my body down.
Now when that first trumpet sound,
I'll be gettin' up, walkin' round.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
When I heani'of a beautiful city,
The street was paved with gold.
Then I had not been to Heaven.
Oh, Lord, I've been told.
Then I found this throne of grace.
It's gonna 'point my soul a place.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
When that first trumpet sound,
I'll be gettin' up, walkin' round.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
When Jesus was hangin' on the cross,
It made poor Mary moan.
He looked down on His disciples.
uTherve taken my mother home."
Ain't that a pity and dark shame,
How they crucified the Namel
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
When the first trumpet sound,
I'll be gettin' up, walkin' round.
Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
47 B. 1. DOWN ON ME
Sung by Dock Reed Livingston, Alabama, 1940.
2. CERTAINLY, LORD Sung by Dock Reed and Vera Hall .t Llvlapton, Alabama, 1940. Recorded by John A. and Ruby T. LOMax. "DOWN on Me" has the quality of a man talk as to hlmself, but it speaks for a whole class of those whom the "world I. down on." In a simple bapti.lns soli&' 11k. "Certainly, Lord" the more formal type of Nqrospiritual may be .een in the making.For the fonner. see A-.. NolI"o Song" by John W. Work (New Yorl<, 1940). p. 115: for the latter, B,.lrif"." Triumph..." Old .M New, by Edward Boatner and Mrs. Willa A. Townsend (Nashville, Tennessee. 1927), No. 16. B.A.B.
DOWN ON ME
CHORUS:
Oh, down on me,
Down on me,
Looko like everybody in thl. whole round world down on
me.
1. One of these mornings, bright and fair, Hitch on my wings and try the air. Look. like everybody In this whole round world down
on me.
2. Mary and Martha, Luke and John, All God'. propheta dead and sone. Looko like everybody in this whole round world down
on me.
3. Ain't been to heaven, but I been told Gate. i. pearl and the streets is gold. Looko like everybody in this whole round world down
on me.
4. God is God, God is God, rain 1. rain, God's a man don't never change. Looks like everybody in this whole round world down
on me."
CERTAINLY, LORD
1. [I've been to the pool,]
Certainly, Lord.
I've been to the pool,
Certainly, Lord.
I've been to the pool,
Certainly, Lord, Ah, certainly, certainly, certainly, Lord.
0129-6 (6/57) ALBUM 10-NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Page Three
2. I've be.en baptized, etc. a. My mother done told me, Certainly, Lord, U I should die,
Certainly, Lord,
A newborn babe,
Certainly, Lord,
A motherle .. child,
Certainly, Lord.
Ah, certainly, certain1y,
Certainly, Lord.
)Lh,ee~y,~y,
Certainly, Lord.
Ah, certainly, certainly,
COftainly, Lord.
Ah, certainly, certainly, certainly, Lord.
4. I've been redeemed, etc.
ALBUM lO-NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Page Four
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
MUSIC DlVISION-RECOIlDING LABORATORY
FOLK MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
Issued from the Collections of the Archive of American Folk Song
48 A. THE MAN OF CALVARY
(Easter Dar Service)
Spoken br Sin· Killer Grifiln, with conp-eg.tlonal responses
and singing, at Darrington State Farm, Sand,. Point, Texas, 1934. Recorded br John A. Lomax. AFTER the Reverend Sin-Killer Griffin, Negro prison chaplain, had heard the recording of his Calvary sermon played back, he turned and said to John A. Lomax: HMr. Lomax, for a long time I've been hearing that I'm a good preacher. Now 1 know it." This remarkable Easter Service points to the origin of all the arts of sound~u~ic, poetry, drama, and oratory-in rhythm. By a SImIlar process, the preacher and his sermon here become one in poetic and dramatic intensitr' In order to catch the full beauty and significance 0 the cadenced proseand the apocal}'1>tic imagery, one should follow the printed text closely. For a longer version, see Our Singing Oountry, collected and compiled by John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, Ruth Crawford Seeger, music editor (New York, 1941), pp. 9-13. B.A. B.
• Roman soldiers come riding in full speed on their
horses and'splunged Him in the side.
We seen blood and water came out.
Oh-h, Godamighty placed it in the minds of the people
Why the water is for baptism
And the blood is for cleansin'.
I don't care how mean you've been,
Godamighty's blood'II cleanse you from all sin.
I seen, my dear friends,
" How the times moved on.
Great God looked down,
He began to look at the temple-Jesus
said to tear down the temple
And in three days I'll rise up again in all sight.
They didn't know what He was talkin' about.
Jesus was talkin' about His templed body.
J seen while He was hanging,
The mounting began to tremble on which Jesus was
hanging on.
The blood was dropping on the mounting,
Holy blood, dropping on the mounting,
My dear friends, corrupting the mounting.
seen about that time while the blood was drop-ping
down, One----drop---after-another, I seen the sun that Jesus made in creation; The sun rose, my dear friends, And it recognized Jesus hanging on the cross. Just as soon as the sun recognized its Maker, \Vhy. it clothed itself in sack cloth-jng and went down,
Oh·h. uent down in mournin'.
"Look at my Maker dying on the cross."
And when the sun went down, _
We seen the moon, that was his Maker, too,
01>-11, 110 mCJde 'M moo-oon,
My dear friends, yes, both time and lOUona,
We seen, my dear frienda,
When the moon l'2Cognized Jesus dying on the erou,
I seen the"moon, yes, took with a judgment hemorrh&&8
and bled away.
Good God, looked doWj'.
Ol>-h, 'M dl/l,,"IIu.f on tho cr... Saw the moon goln' down In blood.
I seen, my dear friends,
About that time they looked at that,
And when the moon went down, it done bled away.
I seen the little stars, grest God, that wu there;
They remembered JesuB wilen He otruek on the anvil c!
time.
And the little stars began to show their beautiful ray of light, And the stara recogoized thei~ Maker dying on the
cross; Each little star leaped out of ita silver orbit, Corne to make the funeral torches of a dark and un~
benointed world. It got so dark until the men who was puttin' Jesus to death,
They said they could feel the darkness"in their fingers.
Great Godamighty, they were close to one another.
And it was"SO dark they could teel one another, They could hear one another talk, but they couldn't see each other. I heard one of the centurions say,
"Slwlv. ,hotll, this must be the Son of God." 'Bout that time, we seen, my dear friends,
The prophet Isaiah said the dead in the grave would hear His voice and come forward. They saw the dead gettin' up out of the grave. On the east side of Jerusalem, Gettin' up out of the grave, Walking about, Going down in town.
OJt...h. 'wall over on Nebo', mounting!
We seen the great lawgiver Got up out of his grave and began to walk about, my dear friends, Walking because Jesus said it was finished.. We notice, my dear friends, Here about that time, J shouldn't wonder, my dear friends,
The church \1.111 save you when you get into trouble.
0129-17 Clj56)ALBUM lO-NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Page Five
I
I heard the church so many times singing when you get overwhelmed into trouble. I heard the church said: Row can 1 die while Jesu8 lives'
How can I die while Jesus lives'
48 B. WASN'T THAT A MIGHTY STORM Sung by-Sin·KiUer Griffin and congregation at Darrington State Farm, Sandy Point, Te".., 1934. Recorded by John A. Lomax. IN STRUCTURE and 8tyle this 80ng about the Galve8ton tidal wave is in the tradition of ballads about disasters, such as the more familiar "Sinking of the Titanic." At the same time it has the religious setting and flavor of a song sermon on death, as Sin~Killer Griffin and his congregation point up the awfulness of physical destruction, with implied spiritual symbolism. B.A.B.
1. [---Galveston) with a sea-wall
To keep the water down.
But the high tide from the ocean
W &shed water over the town.
CHORUS :
Wasn't that a mighty storm t Oh, wasn't that a mighty storm with water I Wasn't that a mighty storm . That blew the people awayl
2. Their trumpets give them warning,
uYou'd better leave this place."
They never thought of leaving Till death looked them in the face.
S. The trains they were loaded With people leaving town.
The tracks give away from the ocean. The trains they went on down.
4. Death like a cruel master, As the wind began to blow,
Rode out on a train of horses.
Said, --Death, let me go."
6. Now, Death, in 1900That was fifteen years agoYou throwed a stone at my mother. With you she had to go. 6. Now, Death, your hands is icy, You've got them on my knees. You done carried away my mother, Now come back after m-e. 7. The trees fell on the island, The houses give away. Some people strived and drownded, Some died 'most every way. 8. The lightning played -1The thunder began to roar, The wind it began blowing,
The rain began to fall.
9. The sea it began rolling, The "ships could not land. I heard the captain crying, uPlease save a drownding man."
ALBUM 10-NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Page Six
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
MUSIC DIVISION-RECORDING LABORATORY
FOLK MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
Issued from the Collections of the Archive of American Folk Song
49 A. HOLY BABE-PART I B. HOLY BABE-PART II Sung by Kelley Pace, Aaron Brown, Joe Green, Matthew Johnson, and Paul Hayes at Cumins State Farm, Gould, Arkansas, 1942. Recorded by John A. and Ruby T. Lomax. \ N UMBER songs, counting either forward or backward, are common in most languages. Most familiar are the counting and counting-out rhymes of children. The present cumulative song is a version of "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers" (often known as "The Dilly Song"). There is a good deal of variation in the symbolism of the twelve numbers, and in the present song their significancehas often been lost. For texts and notes, see jlThe Twelve Apostles," by Phillips Barry, Bulletin of the Folk·Bong Society of the Northeast, Number 9 (1936), pp. 3-4; "Ballads and Songs,"by George Lyman Kittredge, Journal of American Folklore, Volume xxx (July-September, 1917), pp. 335-337; "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers," by William Wells Newell, ibid., Volume IV (July-September, 1891), pp. 215220; and lIThe Carol of the Twelve Numbers," by Leah Rachel Clara Yoffie, Southern Folklore Quarterly, Volume IV (June, 19(0), pp. 73-75. B.A.B. 1. Children, I'm going, I will send [sing] thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee one by one.
Well, one was the Holy Baby,
Was borne by the Virgin Mary,
Was wrapped in the hollow of a c1awhorn,
Was laid in a hollow manger,
Was born, horn, Lordy, born in Bethlehem.
2. Children, I'm going, I will, send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee two by two.
Well, two was the Paul and Silas,
And one was the Holy Baby, etc.
3. Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee three by three.
Well, three was the Hebrew children,
And two was the Paul and Silas, etc.
4. Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee four by four.
Well, four was the four come a-knockin' at the door,
And three was the Hebrew children, etc.
6. Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee five by five.
Well, five was the Gospel writers,
And four was the four come a-knockin' at the door, etc.
6.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee six by six.
Well, six was the six that couldn't get fixed.
Oh, five was the Gospel writers, etc.
7.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee seven by seven.
Well, seven was the seven came down from heaven,
And six was the six that couldn't get fixed, etc.
8.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee. What shall I send thee? Lord, I shall send thee eight by eight. Well, eight was the eight that stood at the gate, And seven was the seven came down from heaven, etc.
9.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee.
What shall I send thee?
Lord, I shall send thee nine by nine.
Well, nine was the nine that dressed so fine.
Oh, eight was the eight that stood at the gate, etc.
10.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee. What shall I send thee? Lord, I shall send thee ten by ten. Well, ten was the Ten Commandments, And nine was the nine that dressed so fine, etc.
11.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee. What shall I send thee? Lord, I shall send thee eleven by eleven. Well, eleven was the eleven riders, And ten was the Ten Commandments, etc.
12.
Children, I'm going, I will send thee. What shall I send thee? Lord, I shall send thee twelve by twelve. Well, twelve was the twelve disciples, And eleven was the eleven riders, And ten was the Ten Commandments, And nine was the nine that dressed so fine, And eight was the eight that stood at the gate, And seven was the seven came down from heaven, And six was the six that couldn't get fixed, And five was the Gospel writers, And four was the four come a-knockin' at the door, And three was the Hebrew children, And two was the Paul and Silas, And one was the Holy Baby, Was borne by the Virgin Mary, Was wrapped in the hollow of a clawho~, Was laid in a hollow manger, Was born, born, Lordy, born in Bethlehem.
0129-20 (5/56) ALBUM lO-NEGRO RELIGIOUS SONGS AND SERVICES
Page Seven
THE LmRARY OF CONGRESS
MUSIC DIVISION-RECORDING LABORATORY
FOLK MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
Issued from the Collections of the Archive of American Folk Song
50 A. 1. MEET ME IN JERUSALEM 2. WHEN I LAY MY BURDEN DOWN B. 1. IN NEW JERUSALEM 2. STEAL AWAY Sung with harmonica by Turner Junior Johnson at Clark8~ dale, Misaiosipp~ 1942. Recorded by Alan Lomax and Lewis Jones. T HROUGH a whimsical mixture of hannonica and voice, the former casually taking up where the latter leaves off, Turner Junior Johnson achieves bizarre effects with his street-corner performance of hymn tunes. On the one hand, he is in the spontaneous, ejaculatory tradition of the revival or camp-meeting singer. On the other hand, he is like any number of self-trained musicians who like to see what they can do with an inexpensiveharmonica. The result combines freedom and naturalness with stirring fervor. B.A.B.
MEET ME IN JERUSALEM
Where the b100d washed on a crucifiedI'll
meet my mothe~wel1, some place in-
WHEN I LAY MY BURDEN DOWN
CB:OBUS :
Glory, glory, hallelujah! When I lay my burden down. Glory, glory, hallelujah! When I lay my burden down.
1. 1'1 see Jesus, hallelujahl Wbenl2. I'm goin' home there to live with my Jesus-WbenIlay3. I'm goin' meet my lovin' mother4. I'm goin' meet my lovin' father
IN NEW JERUSALEM 1. There's a bright-There's a bright-2. My mother, my mother in-STEAL AWAY 1. My Lord He call me, He call me by the Iightnin'. Well, the trumpet sounda down in-uh my IOUI. Well, I ain't got long to stay here. 2. Dark clouda arising, Po' sinner stands a·tremblin'. Ifhe ain't got the love of God in his BOul, Well, he ain't got long to stay here.