Chapter XI. Workaday Religious Songs

CHAPTER XI
WORKADAY RELIGIOUS SONGS

Many a laborer, although singing his full quota of
secular songs, still finds his workaday solace
best in his favorite heritage of church and religious
melodies. There is surcease of sorrow in the plaintive

Yes, Lawd, burden down, burden down,
O Lawd, since I laid my burden down.

And the appeal for relief from present difficulties, so
eloquently expressed in the previous chapters, finds its
counterpart in this favorite of many workers of the
present day.

Do, Lawd, remember me,
Do, Lawd, remember me,
When I'm in trouble,
Do, Lawd, remember me.

When I'm low down,
Do, Lawd, remember me.
Oh, when I'm low down,
Do, Lawd, remember me.

Don't have no cross,
Do, Lawd, remember me,
Don't have no crown,
Do, Lawd, remember me.

There seems to be an impression abroad to the effect
that the making of Negro spirituals stopped long ago.
On the contrary, it is quite probable that more spirituals
are being made today than during the days of slavery.
As a matter of fact the old spirituals have never been

 

Workaday Religious Songs 189

static. It is no longer possible to speak of the "pure"
or "original" version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,
of Roll, Jordan, Roll, or any other of the old favorites.
If any one is in doubt of this, let him compare the
words and music of the spirituals as they were recorded
by Allen and others in 1867 with the records of the
same songs later made by Fenner and Work and
with the recent versions in James Weldon Johnson's
Book of American Negro Spirituals. Or let him
compare the songs as they are sung at Hampton with
the same songs as they are sung at Tuskegee or at
Fisk. The spirituals, like all other folk songs, are
dynamic. Sometimes in the process of constant
change there appear variations which are so unlike the
parent songs as to constitute virtually new songs.
In this way the old spirituals have been the inspiration
for untold numbers of new religious songs.

Among the lowly Negro folk of the South the making
of spirituals is still a reality. Every community has
its "composers." Often they are supposed to possess
some special gift of the "spirit." From sermon,
prayer, and crude folk wisdom they draw ideas and
inspiration for their compositions. Sometimes the
results are pathetic, but not infrequently there springs
up a song which would compare favorably with the
old spirituals.

It is not the purpose of this chapter to present the
old spirituals or merely their newer variations, but
rather to give some of the more unsophisticated
religious songs of the workaday Negro as they are
sung today in the South, by the same groups and
individuals whose songs and verbal pictures this volume
presents. They are not the kind of songs which are
usually sung in the Negro churches, for many of them
have only individual or local significance, while others
show distinct secular touches.

 

190 Negro Workaday Songs

Biblical themes continue to find a place in the
Negro's religious songs. Moses and Pharaoh and
Noah and the ark are still the favorites. Here are a
few of the workaday religious songs now current in
the South. Pharaoh's Army Got Drownded is a favorite
with children, and is often sung by them as a sort of
reel. The three songs following it were sung by a
woman in Georgia who is known locally as Sanctified
Mary Harris. She claims that they are her own
compositions and says that she composes only when she
in "under de spirit."

Pharaoh's Army Got Drownded

Mary, don't you weep an', Marthie, don't you moan,
Mary, don't you weep an', Marthie, don't you moan;
Pharaoh's army got drownded,

baby, don't you weep.

1 thinks every day an' I wish I could
Stan' on de rock whar Moses stood;
Oh, Pharaoh's army got drownded,

O baby, don't you weep.

If you git dere befo' I do,
Tell de Cap'n I's a-comin' too;
Pharaoh's army got drownded,

baby, don't you weep.

If I had wings lak de angels have,

1 never be caught drivin' in anudder cab;
Pharaoh's army got drownded,

O baby, don't you weep.

Baby, don't you weep an', baby, don't you moan,
You has to go to heaven wid yo' buryin' clothes on;
Pharaoh's army got drownded,
O baby, don't you weep.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 191

 

Gonna Turn Back Pharoah's Army

When de children wus in bondage

Dey cried unto de Lawd,

"O turn back Pharaoh's army."

Hallelu!

Chorus:

Gonna turn back Pharaoh's army,

Hallelu!

Yes, a-gonna turn back Pharaoh's army,

Hallelu!

I write to Marse Jesus

To send some valiant solders

Jus' to turn back Pharaoh's army,

Hallelu!

When Moses smit de water

The children all cross over,

Den dey turn back Pharaoh's army,

Hallelu!

Didn't Ol' Pharaoh Get Lost?

God spoke to Moses, "Pharaoh now,
Fer I have harden Pharaoh's heart to me,
Fer he will not bow."

Chorus:

Didn't ol' Pharaoh get lost, get lost!
Didn't ol' Pharaoh get lost in de Red Sea?

Moses went unto Pharaoh
An' did whut de Lawd said how,
But God had harden Pharaoh's heart,
He would not let dem go.

Who Built de Ark?

De very fust thing dat Nora done,
He cut this timber down.
De very next thing dat Nora done
He huded it all aroun'.

 

192 Negro Workaday Songs

Chorus:

Who built de ark? Nora, Nora.

Who built de ark? Nora an' his Lawd.

Who built de ark? Nora, Nora.

Who built de ark? Nora an' his Lawd.

Nora said to de rovin' bird,
"Go bring me a grain of san'."
De rovin' bird cried, "O Lawd,
I can't find no Ian'."

The old songs had much to say about trouble, the
struggle with sin and the devil, and the warning to
the sinner man. Favorite lines used to be:

Nobody knows de trouble I've seen

I'm a-rollin' through an unfriendly worl'

O my good Lawd, keep me from sinkin' down

We are climbin' Jacob's ladder

My sins so heavy I can't get along

Sinner, what you gonna do?

O sinner, don't you let dis harves' pass

Perhaps Satan and the terrors of hell and judgment
are not pictured as frequently and as vividly as they
used to be, but they are still a vital part of Negro
song. The following songs portray the struggle with
sin, the warning to the sinner, and the superior status
of the sanctified as opposed to the sinner.

Good Lawd, I Am Troubled

Troubles makes me weep an' moan,
Goin' where troubles be no mo';
Good Lawd, I am troubled.

Troubles meet me at de do',
Goin' where troubles be no mo';
Good Lawd, I am troubled.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 193

Troubles up and troubles down,
Troubles never makes me frown;
Good Lawd, I am troubled.

We Will Kneel 'Roun' de Altar

Lawd, help me to be mo' humble,

Lawd, help me to be mo' humble,

In dat great gi'ttin'-up mornin',

Lawd, help me be mo' humble in dis worl'.

Chorus:

We will kneel 'roun' de altar on our knees,
We will kneel 'roun' de altar on our knees,
We will kneel 'roun' de altar
Till we view de risin' sun.

Lawd, have mercy on me.

Lawd, help me be mo' faithful,

Lawd, help me be mo' faithful in dis worl'.

We will see God's risin' sun,

Lawd, help me be mo' humble in dis worl'.

Lawd, help de widders an' de orphans in dis worl',
Lawd, help de widders an' de orphans in dis worl'.
In dis great gittin'-up mawnin',
Lawd, help the widders an' de orphans in dis worl'.

De Devil's Been to My House 1

De devil's been to my house today, today,
De devil's been to my house today, today,
Lawd, de devil's been to my house today, today,
De devil's been to my house today, today.

1 kicked him out my do' today, today,
I kicked him out my do' today, today,
Lawd, I kicked him out my do' today, today,
I kicked him out my do' today, today.

 

1 The next three songs are compositions of Sanctified Mary Harris. Have
Everlastin' Life has little originality, however.

 

13

 

194 Negro Workaday Songs

I's goin' sin-huntln' today, today,
I's goin' sin-huntin' today, today,
Lawd, I's goin' sin-huntin' today, today,
I's goin' sin-huntin' today, today.

Jes' Behol' What a Number!

Yonder comes my sister

Who I's loves so well.

By her disobedience

She have made her bed in hell.

Chorus:

Jes' behol' what a number!
Jes' behol' what a number!
Jes' behol' what a number
From every grave-yard.

I looks unto de eas',
I looks unto de wes',
I see de dead a-risin'
From every grave-yard.

Have Everlastin' Life

Better min', my sister, how you walk on de cross,
Have on everlastin' life,
Your foot might slip an' your soul get los',
Have everlastin' life.

Chorus:

Oh, he dat believe, oh, he dat believe,
He shall have on everlastin' life.
He dat believe on de father an' de son
Shall have everlastin' life.

De tallest tree in paradise,
Have everlastin' life,
De Christian call it de tree of life,
Put on everlastin' life.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 195

 

The Sanctified

Say, who's gonna ride my father's horse?
Say, who's gonna ride my father's horse?
Say, who's gonna ride my father's horse?
Thank God, the sanctified.

Say, none can ride but the sanctified,
Say, none can ride but the sanctified,
Say, none can ride but the sanctified,
Thank God, the sanctified.

Say, Paul he rode with the sanctified,
Say, Paul he rode with the sanctified,
Say, Paul he rode with the sanctified,
Thank God, the sanctified.

No sinner rides with the sanctified,

No sinner rides with the sanctified,

No sinner rides with the sanctified,

Thank God, I'm sanctified.

What You Gonna Do?

Sinner, what you gonna do
When de world's on fi-er?
Sinner, what you gonna do
When de world's on fi-er?
Sinner, what you gonna do
When de world's on fi-er?
O my Lawd.

Brother, what you gonna do? etc.

Sister, what you gonna do? etc.

Father, what you gonna do? etc.

Mother, what you gonna do? etc.

I Love Jesus

Dark was de night an' cold was de groun'
On which de Lawd had laid;
Drops of sweat run down,
In agony he prayed.

 

196 Negro Workaday Songs

Would thou despise my bleedin' lam'
An' choose de way to hell,
Still steppin' down to de tomb,
An' yet prepared no mo' ?

I love Jesus,
I love Jesus,
I love Jesus,

yes, I do,
Yes, Lawdy.

Save Me, Lawd

Lawd, have mercy, Lawd, have mercy.

Lawd, have mercy, Lawd, have mercy.

Save po' me,

Save po' sinner,

Save po' sinner,

Save po' sinner,

Save me, Lawd.

1 am a-dyin',
I am a-dyin',
I am a-dyin',
Save me, Lawd.

Lawd, bless me, Lawd, bless me,

O Lawd, bless me, O Lawd, bless me.

Save po' me,

Save po' sinner,

Save po' sinner,

Save po' sinner,

Save me, Lawd.

Parting and death are the subjects of the saddest
songs that the Negro sings. The following songs
awaken thoughts of the old folk saying their goodby's
at the last service of a revival meeting or parting
after a long-hoped-for family reunion. / Bid You a
Long Farewell is one of the favorites of Aunt Georgia
Victrum, age eighty-three, of Jasper County, Georgia.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 197

 

I Bid You a Long Farewell

Mother, meetin' is over,
Mother, we mus' part.
If I never see you no mo',
I love you in my heart.

Chorus:

I bid you a long farewell,
Brother, I bid you a long farewell.
If I never see you no mo'
I bid you a las' farewell.

Brother, meetin' is over,
Brother, we must part.
If I never see you no mo',
I love you in my heart.

I Don't Want You All to Grieve After Me

I don't want you all to grieve after me,

I don't want you all to grieve after me.

Oh, when I'm dead an' buried in my col' silent tomb,

I don't want you all to grieve after me.

An' I will walk through the valley in peace,

An' I will walk through the valley in peace.

Oh, when I'm dead an' buried in my col', silent tomb,

Ijdon't want you all to grieve after me.

My dear mother, don't you grieve after me,

My dear mother, don't you grieve after me.

Oh, when I'm dead an' buried in my col', silent tomb,

I don't want you all to grieve after me.

My ol' uncle, don't you grieve after me, etc. 1
When I's Dead an' Gone

He is a dyin'-bed maker.
Jesus met a woman at de well,
An' she went runnin' home
An' tol' her friends,
"A man tol' me all I ever done."

 

1 And so on for father, sister, brother, etc., etc.

 

198 Negro Workaday Songs

The friends dey come a runnin' with de woman,

Saw Jesus settin' on de well,

He said he could give de livin' water

An' save yo' soul from hell.

He is a dyin'-bed maker.
When I's dead an' gone
Somebody gonna say I's lost,
But dey ought-a go down by Jordan
An' see whar Jesus led me 'cross.

When I's dead an' gone,

I don't want you to cry;

Jus' go on down to de ol' church

An' close my dyin' eye.

When Jesus hangin' on de cross,

His mudder began to moan.

He looked at his dear 'ciples

An say, "Take my dear mudder home."

Angels Lookin' at Me

Dig my grave wid a silver spade,
Angels lookin' at me.
Oh, look-a dere, look-a dere,
Oh, look-a dere, look-a dere,
Angels lookin' at me.

Drive me dere in a cerriage fine,
Angels lookin' at me.
Oh, look-a dere, look-a dere,
Oh, look-a dere, look-a dere,
Angels lookin' at me.

Let me down wid a silver chain,
Angels lookin' at me, etc.

All dem sinners can moan an' weep,
Angels lookin' at me, etc.

I's settin' in heaven in a golden cheer,
Angels lookin' at me, etc.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 199

You Mus' Shroud My Body

Pray, mother, pray fer me,
Pray, Lawd, until I die.
You mus' shroud my body, Lawd,
An' lay it away.

Chorus:

I hear Jerusalem moan,

You mus' shroud my body, Lawd,

An' lay it away.

Pray, sister, pray fer me,
Pray, Lawd, until I die,
You mus' shroud my body, Lawd,
An' lay it away.

But death holds no terror for the Negro. He main-
tains that death's stream "chills the body but not the
soul," and he believes that

'Way up in the Rock of Ages

In God's bosom gonna be my pillah.

As of old, heaven is the greatest theme of his religious
song. He used to sing:

When I git to heaven gonna ease, ease,

Me an' my God gonna do as we please. „

Now wait till I gits my gospel shoes,

Gonna walk about heaven an' spread the news.

Dere's a long white robe in de heaven for me.

No more hard trials in de kingdom.

Gonna feast off milk an' honey.

Now he sings:

I wants to go to heaven, set in de angel's seat;
I wants to go to heaven, eat what de angels eat.

 

200 Negro Workaday Songs

I's gonna be in my home in heaven
When I lay my burden down.

I'm swingin' in de swinger,
Gonna swing me home to heaven.

I's gonna bathe my weary soul in paradise.

But let the songs speak for themselves. Among them
are some which might now be famous if they had only
been born seventy years ago.

I Never Will Turn Back

Jesus my all to heaven is gone,
I never will turn back
While de heaven's in my view,
He who I fix my heart upon.
I never will turn back
While heaven's in my view.

Chorus:

I never will,

I never will,

I never will turn back

While de heaven's in my view.

While de heaven's in my view
My journey I prosue.
I never will turn back
When heaven's in my view.

When I Lay My Burden Down

Glory, glory, hallelujah, when I lay my burden down,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, when I lay my burden down,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, when I lay my burden down,
I gonna be in heaven when I lay my burden down.

Glory, glory, hallelujah, I's goin' to my home on high,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, I's goin' to my home on high,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, I's goin' to my home on high,
I's gonna be in my home in heaven when I lay my burden
down.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 201

 

Since I Laid My Burden Down

I been shoutin',

I been shoutin'

Since I laid my burden down;

I been shoutin',

I been shoutin'

Since I laid my burden down.

Chorus:

Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Since I laid my burden down;
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Since I laid my burden down.

I been prayerin',

I been prayerin'

Since I laid my burden down;

I been prayerin',

I been prayerin'

Since I laid my burden down.

In de Mornin' Soon

Sister Sal she got on her travelin' shoes,

In de mornin' soon,

In de mornin' soon,

In de mornin' soon.

Yes, 1's goin' to bury my weary soul

In de mornin' soon.

Sinners, I hates to leave you here,
Sinners, I hates to leave you here,
Sinners, I hates to leave you here,
'Cause I goin' to go to paradise
In de mornin' soon.

Some o' dese days jes' about noon,

Some o' dese days jes' about noon,

Some o' dese days jes' about noon,

I's goin' to bathe my weary soul in paradise

In de mornin' soon.

 

202 Negro Workaday Songs

Oh, de Gospel Train's A-Comin'

Oh, de gospel train's a-comin',
Goodby, good by, good by.
Oh, de gospel train's a-comin',
Goodby.

Oh, de gospel train's a-comin',
Oh, de gospel train's a-comin',
Oh, de gospel train's a-comin',
Goodby.

Oh, she's comin' 'roun' de curve,
Goodby, good by, good by.
Oh, she's comin' ' roun' de curve,
Goodby.

Oh, de train am heavy loaded, etc.

Oh, sinner have you got you ticket? etc.

Oh, she's boun' straight way to heaven, etc.

Can't you change you way o' livin? etc.

Oh, Marse Jesus am de captain, etc.

Oh, de ride am free to heaven, etc.

Some o' These Days

I'm a-goin' to cross that river Jordan,

I'm a-goin' to cross that river Jordan, hal-lu-yah!

I'm a-goin' to cross that river Jordan,

I'm a-goin' to cross that river Jordan some o' these days.

I'm a-goin' to sit down side o' my Jesus,
I'm a-goin' to sit down side o' my Jesus, hal-lu-yah!
I'm a-goin' to sit down side o' my Jesus,
I'm a-goin' to sit down side o' my Jesus some o' these
days.

I'm a-goin' to tell him how I love him,
I'm a-goin' to tell him how I love him, hal-lu-yah!
I'm a-goin' to tell him how I love him,
I'm a-goin' to tell him how I love him some o' these
days.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 203

I'm a-goin' to wear them golden slippers,
I'm a-goin' to wear them golden slippers, hal-lu-yah!
I'm a-goin' to wear them golden slippers,
I'm a-goin' to wear them golden slippers some o' these
days.

I Wants to Go to Heaven

I wants to go to heaven,
Jine de angels' ban';
I wants to go to heaven,
Stan' where de angels stan'.

I wants to go to heaven,
Have some angel wing;
I wants to go to heaven,
See de Jesus King

I wants to go to heaven,
Shout lak de angels shout;
I wants to go to heaven
An' walk about.

I wants to go to heaven,
Set in de angels' seat;
I wants to go to heaven,
Eat what de angels eat.

I wants to go to heaven,
Weep when de angels weep;
I wants to go to heaven
Sleep where de angels sleep.

When I Git Home

Gonna shout trouble over
When I git home,
Gonna shout trouble over
When I git home.

No mo' prayin', no mo' dyin'
When I git home,
No mo' prayin' an' no mo' dyin'
When I git home.

 

204 Negro Workaday Songs

Meet my father
When I git home.
Meet my father
When I git home.

Shake glad hands
When I git home,
Shake glad hands
When I git home.

Meet King Jesus
When I git home,
Yes, I meets King Jesus
When I git home.

I's Gonna Shine

I's gonna shine

Whiter dan snow,

When I gits to heaven

An' dey meets me at de do'.

Oh,^shine, I will shine,
How dey shine, glory shine,
When I gits to heaven
An'^dey meets me at de do'.

Shine, God a'-mighty shine,
All de sinners shine in de row;
But I'll be de out-shinedest
When dey meets me at de do'.

Oh, shine, de brudders shine,
Dey sisters shine ever mo',
When we all gits to heaven
An' dey meets us at de do'.

I's Swingin' in de Swinger 1

I's swingin' in de swinger,
Thank God.

I's swingin' in de swinger,
Thank God.

 

1 The idea for this novel song probably came from Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot. It is another composition of Sanctified Mary Harris, as are also
the two remaining songs in this chapter.

 

Workaday Religious Songs 205

It's a bran' new swinger,

Thank God.

It's a bran' new swinger,

Thank God,

Thank God.

Goin' to swing me to heaven,

Thank God.

Goin' to swing me to heaven,

Thank God,

Thank God.

King Jesus in de swinger,

Thank God.

King Jesus in de swinger,

Thank God,

Thank God.

Goodby, Sing Hallelu

■Goodby to sin an' sorrow,
Goodby, sing hallelu.

Farewell, sinner, I see you no mo',
Goodby, sing hallelu.

Goodby, hypocrite, you Beelzebub,
Goodby, sing hallelu.

I'm goin' away, I'll meet you in heaven,
Goodby, sing hallelu.

Farewell, mother, I meet you in de mawnin',
Goodby, sing hallelu.

I Calls My Jesus King Emanuel

King Emanuel,

1 calls my Jesus King Emanuel.

King Emanuel, he's a mighty 'Manuel,
I calls my Jesus King Emanuel.

Some calls him Jesus,

But I call my Jesus King Emanuel.

Because his power so great and strong,
I calls my Jesus King Emanuel.