-
'I wonder why Satan do follow me so?
Satan hab noting 't all for to do, long 'wid me.'
CHORUS. _Slow and forcibly._
[music notation]
Hold your light, Hold your light, Hold your light on Canaan's shore.
The next song presents a greater variety in melody, as well as in the
different verses, which seem to have no connection whatever with each
other. The 'Parson Fuller' referred to is the Rev. Dr. Fuller, of
Baltimore, who owns a plantation on one of the islands:
[music notation]
Dar's a meetin' here to-night, Dar's a meetin' here to-night, Dar's a
[music notation]
( 1. Parson Fuller sittin'
on de
meetin' here to-night, I hope to meet you dar. ( 2. Little children learn
to
( 3. Let no angry word or
[music notation]
Tree of Life, An' he heary when Jordan roll.)
fear de Lord, An' let your days be long. ) Roll, Jordan, roll Jordan,
spiteful boast Be heard up-on your tongue. )
[music notation]
Roll, Jor-dan, roll, Roll, Jordan, roll, O roll, Jordan, roll, O my
[music notation]
soul will rise to heab'n above, An' heary when Jordan roll.
The following has evidently been composed since the negroes became free,
and expresses very forcibly their feelings toward 'driber, massa, and
missus':
[music notation]
Done wid driber's dribin', Done wid driber's dribin',
[music notation]
Done wid driber's drib-in', Roll, Jordan, roll.
2. Done wid massa's hollerin',
Done wid massa's hollerin',
Done wid massa's hollerin',
Roll, Jordan roll.
3. Done wid missus' scoldin',
Done wid missus' scoldin',
Done wid missus' scoldin',
Roll, Jordan, roll.
4. Sins so heaby dat I cannot get along,
Sins so heaby dat I cannot get along,
Sins so heaby dat I cannot get along,
Roll, Jordan, roll.
5. Cast my sins to de bottom ob de sea,
Cast my sins to de bottom ob de sea,
Cast my sins to de bottom ob de sea,
Roll, Jordan, roll.
Perhaps the best illustration of the Scriptural patchwork which
characterizes many of the shout songs, is seen in the 'Lonesome Valley,'
the music of which is very quaint and plaintive:
[music notation]
O brudder Wil
|