Religious Folk-Songs of the Southern NegroesOdum, Howard Washington
Religion
Religious Folk-Songs of the Southern Negroes
Odum, Howard Washington
African Americans -- Music; African Americans -- Southern States -- Music -- History and criticism
So likewise he sings "I know you're goin talk about me" because "you talk
about my mother when she's on her bed a-dyin'"; he actually sings
_father_, _brother_, _mother_, _sister_, _mourner_, _preacher_, to both
"on his knees a prayin'", and "on bed a dyin'." A very popular stanza
which is regularly sung in a number of songs goes: "You may talk about me
just as you please, I'm goin' to talk about you when I git on my knees."
The old slave and plantation song asked: "Who'll jine de Union?" saying,
"Say, ef you belong to de union ban', den here's my heart an' here's my
hand." There have been societies known as "The Union" or "Union Band" both
in the church and outside. The name "Union" itself is a favorite one among
the negro societies and organizations. It was thought in the old days that
a union band would march to heaven and that these only would be enabled to
reach the destination. It is almost certain that a number of references in
their songs referred to the Union army in and after the war. However, the
exact origin of the song as it is now sung has not been found, but appears
to be a general corruption of several old songs.
_Get in the Union, Jesus is a listenin',
Get in the Union, Jesus die.
Well, won't you get in the Union?
Jesus is a listenin', Jesus die._
Where was Ezekiel when the church fell down?
Down in de valley wid his head hung down.
Hypocrite, hypocrite, God do despise,
Tongue so keen till he will tell lies.
Upon the mountain Jehober spoke,
Out of his mouth come fier an' smoke.
With this chorus are sung also as already given, "Satan, the snake in the
grass", "Ole satan weah mighty loose ole shoe", etc. The "Hallelujah" so
common among the old songs is less frequently heard now: it will be found
to some degree in the shouting songs and songs of heaven.
Not the least among the warnings to the sinner were to be reckoned the
times when "Gable" should blow his horn. "Gable" has been proverbial among
the negroes; Gabriel and the trumpet are, however, significant in the same
way among the whites in vulgar reference. Many ideas of "Gable's" trumpet
have appeared in the negro songs. Sometimes it is "blow louder, Gable."
"How loud mus' I blow?" Reference has already been made to these lines.
The song "Blow, Gable, blow" has changed considerably from the old
plantation songs of the same name.
Blow Gable, at the judgment,
Blow Gable, at the judgment bar.
For my God is a talkin' at the judgment,
For my God is a talkin' at the judgment bar.
Now won't you blow Gable at the judgment?
For my God is a preachin' at the judgment bar.
Now won't you blow Gable at the judgment bar?
Well, I'm goin' to meet my preacher at the judgment bar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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