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
When I am hungry do feed me Lord,
_Do Lord remember me_.
When I am thirsty do give me drink,
_Do Lord remember me_.
The negroes sometimes call the following song the "riddle song", asking
"who is the Rock", while the answer comes back, like the Psalmist, "King
Jesus is the Rock".
Lead me to the Rock, lead me to the Rock,
Lead me to the Rock that is higher an' higher.
O, Lead me to the Rock,
Yes, lead me to the Rock that is higher an' higher.
King Jesus is the Rock, yes, King Jesus is the Rock,
King Jesus is the Rock that is higher an' higher,
O King Jesus is the Rock,
Yes, King Jesus is the Rock that is higher an' higher.
Standing on the Rock, yes standing on the Rock,
Standing on the Rock that is higher an' higher.
O, standing on the Rock,
Yes, standing on the Rock that is higher an' higher.
As Jesus is the Rock so the negroes have sung "Dere's no one lak' Jesus".
The chorus-line was common in the old songs; the verses of the song of
to-day are different.
I think I heard a rumblin' in de sky,
_Dar's no one lac Jesus_.
It mus' be mer Lord passin' by,
_Dar's no one lac Jesus_.
_Stan' still, walk study, keep de faith,
Dar's no one lak' Jesus._
Sister Mary went up on de mount'n top,
_Dar's no one lak' Jesus_.
She sung a li'l song an' she never did stop,
_Dar's no one lak' Jesus_.
She argued wid de Fadder an' chatter'd wid de Son,
_Dar's no one lak' Jesus_.
She talk'd erbout the ole worl' she cum frum,
_Dar's no one lak' Jesus_.
The song "Gi' me Jesus" was said to have been the product of "over-free
spirit and super-religiousness" just after the war. The negro claims that
the white man took him at his word when he sang, "Gi' me Jesus, You may
have all this worl", and has left him nothing in this world but Jesus. At
least this is one view of the song, which is represented as a bargain
which the white man wants the negro to keep. The song is a typical and
well known one, said to have been first sung by a blind negro preacher.
In de mornin' when I rise,
In de mornin' when I rise,
In de mornin' when I rise,
Giv' me Jesus.
_Giv' me Jesus,
Giv' me Jesus,
You may hab' all dis worl',
Giv' me Jesus._
Ef it's midnight when I rise,
Ef it's midnight when I rise,
Ef it's midnight when I rise,
_Giv' me Jesus_.
Jes' fore day when I cried,
_Giv' me Jesus_.
When I wade death's cold stream,
_Giv' me Jesus_.
The negro says that if you love Jesus, it seems to him that you "can't
keep it", and that you are duty bound to let the world know it. The custom
is a common one of asking "members" at the class meeting and revival
services whether or not they "love the Lord". It is the duty of the class
leader to see to the religious welfare of the members. The song "Love the
Lord" represents this phase of worship.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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