Audio
Gullah Geechee Recording (FOFR 27000_001_006_5_01)
Transcript
FOFR 27000_001_006_5_01
Total Time 31:06
0:00-2:37 Come Out the Wilderness
(Recording begins with song in progress)
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord.
Well, I clap my hands when I
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, I clap my hands when I
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord.
Well, I shout for joy when I
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, I shout for joy when I
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord.
Well, John saw the number when he
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, John saw the number when he
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord.
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord,
Leanin’ on the Lord,
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord
Who died on Cavalry.
Well, I clap my hands when I
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, I clap my hands when I
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord,
Leanin’ on the Lord,
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord,
Who died on Cavalry.
Well, I took a long walk when I
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, I took a long walk when I
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord.
Well, I felt like shoutin’ when I
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness,
Come out the wilderness.
Well, I felt like shoutin’ when I
Come out the wilderness leanin’ on the Lord
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord
Leanin’ on the Lord
Leanin’ on the
Leanin’ on the Lord
Who died on Cavalry.
(Brief applause before the recording cuts to the next song.)
2:38- 4:06 You Better Mind How You Talk
(Recording begins abruptly)
You better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
You better mind how you talk.
You better mind what you’re talkin’ about.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
You better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
You goin’ round here from door to door,
Talkin’ bout the things that you really don’t know.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
You better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
Oh, you better mind.
You got to give an account at the judgment,
You better mind.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
4:07-6:15 Do Lord, Remember Me
Up on the wall and I can’t come down,
Up on the wall and I can’t come down,
Up on the wall and I can’t come down,
Do Lord, remember me.
I’m doing good work and I can’t come down,
Doing good work and I can’t come down,
Doing good work and I can’t come down,
Do Lord, remember me.
Do Lord, Remember me.
Do Lord, Remember me.
Way over in Beulah land,
Do Lord, remember me.
If I had to die when I was young
If I had to die when I was young
If I had to die when I was young
Do Lord, remember me.
Well, I would not have a place to run,
I would not have a place to run,
I would not have a place to run,
Do Lord, remember me.
Do Lord, remember me.
Do Lord, remember me.
Way over in Beulah land,
Do Lord, remember me.
My tongue’s tied and I can’t talk plain,
My tongue’s tied and I can’t talk plain,
My tongue’s tied and I can’t talk plain,
Do Lord, remember me.
Well, the angel in the heaven gonna sign my name,
Well, the angel in the heaven gonna sign my name,
Well, the angel in the heaven gonna sign my name,
Do Lord, remember me.
(Brief applause before recording cuts to next song)
6:16-8:27 Somebody’s Calling My Name
Oh hush, hush, somebody’s calling my name,
My Jesus.
Hush, hush, somebody’s calling my name,
My Jesus.
Hush, hush, somebody’s calling my name,
Oh my Lord, you my Lordy, what shall I do?
Soon one morning, death come creepin' in the room.
My mother.
Soon one morning, death come creepin' in the room.
My father.
Soon one morning, my Lord, death come creepin' in the room.
Oh my Lord, you my Lordy, what shall I do?
Where were you, my Lord, when the evenin’ sun went down?
In the valley.
Where were you, my Lord, when the evenin’ sun went down?
On my knees.
Where were you, my Lord, when the evenin’ sun went down?
Oh my Lord, you my Lordy, what shall I do?
A let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
To the Holy Ghost crown.
My Lord.
A let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
Let us drink,
To the Holy Ghost crown.
My Lord.
Let us sing,
Let us sing,
Let us sing,
Let us sing,
Let us sing,
To the Holy Ghost crown.
Oh my Lord, you my Lordy, what shall I do?
(Brief applause before recording cuts to next song)
8:28-11:50 Zion
(Muffled voices before singing starts)
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
Don’t you be like the foolish virgin
When the bridegroom come.
Don’t you be like the foolish virgin
When the bridegroom come.
Zion.
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
We will enter into the marriage
When the bridegroom come.
We will enter into the marriage
When the bridegroom come.
Zion.
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
Five were wise and five were foolish
When the bridegroom come.
Five were wise and five were foolish
When the bridegroom come.
Zion.
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
(Applause and recording cuts back to song)
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
We will enter into the marriage
When the bridegroom come.
We will enter into the marriage
When the bridegroom come.
Zion.
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion, Zion
Oh Zion,
When the bridegroom come.
(Brief applause before recording cuts to next song)
11:50-15:36 Sunshine In A My Soul
Sunshine, Sunshine
Sunshine in a my soul in the morning
Sunshine, Sunshine
Sunshine in a my soul.
Oh, God show speak like a natural man.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
I believe a speak so sinner he can understand.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
Blindfold (Unknown lyric) trembling at the door.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric) Come and plead his case.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric) Zion Hill.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
I believe I been to the river and been baptized.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric) Stepped in the water and the water was cold.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric) That money could buy.
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Sunshine, Sunshine
Sunshine in a my soul in the morning.
Sunshine, Sunshine,
Sunshine in a my soul.
(Applause)
Sunshine, Sunshine,
Sunshine in a my soul in the morning.
Sunshine, Sunshine,
Sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, the sunshine in a my soul.
(Unknown lyric)
Sunshine, Sunshine,
Sunshine in a my soul in the morning
Sunshine, Sunshine,
Sunshine in a my soul.
Transcribers note: The words “in a” sound very close to “enter.” When conducting research, similar songs appeared that used the phrase “in a” and was maintained here.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
15:36-17:17 Until I Die
I’m gonna set in the humble chair,
Gonna rock from side to side
Gonna rock from side to side, until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die,
I’m gonna rock from side to side, until I die.
I’m gonna set in the humble chair,
Gonna rock from side to side
Gonna rock from side to side, until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die,
I’m gonna rock from side to side, until I die.
I’m gonna set in the humble chair,
Gonna rock from side to side
Gonna rock from side to side, until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die,
I’m gonna rock from side to side, until I die.
I’m gonna set in the humble chair,
Gonna rock from side to side
Gonna rock from side to side, until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die
Until I die,
I’m gonna rock from side to side, until I die.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
17:17-18:32 My Soul Rock On Jubilee
Distinct three tapping rhythm accompanies song.
Jubilee, Jubilee.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
Oh (unknown lyric) in that morning.
Oh, my Lord.
I’m going to meet my mother.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
I’m gonna tell her (unknown lyric).
Oh, my Lord.
(Unknown lyric).
My soul rock on Jubilee.
Don’t care what they call me.
Oh, my Lord.
(Unknown lyric) Jesus loves me.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
Oh Jubilee, Jubilee.
Oh, my Lord.
Oh Jubilee, Jubilee.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, my Lord.
(Unknown lyric)
My soul rock on Jubilee.
(Unknown lyric)
Oh, my Lord.
(Unknown lyric)
My soul rock on Jubilee.
Oh, Jubilee, Jubilee.
Oh, my Lord.
Oh Jubilee, Jubilee.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
Oh, Jubilee, Jubilee.
Oh, my Lord.
Oh Jubilee, Jubilee.
My soul rock on Jubilee.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
18:32-20:18 Can’t Hide Sinner
Oh, you run to the rock,
Can’t hide.
For a hiding place.
You can’t hide.
And the rock cry out.
You can’t hide,
you can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
You may run to the sea,
You can’t hide.
For a hiding place.
You can’t hide.
And the sea cry out.
You can’t hide,
You can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
Oh, sinner man.
You can’t hide.
What you gonna do,
You can’t hide.
In the judgement day?
You can’t hide.
You can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
You may run to the east.
You can’t hide.
Can’t find no peace.
You can’t hide.
And the east cry out.
You can’t hide,
You can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
You may run to the west.
You can’t hide.
You won’t find no rest.
You can’t hide.
And the west cry out.
You can’t hide,
You can’t hide sinner,
you cannot hide.
Oh, you wait on Zion,
You can’t hide.
Oh, sinner man.
Oh, you can’t hide.
And what you gonna do?
You can’t hide,
You can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
You may run to the rock,
You can’t hide.
For a hiding place.
You can’t hide.
And the rock cry out.
You can’t hide,
You can’t hide sinner,
you can’t hide.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
20:18-22:37 The Old Ark’s A-Moverin’
(Song begins abruptly)
Reel, the old ark she rock,
The old ark’s a loose on the mountain top.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
See them sisters dressed so fine?
They ain’t got Jesus on their mind.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
The old ark she reel, the old ark she rock,
The old ark’s a moving on the mountain top.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
Come my brother with your ox and gown,
(Unknown lyric) they’re halfway drowned.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
The old ark she reel, the old ark she rock,
The old ark’s a moving on the mountain top.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
The old ark she reel, the old ark she rock,
The old ark’s a moving on the mountain top.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
Mind, my sister, how you walk on the (Unknown lyric),
(Unknown lyric) both get lost.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
The old ark she reel, the old ark she rock,
The old ark’s a moving on the mountain top.
The old ark’s a moverin’, moverin’, moverin’,
The old ark’s a moverin’ and I’m goin’ home.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
22:37-24:03 Oh Eve
Distinct three tapping rhythm accompanies song.
Oh Eve
Where is Adam?
Oh Eve,
Adam is gone, he’s pickin up leaves.
The rest of the song’s lyrics are difficult to discern. The repetitive response is “pickin’ up leaves.”
Though the leader likely changed the order of the phrasing in different performances, to give the reader a semblance of the song’s content, here is how the song was recorded in Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands. The author attempted to record the phonetic qualities of the lyrics by changing the spelling. This has been left intact as the transcription is being copied from this work.
Oh Eve where is Ad-u-m?
Oh Eve, Adam in the garden
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Adam in the garden
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Faster: Lord called Adam
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Adam wouldn’ answer
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Adam shame’
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Ad-u-m? (Rising inflection)
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Ad-u-m? (Falling inflection)
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Where’t thou?
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Adam naked
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Ain’t y’u shame?
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
Lord I’m shame’
Pinnin’ leaves. (repeat)
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
24:03-25:43 Wasn’t That a Wonder?
Woman speaking: “Remember how it goes? I don’t.”
Wasn’t that a wonder?
In the heaven.
Wasn’t that a wonder?
In the heaven.
Wasn’t that a wonder?
In the heaven,
Woman clothe with the sun,
And the moon under her feet.
John saw the wonder,
In the heaven
John saw the wonder,
In the heaven.
Mighty wonder.
In the heaven,
Woman clothe with the sun,
And the moon under her feet.
Well John’ mother nay gone before me,
But you can’t get no higher glory.
If you get there before I do,
Just tell my Lord I’m coming too.
And the mighty wonder
In the heaven
Mighty wonder
In the heaven
I saw the wonder,
In the heaven,
Woman clothe with the sun,
And the moon under her feet.
I believe it’s a wonder,
In the heaven.
I believe it’s a wonder,
In the heaven.
The mighty wonder.
In the heaven,
Woman clothe with the sun,
And the moon under her feet.
(Applause)
25:43-28:46 He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word
Woman speaks: “And He never said a mumblin’ word.”
Look how they done my Lord,
Done my Lord,
Done my Lord.
Look how they done my Lord,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
Look how they done my lord,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word,
Not a word,
Not a word.
2nd verse unknown.
He just bowed his head and died,
Head and died,
Head and died.
He just bowed his head and died,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
Bowed his head and died,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word,
Not a word,
Not a word.
They bit him in his side,
In his side,
In his side.
They bit him in his side,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
They bit him in his side,
And he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word,
Not a word,
Not a word.
They whipped him all night long,
All night long,
All night long.
They whipped him all night long,
and he never said a mumblin’ word.
They whipped him all night long,
and he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word,
Not a word,
Not a word.
They led him to Pilate’s bar,
Pilate’s bar,
Pilate’s bar.
They led him to Pilate’s bar,
and he never said a mumblin’ word.
They led him to Pilate’s bar,
and he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word,
Not a word,
Not a word.
(Applause)
28:46-30:30 Ride On King Conquering King
Indiscernible speaking
If you see my mother.
Oh yeah.
Won’t you tell her for me?
Oh yeah.
I’m riding my horse in a battlefield,
going to see my Jesus in the morning.
Ride on king.
Ride on king.
Ride on conquering king.
I’m goin’ to see my Jesus in the morning.
If you see King Jesus.
Oh yeah.
Won’t you tell him for me.
Oh, yeah.
I’m riding my horse in a battlefield,
I’m going to see my Jesus in the morning.
Ride on king.
Ride on king.
Ride on conquering king,
I’m going to see my Jesus in the morning,
If you see my father.
Oh yeah.
Won’t you tell him for me?
Oh yeah.
I’m riding my horse in a battlefield,
I’m going to see my Jesus in the morning.
Ride on King
Ride on King
Ride on conquering king,
I’m going to see my Jesus in the morning.
(Brief Applause before recording cuts to next song)
30:30-31:05 Knee-bone
Only a portion of this song is recorded. Though the lyrics are difficult to discern, to give the reader a semblance of the song’s content, here is how the song was recorded in Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands. The author attempted to record the phonetic qualities of the lyrics by changing the spelling. This has been left intact as the transcription is being copied from this work. Also, see reel FOFR 27000_001_006_6_1_01
Knee-bone when I call you
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone when I call you
H-a-nnn Lord knee-bone bend.
Bend my knee-bone to the ground
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Bend my knee-bone to the ground
H-a-nnn Lord knee-bone bend.
Knee-bone Zachaniah
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone Zachaniah
H-a-nnn Lord knee-bone bend.
Knee-bone when I call you
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone when I call you
H-a-nnn Lord knee-bone bend.
Knee-bone didn’t I call you?
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone didn’t I call you?
Ha-ah Lord knee-bone bend.
Knee-bone in the mornin’
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone in the mornin’
Ha-ah Lord knee-bone bend.
Knee-bone in the evenin’
H-a-nnn knee-bone
Knee-bone in the evenin’
Ha-ah Lord knee-bone bend.
Transcriber’s Note: It appears that the words “pinnin’ up” and “pickin’ up” are sung at various times. It appears the song is telling a story about the Garden of Eden where first the leaves must be picked up and then pinned up to close off the garden.
Description
Gullah Geechee Recordings from the Margaret Davis Cate Collection at Fort Frederica National Monument
Copyright and Usage Info