Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a 1934 field recording of "Good Lord" ("Old Jeremiah"), an African American Gospel song that was performed as a Ring Shout "Old Jeremiah".
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this recording and thanks to Alan Lomax for collecting this Gospel song. Thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLE - Ring Shout: Good Lord (Run Old Jeremiah)
reverendmeds, Mar 31, 2011
By Austin Coleman, Joe Washington Brown & Group.
Song: Good Lord
Artist: Joe Washington Brown
Licensed to YouTube by The Orchard Music, UMG (on behalf of New Rounder)
-snip-
Alan Lomax field recording, 1934
For more info on Ring Shouts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_shout
Likely lyrics:
By myself. (5)
You know I've got to go.
You got to run.
I've got to run.
You got to run.
By myself. (3)
I got a letter, (2)
Ol' brownskin.
Tell you what she say.
"Leavin' tomorrow,
Tell you goodbye."
O my Lordy. (6)
Well, well, well. (2)
O my Lord. (2)
O my Lordy. (2 )
Well, well, well. (2 )
I've got a rock.
You got a rock.
Rock is death.
O my Lordy.
O my Lord.
Well, well, well.
Run here, Jeremiah. (2)
I must go
On my way. (4)
Who's that ridin' the chariot? (2)
Well, well, well . . .
(New Leader:)
One mornin'
Before the evening
Sun was goin' down (3)
Behind them western hills. (3)
Old number 12
Comin' down the track. (3)
See that black smoke.
See that old engineer.
See that engineer. (2)
Tol' that old fireman
Ring his ol' bell
With his hand.
Rung his engine bell. (2)
Well, well, well. (2 )
Jesus tell the man,
Say, I got your life
In My Hand;
I got your life
In My Hand. (2 )
Well, well, well.
0l' fireman told,
Told that engineer,
Ring your black bell,
Ding, ding, ding,
Ding, ding, ding, ding.
0l' fireman say
——?—- -
——?—- -
——?—- -
That mornin',
Well, well, well, (2)
0l' fireman say,
Well, well,
I'm gonna grab my
Old whistle too.
Wah, wah, ho,
Wah, wah, wah, wah, ho,
Wah, wah, ho,
Wah, wah, wah, ho. (etc.)
Mmmmmmm
Soon, soon, soon,
Wah——— -o.
Well, well, well,
0l' engineer,
I've got your life
In my hands. (2)
Tol' your father, (2)
Well, well, well,
I was travellin', (2)
I was ridin' (3)
Over there. (2)
Ol' engineer.
This is the chariot. (2)
-snip-
The song continues after that.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only.
1. Nostalgico80, 2011
"If this is not early rock 'n roll..."
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2. Fin O'Suilleabhain, 2014
"Jeepers - James Brown eat your heart out. Does any informed person have a view on how such a performance (recorded as the description says in 1934) would relate to the ring shouts we read about being sung in the 19th century? Thanks for any sensible responses."
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3. Willy Smith, 2015
"Interesting the lack of melody but undeniable presence of high spirited excitement. My understanding this is descendent of slaves. High spirited shouting an excellent expression of anger and rage.
This is also a notable example of 'rapping'. Beatniks did it although more comfortably ensconced in their spiritual longings; and we have the more ribald braggart type in today's modern rap. A wonderful rich document. Thrilled to find it. Thank you for posting."
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4. Frances Moore, 2017
"This is Ring Shout rhythms at its best, guaranteed to shake loose the tension in your body."
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5. Muhammad Smith, 2019
"everyone in comments talkin bout this is early rock and roll and what not, dont disagree with ya, but i heard this as early punk... maybe not ideology, but the sound. the way they was screaming, the beat, and the raw field recording. the recording almost sounds like it coulda been put in the middle of a crass album and it wouldnt have been outta place."
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6. Sugar Daddy, 2019
"This is the missing link between African music and Rock."
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