Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a rendition of "Didn't It Rain" that I would categorizes as a "Gospelized Spiritual*".
Information about early versions of "Didn't It Rain" is included in this post along with my attempted transcription of a "Gospelized" version of this song.
[Update]: This post also includes a 2005 video of "Didn't It Rain" as performed by The Bethune Cookman College Concert Chorale (with Dwayne Lightsey singing lead and Adrian Worsley playing the organ).
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song. Thanks to Adrian Worsley and Dwayne Lightsey (Rowoches) for their rendition of "Didn't It Rain" and their publication of this video on YouTube. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
Special thanks to Gigi Erba from Italy for requesting a transcription of this song.
-snip-
* I coined the term "Gospelized Spirituals" to refer to African American Spirituals that are performed in a Black Gospel style. "Gospelized hymns", a closely related term, refers to hymns that are sung in a Black Gospel style.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/didnt-it-rain-gospel-song-lyrics.html for a 2014 pancocojams post entitled "Didn't It Rain" (Gospel song lyrics & examples).
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL "DIDN'T IT RAIN"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didn%27t_It_Rain
""Didn't It Rain", sometimes given as "Oh, Didn't It Rain", is an American gospel song.[1] It originated as a Negro spiritual or work song,[2] and appeared in sheet music for piano art song form in a 1919 arrangement by Henry Thacker Burleigh (1866–1949).[3]
References:
1. The American Journal of Religious Psychology and Education 3, p. 350. Granville Stanley Hall, Alexander Francis Chamberlain - 1909: "The present-day song that apparently originated in the above song is less elaborate, having only portions of the old song, and not being much in demand. It, too, is called "Didn't it rain?" God told Noah 'bout de rainbow sign — Lawd, didn't it ".
2. Newman I. White, American Negro Folk-Songs, 1928, p. 141: "Did n't it rain" occurs in Negro work songs. Cf. Odum, 1925, p. 129. Old Jonah got mad cause de rain kept a droppin', Did n't it rain, O didn't it rain! It rained forty days; forty nights without stoppin', O did n't it rain, Did n't it rain! C Reported from [text ends here]"...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: "Didn't It Rain"- Adrian & Dwayne
Rowoches, Published on Feb 17, 2016
My buddy, Adrian, and I were reminiscing about our days at Bethune-Cookman, as well as our days as members of the B-CC Concert Chorale, and decided to pull another song out of the bag. "Didn't It Rain" is a song you've heard me sing many times. It's the song that I led with the Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale. Enjoy!
****
LYRICS*: DIDN'T IT RAIN
(as sung by Adrian & Dwayne in the YouTube video embedded in this post.)
First voice: Didn’t it rain, children
Talkin about
Rain, oh my Lord.
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Oh my lord didn’t it rain.
Well, didn’t it rain, children
Talkin about
Rain all night long
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Oh oh oh my Lord didn’t it rain.
Oh it rained forty days forty nights without stopping
Won’t we be glad when the rain stop droppin
Knock knock at the window
Knock at the door
Cryin "Brother Noah won’t you take one more"
"No", cried Noah. "You’re full of sin
God got the key and you can’t get in."
Just listen
Second voice: (to the rain)
To the rain
Just listen
(just listen)
To the rain
Just listen
(to the rain)
To the rain
Just listen
(just listen)
To the rain
Stop moanin
Stop moanin
Stop moanin
Ohhhhhh
Ohooooo
Oh ohohohohoh
mmmm
Listen
(to the rain)
To the rain
Listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Some mornin
(listen to the rain)
Some dawnin
(listen to the rain)
Stop cryin
(listen to the rain)
Start prayin
(listen to the rain)
just listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
Didn’t it rain, children
Talkin about
Rain, oh my Lord
Oh my lord didn’t it rain.
Ohhhhh-oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
God sent a raven to spread the news
He height his wings and away he flew
To the north
To the east
To the west
And to the south
All day
And all night
All night
And all day
Just listen
(listen to the rain)
[The second voice repeats this line after every line that the first voice sings]
To the rain
Just listen
To the rain
Water risin[g]
In the mornin
Water risin
In the noon day
Water risin
In the evenin
Water kept risin late at night
Water kept on risin
Kept on risin
Kept on risin
Kept on risin
Kept on risin
Kept on risin
Kept on risin
All day the raven flew
The raven flew
Couldn’t find no land
No where
In the north
In the south
In the east
In the west
All day
All night
Listen to the rain
Just listen to the rain
Drip
Drop
Drip
Drop
Drip
Drop
Drip drippy drip drippy drip drippy drip [sings extemporaneously]
Drippy drip drippy drip
[This next part is sung without the second voice singing]
Didn’t it rain, children
Talkin bout rain Oh my Lord
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Didn’t it
Oh oh Lord, didn’t it rain
[instrumental
-first voice: Hey!-
[end of Instrumental]
Well it rained 40 days
And it rained 40 nights
There wasn’t no land no where in sight
When I get to heaven gonna put on shoes
Walk around heaven gonna spread the news
It rained
(listen to the rain)
All day
It rained
(Listen to the rain)
All night
(Listen to the rain)
All day
(Listen to the rain)
All night
(Listen to the rain)
In the morning
(Listen to the rain)
in the evening
(Listen to the rain)
Oh it rained
(Listen to the rain)
it rained
(listen to the rain)
Well it rained all day
(listen to the rain)
and it rained all night
(listen to the rain)
It wasn’t no land no where in sight
(listen to the rain)
Ohhhhhhhh hhhh- hhhh- hhh
Didn’t it rain, children
Rain oh my Lord
Oh my Lord
[Oh, my Lord]
Didn’t it rain
Hallelujah.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from this embedded video. Additions and corrections are welcome.
The words sung by the "second voice" are given in parenthesis.
Additions and corrections are welcome for this transcription.
****
UPDATE: Video: "Didn't It Rain"- Dwayne Lightsey & the Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale
Rowoches, Published on Aug 9, 2008
February 9, 2005 at New Covenant Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida.
The Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Walker Steele, sings "Didn't It Rain," with none other than your host of the YouTube channel, Rowoches.
Chris Watford- Clav (Piano)
Adrian Worsley- Organ
Brandon Williams- Drums
**The song fades out for a few seconds at the end, but fades back in.**
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label African American Gospelized Spirituals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African American Gospelized Spirituals. Show all posts
Monday, February 25, 2019
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Gospelized Spiritual & Other Non-Traditional Examples Of The African American Spiritual "Trampin"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the African American Spiritual "Trampin'".
This post showcases some "non-traditional" African American YouTube examples of the "Spiritual" Trampin. (Note that one of these examples (given as Example #3 below) is sung by Rock & Roll great "Little Richard".
The Addendum to Part III showcases an example of "Trampin" that was recorded by the White American singer Patti Smith as that version appears to be the most widely known example of this song (based on Google searches).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/04/edward-boatner-earliest-known-arranger.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents excerpts of two online biographical articles about Edward Boatner. The Addendum to that post includes additional online references to Edward Boatner as well as comments about the song "Trampin" from the online folk music forum "Mudcat".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/04/youtube-examples-of-traditional.html for Part II of this series. Part II provides definitions for the word "trampin(g)" and includes some examples of floating verses from Spirituals which have been used in the renditions of "Trampin". Part II also showcases some YouTube examples of "traditional" renditions of "Trampin".
The content of this post is presented for religious and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in the YouTube examples that are embedded in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these songs on YouTube.
****-
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"African American Spirituals" is the term that I prefer to use for that body of music that has generally been referred to as "Negro Spirituals". I prefer the term "African American Spirituals" because "African American" is the formal term for this population as it replaced the outdated and now largely considered offensive term "Negro" in the 1970s.
It's my position that "spirituals" usually refers to certain religious songs composed by unknown Black Americans prior to the end of the 19th century. According to that position, I usually categorize religious songs that were and are composed by African Americans (or others) after the 19th century in the early 20th century -even those that have the same structure/s as Spirituals are usually categorized as "early Gospel" songs. I also used the term "Gospelized Spirituals" to describe arrangements of Spirituals in an African American Gospel style.
In the context of this post, the word "non-traditional" is used to refer to arrangements that I believe differ in some way or ways from the tune, tempo, and structure, and usually also in lyrics, to early collected or recorded arrangements of African American Spirituals. Many, but not all of these examples have more "gospelized" styles and/or more uptempo than the traditional arrangements.
****
DEFINITIONS FOR THE VERB "TRAMPIN(G)"
From https://www.thefreedictionary.com/tramping
"tramp (trămp)
v. tramped, tramp·ing, tramps
v.intr.
1. To walk with a firm, heavy step; trudge.
2.
a. To travel on foot; hike."
**
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tramp
"Definition of tramp
intransitive verb
1 : to walk, tread, or step especially heavily tramped loudly on the stairs
2 a : to travel about on foot : hike
b : to journey as a tramp
transitive verb
1 : to tread on forcibly and repeatedly
2 : to travel or wander through or over on foot have tramped all the woods on their property"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I've included these definitions because the verb "trampin(g)" is rarely used nowadays in conversational English.
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I've included these definitions because the verb "trampin(g)" is rarely used nowadays in conversational English.
****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Helen Robinson Youth Choir singing Trampin
Gospellin, Published on Feb 17, 2009
Jeanette Robinson on the lead
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's publisher:
gospellin, 2009
"It'a an old Negro spiritual that has been re-arranged it's Trampin'.The record label also reads Trampin."
****
Example #2: Trampin'
Regina Carter – Topic, Published on Nov 8, 2014
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Trampin' · Regina Carter
Southern Comfort
℗ 2013 Regina Carter, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2014-02-28
Composer: Traditional / Traditional / トラディショナル
Bass, Programmer, Arranger: Jesse Murphy
Released on: 2000-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
****
Example #3: I'm Trampin'
Little Richard - Topic
Published on Nov 5, 2014
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
I'm Trampin' · Little Richard
Long Tall Sally (Live)
℗ 2012 Dance Plant Records/TMC
Released on: 2012-05-10
Memphis Gospel Quartet Heritage, The 1980's: Happy in the Service of the Lord Volume 1
℗ 2000 Highwater Records
-snip-
Here are my transcriptions of the two floating verses that Little Richard sung as lead to this song:
Must Jesus Bare the cross alone
And all the world go free
Yes there’s a cross for everyone
And there’s a cross for me
Amazing grace how street the sound
that saved a wrench like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
was blind but now I see
****
Example #4: TRAMPIN'
Carl Wells, Published on Oct 22, 2016
Trampin'
Song arr. by Dr. Carl R. Wells
For the John Work Chorus
Of the Former Booker T. Washington High School
****
Example #4: Marian Anderson - "Trampin'"
Jenkem Chic, Published on Jul 31, 2017
20's Gospel/Musical version of "Trampin'" by Marian Anderson.
-snip-
Marion Anderson's rendition of "Trampin" is operatic. It's tempo is much slower than traditional renditions of this Spiritual that I have heard and sung.
****
ADDENDUM- Patti Smith's rendition of "Trampin"
Patti Smith Trampin'
macamaranik, Published on Sep 1, 2011
LYRICS
I'm trampin', trampin' Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home...
I've never been to heaven But I've been told
Try'n a make heaven my home That the streets up there
Are paved with gold Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home...
-snip-
Here's some information about Patti Smith's version of "Trampin" from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=32693
"Album: Trampin'
Released: 2004
“Patti Smith closes her Trampin' album with this title track, which is a traditional folk song written in the Gospel tradition. It is a collaboration between Smith's daughter Jesse Lee Smith's piano and Patti's voice. She explained to Uncut magazine October 2004: "I like Marion Anderson and I have a little space where I paint and take photographs and I often listen to Gospel records and spirituals. That little song, for the past couple of years, has always attracted me, and I asked my daughter if she would learn it on piano. That's my daughter playing and it's live, we just did it a couple of times and took one that was honest. And that's what we did. I'm very proud of her, I think she did a beautiful job. And I intentionally wanted it to have a modest approach, because it is a spiritual and I'm certainly not Marion Anderson. I intentionally wanted the song to have a very reflective, modest feel."
Smith said that she was attracted to the song as, "it does have a weary quality but it's optimistic." She added: "This person is trampin' trying to find Heaven, they're not just trying to get to the corner store, or just trying to get to a soup kitchen, they're going for the highest place. I like the little song, and there's a lot of miles tramped in this album, and I think it was a good way to end it." “
****
This concludes this three part series on "Trampin".
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the African American Spiritual "Trampin'".
This post showcases some "non-traditional" African American YouTube examples of the "Spiritual" Trampin. (Note that one of these examples (given as Example #3 below) is sung by Rock & Roll great "Little Richard".
The Addendum to Part III showcases an example of "Trampin" that was recorded by the White American singer Patti Smith as that version appears to be the most widely known example of this song (based on Google searches).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/04/edward-boatner-earliest-known-arranger.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents excerpts of two online biographical articles about Edward Boatner. The Addendum to that post includes additional online references to Edward Boatner as well as comments about the song "Trampin" from the online folk music forum "Mudcat".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/04/youtube-examples-of-traditional.html for Part II of this series. Part II provides definitions for the word "trampin(g)" and includes some examples of floating verses from Spirituals which have been used in the renditions of "Trampin". Part II also showcases some YouTube examples of "traditional" renditions of "Trampin".
The content of this post is presented for religious and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in the YouTube examples that are embedded in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these songs on YouTube.
****-
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"African American Spirituals" is the term that I prefer to use for that body of music that has generally been referred to as "Negro Spirituals". I prefer the term "African American Spirituals" because "African American" is the formal term for this population as it replaced the outdated and now largely considered offensive term "Negro" in the 1970s.
It's my position that "spirituals" usually refers to certain religious songs composed by unknown Black Americans prior to the end of the 19th century. According to that position, I usually categorize religious songs that were and are composed by African Americans (or others) after the 19th century in the early 20th century -even those that have the same structure/s as Spirituals are usually categorized as "early Gospel" songs. I also used the term "Gospelized Spirituals" to describe arrangements of Spirituals in an African American Gospel style.
In the context of this post, the word "non-traditional" is used to refer to arrangements that I believe differ in some way or ways from the tune, tempo, and structure, and usually also in lyrics, to early collected or recorded arrangements of African American Spirituals. Many, but not all of these examples have more "gospelized" styles and/or more uptempo than the traditional arrangements.
****
DEFINITIONS FOR THE VERB "TRAMPIN(G)"
From https://www.thefreedictionary.com/tramping
"tramp (trămp)
v. tramped, tramp·ing, tramps
v.intr.
1. To walk with a firm, heavy step; trudge.
2.
a. To travel on foot; hike."
**
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tramp
"Definition of tramp
intransitive verb
1 : to walk, tread, or step especially heavily tramped loudly on the stairs
2 a : to travel about on foot : hike
b : to journey as a tramp
transitive verb
1 : to tread on forcibly and repeatedly
2 : to travel or wander through or over on foot have tramped all the woods on their property"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I've included these definitions because the verb "trampin(g)" is rarely used nowadays in conversational English.
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
I've included these definitions because the verb "trampin(g)" is rarely used nowadays in conversational English.
****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Helen Robinson Youth Choir singing Trampin
Gospellin, Published on Feb 17, 2009
Jeanette Robinson on the lead
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's publisher:
gospellin, 2009
"It'a an old Negro spiritual that has been re-arranged it's Trampin'.The record label also reads Trampin."
****
Example #2: Trampin'
Regina Carter – Topic, Published on Nov 8, 2014
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Trampin' · Regina Carter
Southern Comfort
℗ 2013 Regina Carter, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2014-02-28
Composer: Traditional / Traditional / トラディショナル
Bass, Programmer, Arranger: Jesse Murphy
Released on: 2000-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
****
Example #3: I'm Trampin'
Little Richard - Topic
Published on Nov 5, 2014
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
I'm Trampin' · Little Richard
Long Tall Sally (Live)
℗ 2012 Dance Plant Records/TMC
Released on: 2012-05-10
Memphis Gospel Quartet Heritage, The 1980's: Happy in the Service of the Lord Volume 1
℗ 2000 Highwater Records
-snip-
Here are my transcriptions of the two floating verses that Little Richard sung as lead to this song:
Must Jesus Bare the cross alone
And all the world go free
Yes there’s a cross for everyone
And there’s a cross for me
Amazing grace how street the sound
that saved a wrench like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
was blind but now I see
****
Example #4: TRAMPIN'
Carl Wells, Published on Oct 22, 2016
Trampin'
Song arr. by Dr. Carl R. Wells
For the John Work Chorus
Of the Former Booker T. Washington High School
****
Example #4: Marian Anderson - "Trampin'"
Jenkem Chic, Published on Jul 31, 2017
20's Gospel/Musical version of "Trampin'" by Marian Anderson.
-snip-
Marion Anderson's rendition of "Trampin" is operatic. It's tempo is much slower than traditional renditions of this Spiritual that I have heard and sung.
****
ADDENDUM- Patti Smith's rendition of "Trampin"
Patti Smith Trampin'
macamaranik, Published on Sep 1, 2011
LYRICS
I'm trampin', trampin' Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home...
I've never been to heaven But I've been told
Try'n a make heaven my home That the streets up there
Are paved with gold Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home
I'm trampin trampin Try'n a make heaven my home...
-snip-
Here's some information about Patti Smith's version of "Trampin" from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=32693
"Album: Trampin'
Released: 2004
“Patti Smith closes her Trampin' album with this title track, which is a traditional folk song written in the Gospel tradition. It is a collaboration between Smith's daughter Jesse Lee Smith's piano and Patti's voice. She explained to Uncut magazine October 2004: "I like Marion Anderson and I have a little space where I paint and take photographs and I often listen to Gospel records and spirituals. That little song, for the past couple of years, has always attracted me, and I asked my daughter if she would learn it on piano. That's my daughter playing and it's live, we just did it a couple of times and took one that was honest. And that's what we did. I'm very proud of her, I think she did a beautiful job. And I intentionally wanted it to have a modest approach, because it is a spiritual and I'm certainly not Marion Anderson. I intentionally wanted the song to have a very reflective, modest feel."
Smith said that she was attracted to the song as, "it does have a weary quality but it's optimistic." She added: "This person is trampin' trying to find Heaven, they're not just trying to get to the corner store, or just trying to get to a soup kitchen, they're going for the highest place. I like the little song, and there's a lot of miles tramped in this album, and I think it was a good way to end it." “
****
This concludes this three part series on "Trampin".
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
(Old Time African American Gospel) Bishop J.D. Means & Dr. C.J. Johnson - "One Morning Soon (I Heard The Angels Singing)" videos & lyrics
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update - May 29, 2024
This pancocojams post showcases examples of the African American Spiritual/African American Gospel song "One Morning Soon" as sung by Bishop J.D. Means, Sr and as sung by Dr. C.J. Johnson.
One version of the lyrics for this song are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this Spiritual, and thanks to Bishop J.D. Means & Dr. C.J. Johnson for their religious and musical legacies. Thanks also to the Golden Gospel Singers for their version of this song. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
This post is published in honor of the tenth commemoration of Hurricane Katrina. Rest In Peace all those who lost their lives as a result of the natural and governmental disaster.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-golden-gate-quartet-willie-gresham.html for a link to a companion pancocojams post the features two examples of the Spiritual "Soon One Morning" (Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name").
****
LYRICS: ONE MORNING SOON
(composer/s unknown - African American Spiritual)
One morning soon, one morning soon, my Lord,
One morning soon, I heard the angels singing.
Angels on high, singing on high, my Lord,
Singing on high, I heard the angels singing.
Singing good news, singing good news, my Lord,
Singing good news, I heard the angels singing.
All in my room, all in my room, my Lord,
All in my room, I heard the angels singing.
All over my head, etc.
Down on my knees, etc.
Jes' before day, Lord, jes' before day, Lord, etc.
One morning soon, etc.
Sung by Mandy Tartt, Sims Tartt and Betty Atmore, Livingston, Alabama. Very attractive simple tune.
American Memory, Lib. Congress site. John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States recording Trip.
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41030 posted by Dicho, 11 Nov 01
-snip-
Lyrics for several other versions of this Spiritual are included in that Mudcat discussion thread. One blogger gave 1874 as an early documented date for a version of this song as sung by Hampton students.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Bishop J.D. Means, Sr- One Morning Soon
meanmeansmusic, Published on Oct 1, 2014
Traditional Classic "One Morning Soon"
-snip-
In his preface to this song, Bishop J.D. Means, Sr said "Since we in Georgia, I need y'all to help me sing a Georgia song".
Apparently this Spiritual is known as a Georgia song. However, it appears that the earliest documentation of this Spiritual (1874) is from Hampton students. Hampton (now Hampton University) is in Virginia.
****
Example #2: One Morning Soon
ADDENDUM
April 6, 2024 - Here's another sound file of "One Morning Soon" that I just found.
One Morning Soon
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest Update - May 29, 2024
This pancocojams post showcases examples of the African American Spiritual/African American Gospel song "One Morning Soon" as sung by Bishop J.D. Means, Sr and as sung by Dr. C.J. Johnson.
One version of the lyrics for this song are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this Spiritual, and thanks to Bishop J.D. Means & Dr. C.J. Johnson for their religious and musical legacies. Thanks also to the Golden Gospel Singers for their version of this song. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
This post is published in honor of the tenth commemoration of Hurricane Katrina. Rest In Peace all those who lost their lives as a result of the natural and governmental disaster.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-golden-gate-quartet-willie-gresham.html for a link to a companion pancocojams post the features two examples of the Spiritual "Soon One Morning" (Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name").
****
LYRICS: ONE MORNING SOON
(composer/s unknown - African American Spiritual)
One morning soon, one morning soon, my Lord,
One morning soon, I heard the angels singing.
Angels on high, singing on high, my Lord,
Singing on high, I heard the angels singing.
Singing good news, singing good news, my Lord,
Singing good news, I heard the angels singing.
All in my room, all in my room, my Lord,
All in my room, I heard the angels singing.
All over my head, etc.
Down on my knees, etc.
Jes' before day, Lord, jes' before day, Lord, etc.
One morning soon, etc.
Sung by Mandy Tartt, Sims Tartt and Betty Atmore, Livingston, Alabama. Very attractive simple tune.
American Memory, Lib. Congress site. John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States recording Trip.
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41030 posted by Dicho, 11 Nov 01
-snip-
Lyrics for several other versions of this Spiritual are included in that Mudcat discussion thread. One blogger gave 1874 as an early documented date for a version of this song as sung by Hampton students.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Bishop J.D. Means, Sr- One Morning Soon
meanmeansmusic, Published on Oct 1, 2014
Traditional Classic "One Morning Soon"
-snip-
In his preface to this song, Bishop J.D. Means, Sr said "Since we in Georgia, I need y'all to help me sing a Georgia song".
Apparently this Spiritual is known as a Georgia song. However, it appears that the earliest documentation of this Spiritual (1874) is from Hampton students. Hampton (now Hampton University) is in Virginia.
****
Example #2: One Morning Soon
Dr. C.J. Johnson - Topic, Jun 5, 2020
Provided to YouTube by Malaco Records
One Morning Soon · Dr. C.J. Johnson
In An Old Time Song Service
℗ 1965 Savoy Records, lnc.
Released on: 1965-10-20
Main Artist: Dr. C.J. Johnson
Composer: Claude J. Johnson
Music Publisher:
Peermusic lll LTD|Savgos Music, Inc.
-snip-
"Composer" here doesn't mean that this song's words or tune originated with Dr. C.J. Johnson. Instead, it means that this is his version of this 1874 or older song.
ADDENDUM
April 6, 2024 - Here's another sound file of "One Morning Soon" that I just found.
One Morning Soon
The Golden Gospel Singers, Oct 18, 2019 Provided to YouTube by Malaco Records ,907 views • Oct 18, 20
One Morning Soon · The Golden Gospel Singers
Main Artist: The
Golden Gospel Singers
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