The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41030   Message #598296
Posted By: masato sakurai
27-Nov-01 - 02:26 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: One Morning Soon
Subject: Lyr Add: I HEARD THE ANGELS SINGIN'
The sound recording is HERE. Alternate recording of the same song titled "Heard de Angels Singin'" sung by Albert "Tied-tongue" Allison, Dock Reed and Vera Hall is HERE.
Lydia Parrish recorded this song (titled "I Heard the Angels Singin'")in Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (1942; U. of Georgia Pr., 1992, pp. 140-141, with music):

I HEARD THE ANGELS SINGIN'

Chorus:
One mornin' soon
One mornin' soon
One mornin' soon
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Lawd, Ah wuz down on my knees
Down on my knees
Down on my knees
Ah heard the angels singin'.

No dyin' there
No dyin' there
No dyin' there
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Ah heard the angels singin' Lawd
Ah heard the angels singin'
Ah heard the angels singin' Lawd
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Well, there's no weepin' there
No weepin' there
No weepin' there
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Lawd, it wuz all 'roun' me shine
All 'roun' me shine
All 'roun' me shine
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Lawd, it wuz all over my head
All over my head
All over my head
Ah heard the angels singin'.

Lawd, it wuz all aroun' my feet
All aroun' my feet
All aroun' my feet
Ah heard the angels singin'.

An earlier related version is in Hampton and Its Studens (1874, p. 246, with music; also in Religious Folk Songs of the Negro, new ed., 1920; AMS, 1973, p. 74):

HEAR DE ANGELS SINGIN'

1
Oh, sing all de way, sing all de way,
Sing all de way, my Lord,
Hear de angels singin'.
We're marchin' up to Hebben, its a happy time;
An' Jesus is on-a de middle line;
Dem-a Christians take up too much time;
Dey're idlin' on dat battle line;
Hear de angels singin'.

2
Now all things well, an' I don't dread hell;--
Hear de angels singin',
I am goin' up to Hebben' where my Jesus dwell;--
Hear de angels singin'.
For de angels are callin' me away,--
Hear de angels singin',
An' I must go, I cannot stay,--
Hear de angels singin'. CHO.--Oh, sing, &c.

3
Now take your Bible, an' read it through,--
Hear de angels singin',
An' ebery word you'll find is true;--
Hear de angels singin'.
For in dat Bible you will see,--
Hear de angels singin',
Dat Jesus died for you an' me,--
Hear de angels singin'. CHO.--Oh, sing, &c.

4
Say if my memory sarves me right,--
Hear de angels singin',
We're sure to hab a little shout to-night,--
Hear de angels singin'.
For I love to shout, I love to sing,--
Hear de angels singin',
I love to praise my Hebbenly King,--
Hear de angels singin'. CHO.--Oh, sing, &c.

~Masato