Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 03:36 AM

Hi, Stewie - I'll betcha the tune for "Old Ship of Zion" and "Union Train" is This One (click). Am I right?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: UNION TRAIN^^
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 03:19 AM

Here's the lyrics to Union Train:

UNION TRAIN (Lee Hays/Almanac Singers)

Oh, what is that I see yonder coming, coming, coming
Oh, what is that I see yonder coming, coming, coming
What is that I see yonder coming, coming, coming
Get on board! Get on board!

It's that union train a-coming, coming, coming (3)
Get on board! Get on board!

It has saved a-many a thousand, thousand, thousand (3)
Get on board! Get on board!

It will carry us to freedom, freedom, freedom (3)
Get on board! Get on board!

What is that I see yonder coming, coming, coming
Get on board! Get on board!

It's that union train a-coming, coming, coming (3)
Get on board! Get on board!

Copyright People's Songs Inc 1947.

Inspired by Southern Tenant Farmers Union organising sharecroppers and farm labourers in the cotton country of the Mississippi Delta. Many of them were black workers who sang their childhood hymns at union meetings. At a meeting in Memphis, after they had sung 'The Old Ship of Zion', a woman sang a new verse to the tune. Later, Lee Hays added more verses and the 'Union Train' began to roll. [Paraphrase of note by Fowke and Glazer].

I found an 'Old Ship of Zion' at the shape note site, but I doubt if it's the right one.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 02:12 AM

Here's Preacher and the Slave (Pie in the Sky), a parody of In the Sweet Bye and Bye.

This is fun. You can see that I've linked to many of the songs above. The ones that aren't linked means we probably don't have the lyrics. If you can provide, I'm sure the Digital Tradition would be grateful.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: GUEST,Dusty Braces Portland IWW
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 02:06 AM

It's not so much a matter of gospel origins per se, as tunes everyone knows.I know at least three sets of lyrics set to the old fiddle tune Red Wing, Workingmen Unite, Union Maid, and Earth First Maid. Almost every song in the traditional Wobblie canon is set to either a Hymn (which in those days were commonly sung by the majority of people), or a well known popular song. Battle Hymn of the Republic is a perfect example, from John Brown's Body through the UFW version of Solidarity Forever. Having spent a fair amount of time trying to stir up a ruckus at actions and pickets, I'm here to testify, they gotta be comfortable with the tune and they gotta have the lyrics in front of em or they aint gonna sing! But oh, when they do there's no finer noise made by human throat
For the One Big Song Circle, Dusty

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 12:55 AM

Norfolk, right on, comrade!

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 10:24 PM

Stewie, I'll support the Trad. Casey Jones link to the Casey Jones, Union Scab...may fit the category,

as possibly one of the...

this may be a stretch...

but I'm willing to go there...

Battle Hymns of the REPUBLICANS...

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: canoer
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 09:58 PM

Joe, I want you to know that I like the idea of this thread very much. I just don't have time to do the work necessary to contribute right now!

Sorry -- Larry C.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: GUEST,Pat Lamanna
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 08:25 PM

"Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad" (Life's Railway to Heaven)/Miner's Lifeguard

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Hollowfox
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 03:38 PM

(Slight thread creep warning) It's been a while since I read this, so I'm not sure if this takes the song from the labor movement to the civil rights movement, but I think it does: Hold the Fort! the story of a song from the sawdust trail to the picket line (1971, Smithsonian Institution Press; part of the Smithsonian Studies in History & Technology series (#9)

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 02:57 PM

Yup.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: canoer
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 11:37 AM

Joe, you mean the original _gospel_ lyrics, right?

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 02:12 AM

The challenge goes a little farther - I'm looking for the original lyrics, and not just for their titles. If you can find the lyrics and they're not in the database, please post 'em. It can be a lot of fun (and impress a lot of audiences) if you can sing the original version of a familiar song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 12:44 AM

I was enjoying this thread and your excellent list Stewie, and when I read Casey Jones, I thought "What?" Thanks for the second post. I mean really Stewie, so much of your stuff is so great that I was willing to believe there was some way that Casey WAS a hymn!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 12:41 AM

I believe "A Miner's Life Is Like a Sailor's" also comes from a Protestant hymn, but I don't recall which.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 12:35 AM

Sorry, 'Casey Jones' shouldn't be there - forgot Joe referred only to gospel. The others fit the bill though.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 12:28 AM

Fowke and Glazer 'Songs of Work and Protest' refer to quite a number. To cite a few:

Solidarity Forever - John Brown's Body which in turn was from 'Say Brother Will You Meet Us'

'Union Train' - 'The Old Ship of Zion' (this one?)

We Shall Not be Moved - I Shall Not be Moved

Casey Jones (trad) - Casey Jones - Union Scab (Joe Hill)

Roll the Union On - 'Roll the Chariot On'

Which Side Are You On - 'Lay Lily Low'/'Jack Munro'

'We Are Building a Strong Union' - We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder

Dump the Bosses off Your Back - What a Friend we have in Jesus

There Is Power in the Union' -There Is Power in the Blood of the Lamb

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: canoer
Date: 22 Mar 00 - 11:27 PM

"I'm so glad, I'm fighting for my rights,
Singing Glory Hallelujah, I'm so glad."

To the tune Wayfarin' Stranger: "They Say that Freedom is a Constant Struggle"

To the tune You've Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley: "You've Got to Go Down, and Join the Union"

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, Hold On & Keep Your Hands on the Plow

"Ain't Gonna Let No-Body Turn Me A-Round"

Nice thread. Maybe I'll come up with some more. I know they're out there. "Pharoah's Army got Drownded" (O Mary Don't You Weep) .

L.C.

Subject: RE: Gospel Origin-Civil Rights & Labor Songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Mar 00 - 09:12 PM

Two that come immediately to mind:

Pie in the Sky, of course
We Shall Not be Moved (as a union song)

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE SINGIN' UP THERE^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Mar 00 - 08:38 PM

We touched on this in a thread with a generic title, and it seemed like it might be an interesting topic to explore. Many U.S. civil rights and labor songs are parodies of early songs, particularly gospel songs. I'm wondering how many we can come up with, and if we can find their original versions.
Here's "I'LL BE SINGIN UP THERE," which is obviously the origin of If You Miss Me At the Back of the Bus

I'LL BE SINGIN UP THERE

CHORUS:
I'll be singing up there,
I'll be singing up there,
Come on up to bright glory,
I'll be singing up there.

If you miss me singing [praying, etc.] down here,
If you miss me singing down here,
Come on up to bright glory,
I'll be singing up there,


Got others?
-Joe Offer-

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I'll be adding links to the songs you post, if I find 'em and you haven't.