Origins: Watch the Stars (spiritual)

Subject: LYR REQ: Watch the stars
From:
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 07:35 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics to a trad. song whose title is "Watch the stars"; the only verses I know are

Watch the stars see how they run

Any hint?

C.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Watch the stars
From:
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 05:01 PM

You can find the song on "I've Got A Song" by Sandy and Caroline Paton (Folkway Records). I'm not sure of the lyrics, but I could transcribe them for you if nobody else knows them. Just let me know.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Watch the stars
From: rich r
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:21 PM

Ruth Crawford Seeger's "American Folk Songs For Christmas" contains only a single verse. It is also on the Mike & Peggy Seeger double CD of songs from the book.

(C)O watch the stars,(G7) see how they (C)run,

O,(F) watch the stars, see how they (C)run,

The (F)stars run (C)down at the (G)setting of the (Am)sun,

O (C)watch the stars, (G7)see how they (C)run

rich r

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WATCH THE STARS
From: Bill
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 02:17 AM

Howdy,

I supposedly learned the song from the two sources already cited, but I quickly folk processed it to meet my limitations and my own feelings about the arrangement.

My version goes something like this:

WATCH THE STARS
Traditional

[G]Watch the stars, [D7]see how they [G]run.
[C]Watch the stars, see how they [G]run.
The [C]stars run by at the [G]setting of the [Em]sun.
[G]Watch the stars, [D7]see how they [G]run.

Watch the moon, see how it shines.
Watch the moon, see how it shines.
The moon runs down at the sun setting time.
Watch the moon, see how it shines.

Watch the wind, see how it blows.
Watch the wind, see how it blows.
The wind blows by at the setting of the sun.
Watch the wind, see how it blows.

Watch the stars, see how they run.
Watch the moon, see how it shines.
Oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo.
Watch the wind, see how it blows.

Watch the stars, see how they run.

Hope that will help you some. It's a great feeling song for me when I'm singing it.

Allinkausay,
Bill

Subject: Lyr. Add: O Watch de Stars (Spiritual)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 08:19 PM

O WATCH DE STARS
Saint Helena Island spiritual

a. Version by Virginia Brown
1
O watch de stars see how dey run
O watch de stars see how dey run
de stars run down at de setting ob de sun
O watch de stars see how dey run.
2
Jis watch de stars see how dey run
De stars run down at de setting of the sun
Jis watch de stars see how dey run.
3
Oh God's leetle army goin' to shine
De stars run down at de setting of the sun
O watch de stars see how dey run.

With musical score, no. 71, p. 58.
Nicholas George Julius Ballanta-(Taylor), 1924, Saint Helena Island Spirituals, Diploma, 1924, Institute of Musical Art, New York City.
Mr. Ballanta's book seems to be the first publication of this spiritual.

Mr. Ballanta-(Taylor) came to New York through the agencies of the Musical Courier and Walter Damrosch, the conductor. The book of spirituals, collected on the island and the Penn Normal School there, was published by G. Schirmer, Inc. He later visited the "black belts" of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Submitting compositions by mail, and later in residence, Mr. Ballanta completed work for the Bachelor of Music degree, Durham University, England.
I have not seen these later compositions; they may never have been published.

Dialect and grammar in the above text of the spiritual are as they appear in the book.

Subject: RE: lyr req: Watch the stars
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 06:59 PM

I believe Pentangle did a haunting version of this song, on an early album. Probably seventies.
Lovely song; thanks for bringing it back to memory; I think I'll try putting it on my playlist once again.

Subject: Origins: Watch the stars
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 10:35 PM

I ve recently become re captivated by an old Pentangle song, Watch The Stars. I seem to remember that this was an old English lullabye. Is that so? And does anyone know of 'lost ' verses; I m planning to sing this lovely tune at my next performance.

Subject: RE: Origins: Watch the stars
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 11:13 PM

Whoops just found a reference to the song on an older thread Seems it is a traditional song but I wouldn't t mind knowing more about it if any caters are so inclined

Subject: Origins: Watch the Stars (spiritual)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Sep 17 - 02:26 AM

I didn't find the song in the Traditional Ballad Index, or in the Digital Tradition.

Here's the Peggy Seeger recording. I think she got it from her mother Ruth Crawford Seeger's "American Folk Songs For Christmas"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPSrGdugoxs

Here's the Pentangle recording that seems to be best-known among Mudcatters, although I wasn't familiar with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEQxBPdIOh0

Because Sandy Paton was such a powerful influence in the early years of Mudcat, it's his version I know best. I'm having trouble finding a full recording of the version he recorded with his wife Caroline, but here's a really interesting clip that starts with that song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7d_TYaDNkA

Oh, here's their recording of "Watch the Stars/By'm By"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu6KEXCx4pQ

Unfortunately, some of these videos may not be playable in the UK.

-Joe-

(lefthanded, I hope you don't mind my combining threads)

Subject: RE: Origins: Watch the Stars (spiritual)
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 02 Sep 17 - 02:27 AM

Thank you Joe, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Sandy & Caroline version of this touching song. I am familiar with the Pentangle version but I think I enjoy the lyrics that the sing better; and will use those lyrics next time I sing.
And no I don t mind you combining threads; especially because I could
Never question the sensibilities of a man who esteems Alfred Neuman
as his patron saint- and provides us catters with his picture. no less
(suitable for framing, as I remember, or wrapping fish 😛).

Subject: RE: Origins: Watch the Stars (spiritual)
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 02 Sep 17 - 01:01 PM

Martin Simpson has a nice instrumental version on "A Closer Walk With Thee", IIRC