Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long

Subject: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 08:45 PM

I have one recording of this, but would like more historical info, and more verses if there are some. I've looked everywhere I can think of, to no avail.

Anyone?

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:02 PM

I could help with 'Been on the road so long', but I've never heard this title. Could you supply some of the lyrics from memory, perhaps? Titles vary and can be misleading.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:19 PM

The booklet that accompanies the Sharon Mountain Harmony cassette from Folk Legacy says "This song, one of the most moving in all of American traditional music, is from the singing of Mary Pinkney of Johs Island, South Carolina. We learned it from Merle Schlesinger"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:34 PM

Yep. My recording is NexTradition, and they credit Mary Pinckney too, I think.

"Been in the storm so long
been in the storm so long
Been in the storm so long
Give me more time to pray"

is the basic gist of it. I've seen versions of this verse in print with "give me little time for prayin"

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:38 PM

Related to "Been in de war so long" as in the songbook, HONEY IN THE ROCK?

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN IN THE STORM SO LONG
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 10:07 PM

This is an African-American spiritual. Sometimes called "I Been in de Storm (So Long)" and less often "I've Been in the Storm."

I BEEN IN DE STORM SO LONG

I been in de storm so long,
I been in de storm so long, chillun,
I been in de storm so long,
Oh, gimme little time to pray.

1. Oh, let me tell you, Mother, hown I come 'long,
Oh, gimme little time to pray,
With a hung down head and an achin' heart,
Oh, gimme little time to pray.

'Cause I been in de storm so long,
I been in de storm so long, chillun,
I been in de storm so long,
Oh, gimme little time to pray.

2. Now when I get to Heaven I'll take my seat,
Oh, gimme little time to pray,
An-a cast my crown at my Jesus' feet,
Oh, gimme little time to pray.

I been in de storm so long,
I been in de storm so long, chillun,
I been in de storm so long,
Oh, gimme little time to pray.

SOURCE: Songs of Zion, no. 144 (with music)

~~~~~~~~

I'VE BEEN IN THE STORM SO LONG

I've been in the storm so long,
I've been in the storm so long, children,
I've been in the storm so long,
Oh, give me little time to pray.

Oh, let me tell my mother
How I come along,
Oh, give me little time to pray,
With a hung down head and a aching heart,
Oh, give me little time to pray.

Oh, when I get to heaven,
I'll walk all about
Oh, give me little time to pray,
There'll be nobody there to turn me out,
Oh, give me little time to pray.

I've been in the storm so long,
I've been in the storm so long, children,
I've been in the storm so long,
Oh, give me little time to pray.

SOURCE: Peters, Lyrics of the African-American Spiritual, p. 23 (original source: Fisher, Seventy Negro Spirituals, 1926)

There're some interesting recordings. Marian Anderson's concert-spiritual singing is in her He's Got the Whole World in His Hand (RCA/Victor). A version traditional singing style is in Been in the Storm So Long Spirituals, Folk Tales and Children's Games from Johns Island, South Carolina (Smithsonian Folkways 40031). Aretha Franklin, with Joe Ligon, sings in One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; and, with her father (Rev. C.L. Franklin), in Only a Look (Jewel).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:06 PM

That's our Masato!!!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:09 PM

PS, I've entered this one in the index of posted spirituals.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:37 PM

The second version I posted above is also in Richard Newman, Go Down, Moses: Celebrating the African-American Spiritual (p. 93), though it doesn't mention the source.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,Circey
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:11 PM

I've been in the storm so long
Been in the storm so long children
Been in the storm so long
Oh Give me little time to pray

Now lemme tell ya children how long I come along
Oh gimme little time to pray
With a hung down head an an achin' back
Oh gimme little time to pray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 07:54 PM

Any printing of this song before 1920?
Fisher, 1926, and Frey, 1924, are the earliest i have found.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN IN THE STORM SO LONG
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 11:43 AM

From The Story of the Jubilee Singers: With Their Songs by J. B. T. Marsh (new York: S. W. Green's Son, 1883), page 174—with musical notation for one voice.


I'VE BEEN IN THE STORM SO LONG

CHORUS: I've been in the storm so long.
I've been in the storm so long, children.
I've been in the storm so long.
Oh, give me little time to pray.

1. Oh, let me tell my mother how I came along.
Oh, give me little time to pray.
With a hung down head and an aching heart.
Oh, give me little time to pray.

2. Oh, when I get to heaven, I'll walk all about,
Oh, give me little time to pray.
There'll be nobody there to turn me out.
Oh, give me little time to pray.

3. I'll go into heaven, and take my seat,
Oh, give me little time to pray.
Cast my crown at Jesus' feet.
Oh, give me little time to pray.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 12:24 PM

I should have looked in my copy of Marsh, but it is not cited in "Index to Negro Spirituals" (Cleveland Public Library, Center for Black Music Research) although Fisher and Frey are.
Checking back on the notes in Fisher, he cites "Jubilee Songs, Part I, 1872."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 11:56 PM

I need text source and history on this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: PHJim
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 07:27 PM

A variant of this song was included in the first lrge size Sing Out! magazine, the first Sing Out! to include a recording, I think in the late sixties. I'm pretty sure it was sung by the Georgia Sea Islander Singers.

Here are two of the verses I remember. It was on one of those floppy vinyl records that you tear out of the magazine.

I've been in the storm so long.
I've been in the storm so long.
Singing,"Oh Lord, Give me more time to pray."
I've been in the storm so long.

I am a motherless child.
I am a motherless child.
Singing,"Oh Lord, Give me more time to pray."
I am a motherless child.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:51 AM

This was one of President Lincoln's favorite songs. He heard it sang in contraband camps around washington and would request it sang for him. Honest abe for ya. A great Republican

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 03:01 PM

"One of President Lincoln's favorite songs."

"Annie Laurie," "Dixie's Land," and others are "said to be," "claimed to be," "friends said," favorites, etc. Can any quotes from Lincoln or close friends be found to substantiate these references?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:29 PM

Some info here, Q.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,hillary.d.rice
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 04:01 PM

The besst version I have heard with full lyrics is by the Fisk Jubilee Singers and it can be found on their website or rhapsody.com. Hope this helps. {I have to perform this! Wish me luck guys}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Carly
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 05:01 PM

Merle Schlesinger (now Merle Roesler) and I first heard Been In the Storm in the fall of 1971 at a Folklore Society of Greater Washington Open Sing at the Washington Ethical Society. It was very late in the evening, and we had been singing by candle light for several hours, when out of the darkness of a shadowy corner soared this unearthly, soul-piercing, glorious voice singing "Been in the storm..." That was our introduction to Jan Hackman (who is now Jan Green,) and to the song, which we immediately learned and sang.As far as I can recall, Jan got it from the Georgia Sea Island Singers; Rock Creek (Wally Macnow, Tom McHenry, and Bill Destler,) learned it from Merle and recorded it.

Enjoy, Hillary!

Carly Gewirz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,Morgyn
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 06:58 AM

I have sung this song a couple of years ago in an honor choir and our musician just so happened to be the man who wrote the song himself. I can't remember his name but when I do find the sheet music for it I will let you know. he wrote it after Katrina hit and his mother lost everything. Her home her pets her money everything. but inspite of all that she still thanked the Lord for letting her live. When he told us the story and then sang it for us all 300 students felt the sadness in their hearts. It is the most moving song I have ever (and probably ever) heard in my whole life.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jul 11 - 03:40 PM

Morgyn: We've established that I'VE BEEN IN THE STORM SO LONG dates at least back to the 1883, or perhaps to the Civil War, so your musician cannot have written it after Katrina. Perhaps you misunderstood him, or perhaps you are remembering a different song. I'd hate to think someone would lie about that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,alison
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 02:34 PM

here are the words i sing.
i have a recording from maybe the 30's by The new Bethel Baptist Church Choir and have heard numerous recordings including one by Marion Anderson.

refrain:
i've been in the storm so long x3
Just give me a little time to pray

verse 1:
Let me tell you, mother, how i come along
..give me some time to pray..
With a hung-down head and an aching heart
...give me a little time to pray

~refrain~

verse 2:
When i get to heaven i'm gonna take my seat,
..give me some time to pray..
Gonna cast my crown at my Jesus' feet
..give me a little time to pray

~refrain~

verse 3:
When i get to heaven, i'm gonna walk all about,
...give me some time to pray..
Ain't nobody here gonna turn me out
..give me a little time to pray

~refrain~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,diplocase
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 05:01 PM

Mary Pinckney, singing on Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST,diplocase
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 05:19 PM

http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW03842.pdf is the liner notes for Been In the Storm So Long, recorded in the Georgia Sea Isles (John's Island) in 1967.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 05:21 PM

http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW03842.pdf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: PHJim
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 06:57 PM

I found the version that was in the Sing Out! record.


Mary Pickney, John's Island S. Carolina - Been In The Storm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: maeve
Date: 02 Aug 15 - 10:56 AM

Thanks, GUEST,diplocase andPHJim. I do love this.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Been in the Storm So Long
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Aug 15 - 11:42 AM

Jim, likely new verses were created/adapted and woven into the usual choral version. The whole point of spirituals was their ready morphing as needed. (I copyright my versions too just to keep the record clearer, moving forward in time, than it could ever have been looking backward.) Morgyn is just sharing her/his own point in time.

The song in all its variation is so well known BTW that it's commonly called BISSL.

~Susan