Lyr Add: I Can't Stay Behind

Subject: Lyr Add: I CAN'T STAY BEHIND
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 06:53 PM

I CAN'T STAY BEHIND

Cho.
Oh, I can't stay behind, my Lord,
I can't stay behind!

Oh, dere's room enough, room enough,
Room enough in de Heaben, my Lord;
Room enough, room enough,
I can't stay behind!

I been all around, I been all around,
Been all around de Heaben, **my Lord.

I've searched every room, searched every room,
Searched every room in de Heaben, **my Lord.

De angels **singin', de angels singin',
De angels singin' all round de trone.

My father call, my father call,
My father call and I must go.

*Sto-back, member, sto-back, member, (repeat)

*shout backwards. **sometimes "for you" substituted for my Lord; Heaben all around substituted in 2nd verse; angels crowned in 3rd. Allen notes that "I can't stay away" is used in some areas. The chorus and 1st verse sung together as chorus acc. to Allen. A popular "shout" at the time.
From W. F. Allen, Slave Songs of The United States, 1867, electronic edition. Higginson has a variant.
Compare with versions of I Can't Stay Away.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Can't Stay Behind
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 07:45 PM

I CAN'T STAY BEHIND (VAR.)

Oh, my mudder is gone! My mudder is gone!
My mudder is gone into Heaven, my Lord!
I can't stay behind!
Dere's room in dar, room in dar,
Room in dar, room in de Heaven, my Lord!
I can't stay behind!
Can't stay behind, my dear,
Can't stay behind!

Oh, my father is gone! , etc.

O, de angels are gone! etc.

O, I'se been on de road! I'se been on de road!
I'se been on de road into Heaven, my Lord!
I can't stay behind!
O, room in dar, room in dar,
Room in dar, in de Heaven, my Lord!
I can't stay behind!

Believed to have been brought up from Florida, as it was heard from a boatload of black soldiers being brought to South Carolina in 1862. Song furnished to W. F. Allen by Col. T. W. Higginson. From W. F. Allen, Slave Songs of the United States, 1867, in Allen, Ware and McKim, electronic edition, Univ. North Carolina, Documenting the American South.
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