Subject: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: CET Date: 11 Aug 06 - 10:00 PM I have just learned a gospel song collected in Nova Scotia by Helen Creighton, called "The Welcome Table". The first verse is: I'm going to climb up Jacob's ladder, I'm going to climb up Jacob's ladder one of these days Alleluja I'm going to climb up Jacob's ladder, I'm going to climb up Jacob's ladder one of these days. The first line changes in each verse, e.g. "I'm going to climb up higher and higher", "I'm going to sit at the welcome table", etc. It was collected in a school for black children (possibly orphanage - it's five to ten on Friday night and I'm too lazy to look it up). It definitely has a southern gospel ring to it. Does anybody know other versions of this song? Did it originate in the U.S? Edmund |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,Dani Date: 11 Aug 06 - 10:41 PM One of my favorite songs! I learned it from the singing of Sparky Rucker, who credits "Trad". My favorite verse is "I'm gonna tell God how you treat me" Maybe we'll sing it together in Autumn at the Getaway? Dani |
Subject: ADD Version: River Jordan From: Peace Date: 11 Aug 06 - 10:46 PM RIVER JORDAN I'm goin' down to the river Jordan I'm goin' down to the river Jordan I'm goin' down to the river Jordan I'm goin' down to the river Jordan One of these days. I'm gonna sit at the welcome table I'm gonna sit at the welcome table I'm gonna sit at the welcome table Gonna sit at the welcome table One of these days. I'm gonna find that blessed salvation I'm gonna find that blessed salvation I'm gonna find that blessed salvation Gonna find that blessed salvation One of these days. I'm gonna walk and talk with Jesus I'm gonna walk and talk with Jesus I'm gonna walk and talk with Jesus Gonna walk and talk with Jesus One of these days. I'm gonna hold hands with my Master I'm gonna hold hands with my Master I'm gonna hold hands with my Master I'm gonna hold hands with my Master One of these days. Now I'm goin' down to the river Jordan I'm goin' down to the river Jordan I'm goin' down to the river Jordan Goin' down to the river Jordan One of these days. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Peace Date: 11 Aug 06 - 10:53 PM Great site here. Sheet music there also. docsouth.unc.edu/church/allen/allen.html Scroll to about 115 and then scroll slowly. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 11 Aug 06 - 11:24 PM Widespread and much-collected. Sung by both Blacks and Whites (the Carter Family and others). Also known as "Down to the River of Jordan (Jerdan)." The verse order changes, and several other verses in some versions. It is identified in its versions by the line "Some of these days" or "One of these days." In the Cleveland Index of Spirituals, it is catalogued under the name "Some of These Days," which is the title in Grissom, "Negro Sings a New Heaven," and "Some o' Dese Days," Johnson, "Green Pastures Spirituals." Also known as "I'm Goin' Down to de Ribber ob Jerden," in Ballanta-Taylor, "Saint Helena Island Spirituals." Down to the River of Jordan As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Arkansas, The Max Hunter Folk Collection, the welcome table appears in the 4th verse: 1. I'm a goin' down the river of Jordan O yes, I'm goin' down to the river of Jordan Some of these days, hallaluia I'm goin' down to the river of Jordan (2x) Some of these days. 2. I'm a gonna set down by my Jesus O yes, I'm goin' down to the river of Jordan Some of these days, hallaluia I'm a gonna set down by my Jesus (2x) Some of these days. 3. I'm a gonna sing in the Heavenly choir O yes, I'm a gonna sing in the Heavenly choir Some of these days, hallaluia I'm a gonna sing, the Heavenly choir (2x) Some of these days. 4. I'm a gonna eat at the welcome table O yes, I'm gonna eat at the welcome table Some of these days, hallaluia I'm gonna eat at the welcome table (2x) Some of these days. Real Audio is provided. http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1285 (The site may have changed since I took this down long ago, but just google Max Hunter). I'm sure that versions are in the African-American Spirituals Permathread here at Mudcat, Thread 38686: Spirituals Permathread |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 12 Aug 06 - 08:14 AM I found this article after googling the term 'welcome table': "... The Welcome Table, honored in the Jewish tradition by the Seder table at which one seat is left empty for Elijah, or for the stranger. Modeled in the Christian tradition by Jesus' radical table fellowship with sinners and prostitutes. Sung of in the African American tradition as the future reign of justice and freedom." Welcome Table Theology A Sermon by the Reverend Phyllis L. Hubbell; The First Unitarian Church of Baltimore' Founders' Day, February 8, 2004 -snip- As a result of that google search, I'm wondering if the phrase 'sitting at the welcome table" could have come -by way of folk process-from 'setting the welcome table'. I found this link Setting the Welcome Table Black Books Review. From this link it appears that "Setting The Welcome Table" is or was a website about cooking. However, if this is so, I haven't been able to find the actual website. For what its worth, although I vaguely remember the line "I'm gonna sit at the welcome table" being sung as part of some spiritual or another, I never known there to be an actual "welcome table" at any African American church that I have attended. However, there is an 'altar table" which sits down below pulpit where the minister[s] sit [in many Black Baptist churches, the choir sits directly behind the minister]. One welcoming tradition that I remember occuring in my childhppd and which still occurs during the formal church service at my Black Baptist church are "Welcoming visitors". This occurs before the minister preaches [also known as the minister 'giving the sermon'] is that visitors are asked to stand and state their name and where they are from. The Church Clerk [or another designated church officer or member then formally welcomes those persons to the church. Another church welcoming tradition is "extending the right hand of fellowship". This tradition occurs after the sermon but before the church service officially ends. When the minister says 'Let us extend the right hand of fellowship", for a brief time, the congregation-including the choir-stand and greet those who had been sitted near them [in their row, and in the next row in front of and behind them]. People warmly greet each other with a handshake, a hug, and brief words. Some people go across the aisle to do extend the right hand of fellowship, but in my experience, during this time most people only greet those formathis is usually limited to greeting those persons who are standing near you. Thanks to google, I found out that there's a biblical origin for this tradition: "After his [Paul's] meeting with the highly esteemed leaders of the Christian community on Jerusalem in which he set before them the Gospel he preached among the Gentiles, he stated that these leaders "gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me" (cf. Galatians 2:1-10).http://spiritualoasis.wordpress.com/2006/06/28/the-right-hand-of-fellowship/ In churhes I have attended, after the church service ends, the church sometimes serves 'dinner' or 'repast' {a repast is usually less food than that served at the 'dinner'}. There's a head table reserved for the minister & his wife and his invited guests. But the 'head table' is entirely different from the 'welcome table' mentioned in spirituals. Maybe the 'altar table' is closer to the traditional meaning of the 'welcome table'. Finally, when singing the line "sit at the welcome table", I think it's important to remember the context under which enslaved African Americans composed the songs which included these lines. Food was scarce, and African Americans were definitely not welcomed in many settings. The line 'sit at the welcome table' "flips the script" {to use a hip-hop term]. In the imagery of African Americans who created the spirituals, in heaven, all folks would be welcomed, and all folks would have lots of food to eat. In my opinion, the belief that in heaven people who were hungry would have more than enough food to eat is an important element of that "future reign of justice and freedom" {as quoted in the excerpt presented above"}. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 12 Aug 06 - 08:50 AM I found this line "Gwine to sit down at the welcome table, gwine to feast off milk and honey" in this article: "Negro Folk Expression: Spirituals, Seculars, Ballads and Work Songs" by by Sterling Brown. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: dick greenhaus Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:40 AM Was very popular as "I'm Gonna Walk the Streets of Glory" in the early 50s. SUng by the Almanacs. |
Subject: Lyr. Add: SOME O' THESE DAYS From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Aug 06 - 12:48 PM SOME O' THESE DAYS (spiritual) I'm gonna tell God how you treat me, (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna tell God how you treat me, (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna cross thuh river of Jurdun, (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna cross thuh river of Jurdun, (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna drink uv thuh healin' waters (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna drink uv the healin' waters, (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna drink and nevuh get thirsty, (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna drink and nevuh get thirsty, (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna eat off thuh welcome table, (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna eat off thuh welcome table, (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna walk an' talk wid Jesus, (2x) Some o' these days. Hallelujah! I'm gonna walk an' talk wid Jesus (2x) Some o' these days. I'm gonna ride in thuh charet wid Jesus, (2x) etc. I'm gonna shout an' not be weary, (2x) etc. You're gonna wish that you'd-a been ready, (2x) etc. God's gonna set yo' sins befo' you (2x) etc. God's gonna bring this world to judgment (2x) etc. With music, pp. 20-21, Grissom, Mary Allen, 1930, "The Negro Sings a New Heaven," Univ. North Carolina Press (Dover reprint, 1969). This version gives a good idea of the many verses that may be sung with this spiritual. Dick Greenhaus adds another (The first line of a verse ofen used as the title). |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:04 PM Posted to the Spirituals Permathread. |
Subject: ADD Version: I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table From: Azizi Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:12 PM Here's a version of I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table" which was written as a Civil Rights song: I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table I'm gonna sit at the welcome table, I'm gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna sit at the welcome table, I'm gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days. I'm gonna walk the streets of glory, I'm gonna walk the streets of glory one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna walk the streets of glory, I'm gonna walk the streets of glory one of these days. I'm gonna get my civil rights, I'm gonna get my civil rights one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna get my civil rights, I'm gonna get my civil rights one of these days. I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter, I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter, I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter one of these days. McComb, Mississippi, Freedom School Play This song was part of a play written by the students of the McComb, Mississippi, Freedom School in 1964. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Aug 06 - 04:16 PM Good one, Azizi. Dick Greenhaus may be referring to another protest version. I hope he posts the Almanacs' lyrics. I expected to find one in "Sing Out!" |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 12 Aug 06 - 04:26 PM It occurs to me that maybe the original words to the song are "sittin at the welcome table" and that folks talking about food began using 'setting the welcome table" as a clever play on words. Another cook book that uses this part of this phrase is Maya Angelou's 2004 cook "Hallelujah! the Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes, 1st Edition" Random House Inc |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: dick greenhaus Date: 12 Aug 06 - 05:32 PM The Almanac's (I think ...walk the streets of glory... ...sit at the welcome table... ...walk and talk with Jesus... ...tell God how you treat me.. (He's gonna) set the world on fire... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Aug 06 - 06:20 PM "Setting" was commonly used in speech in place of correct "sitting" by both Black and White people with little education and was so written down in many of the collections of folk songs and spirituals. Most collectors tried to copy the dialect and pronunciation of the singer(singers) since this is part of the song's province. "Settin" was pretty general in 19th c. country America- and is still heard. The old spiritual "Wish I Was in Heabum Settin' Down" is another example. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 12 Aug 06 - 06:32 PM But in those songs doesn't 'settin' mean the same thing as 'sittin'? "Set the table" means something different-"put dishes, silverware, and maybe also dishes of food on the table". I think that's the definition of 'set' that that "Setting the Welcome Table" cookbook website or magazine used. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Aug 06 - 07:28 PM Just looked up the origin of the Welcome Table. In Jewish tradition "by the Seder table at which one seat is left empty for Elijah or the stranger. Modeled in the Christian tradition by Jesus' radical table fellowship with sinners and prostitutes. Sung in the African-American tradition as the future reign of justice and freedom." I know little of these roots, so I am probably wrong. Here is the reference: http://www.firstunitarian.net/publications/sermon/20040208sh.rtf |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Pauline L Date: 13 Aug 06 - 04:47 AM I learned the song as a civil rights song back in the 60s. In fact, I learned a lot of civil rights songs and didn't hear them sung as gospel songs until many years later. I have been to a Unitarian church in Washington DC (All Souls) in which the membership/newcomers table was called the Welcome Table. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 13 Aug 06 - 09:08 AM Pauline L, Please tell us more about the tradition of the membership/newcomers table in Unitarian church that you attended. Is this a table outside the santuary [the room where the church service itself is held]with pamphlets and other reading material? And/or does a church member actually sit at the table and greet people when they first enter the church? Are people asked if they are newcomers? Or is this a table where food is served and are the newcomers seated there? Also, is the Unitarian church in Washington DC (All Souls)a predominately Black congregation? If so, do you know if non-Black Unitarian churches have the same tradition? **** Pauline, here is a page for my website that has examples of Civil Rights songs: http://www.cocojams.com/freedom_songs.htm I believe that it is important to collect, preserve & share this part of American history & culture. Last night I also posted that link to Cocojams on this Mudcat thread Songs & Jingles in Political Campaigns as examples of those songs might apply to that thread. Please consider posting some of the examples of Civil Rights songs that you remember on Mudcat and/or Cocojams. Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 13 Aug 06 - 09:36 AM Here's song notes for "Welcome Table" from this website: A Companion to the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook "Welcome Table" is an African-American spiritual with pre-Civil War roots. A spiritual is characteristically repetitive to be easily learned by a group or singers. The lyrics to "I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table" speak of a better day when the singer will be able to "walk the streets of glory" and be "welcomed" to the dinner table of just souls. During the Civil Rights demonstrations of the 1960s, many of the older spirituals were revived. Their repetitive structure again served impromptu groups of marchers and singers well. And the subject matter of "I'm On My Way," "Study War No More" and "Welcome Table" spoke directly to the worldly concerns of the freedom marchers. Recordings on file by: Brownie McGhee, Various artists". -snip- Btw, a note to a play party song "Waterbound" was included with the indication that a recording of this song was on file by Art Thieme. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Pauline L Date: 14 Aug 06 - 10:44 PM Azizi, this subject is very dear to my heart, and I have a lot to say about it. I don't want to "hijack" this thread, so I'll PM you, and we can take it from there. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,Sher Date: 23 Nov 06 - 12:07 AM I just read a summer interview w. Dan Zanes who mentions it-he goes to Nova Scotia every summer w. family & plays gospel. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: oldhippie Date: 23 Nov 06 - 09:16 AM Our Unitarian Universalist hymnal has these verses:
"All kinds of people around that table..." "No fancy style at the welcome table..." words & music listed as "traditional" arranged by Mary Allen Walden (1946- |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,j.b. Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:38 PM I'm just starting to play guitar - anyone know the chords? Thanks. |
Subject: Chord Req: The Welcome Table From: GUEST,J.B. Date: 12 Nov 07 - 06:29 PM Hi. I'm just starting to play guitar and am looking for the chords to the Gospel song "The Welcome Table." It probably ain't that hard but I'm not at the stage where I can decipher songs. Any ideas? p.s. - Thanks to Azizi for the tip. |
Subject: LYR/CHORD ADD: RIVER OF JORDAN/WELCOME TABLE From: Sorcha Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:25 PM River Of Jordan [A]I'm going down to the river of Jordan, oh, yes, [D]I'm going down to the river of Jordan some of these [A]days (hallelujah) ! I'm going down to the river of [A]Jord[D]…..[A]an, I'm going down to the river of Jordan, [E]some of these [A]days ! I'm going to eat at the welcome table, oh, yes, I'm going to eat at the welcome table some of these days (hallelujah) ! I'm going to eat at the welcome ta…….ble, I'm going to eat at the welcome table, some of these days ! I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir, oh, yes, I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir, some of these days (hallelujah)! I'm going to sing in the heavenly ch……..oir, I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir, some of these days ! I'm going to put on the silvery slippers, oh, yes, I'm going to put on the silvery slippers some of these days (hallelujah)! I'm going to put on the silvery sli….ppers, I'm going to put on the silvery slippers, some of these days ! I'm going to sit down by my Jesus, oh, yes, I'm going to sit down by my Jesus some of these days (hallelujah) ! I'm going to sit down by my Je…...sus, I'm going to sit down by my Jesus, some of these days ! Is this it? http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/carter-family-songs/River%20Of%20Jordan.htm |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Welcome Table From: Sorcha Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:29 PM And here's a tip. Put "welcome table" with the quote marks into Google. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Search Within Results. Put in either chords or lyrics, and then search. I found quite a few versions/variations of this song that way. Some of the entries had code instead of words....stuff like ?aei/. I assume the ampersand codes that were posted didn't post correctly. |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Welcome Table From: GUEST,J.B. Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:11 PM Thanks for the music and the tip! Much appretiated. |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Welcome Table From: Azizi Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:50 PM Hey, J.B.! I just found this jazzy version of Welcome Table on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xryl42Lzxcg "Welcome Table" from the Old Town School Songbook, Volume 4 -snip- Not that this helps you find the chords. It may even complicate your search for those chords. But you might be interested in hearing this. And others might be interested in checking it out too, so I'mma cross post it on Mudcat's other thread on this song: thread.cfm?threadid=93754 Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' . Best wishes, Azizi And hey to you too, Sorcha! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:53 PM I just found this YouTube clip of a duet singing a jazzy version of "Welcome Table": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xryl42Lzxcg "Welcome Table" from the Old Town School Songbook, Volume 4 |
Subject: Lyr. Add:The Welcome Table ( spiritual) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 26 Feb 10 - 02:49 PM THE WELCOME TABLE Spiritual, Carolina Low Country 1 I'm gwine tuh set at duh welcome table, I'm gwine tuh set at duh welcome table, Some o' dese days, Hallelujah, I'm gwine tuh set at duh welcome table, Gwine tuh set at duh welcome table Some o' dese days. 2 I'm gwine tuh drink ob duh healin' waters, I'm gwine tuh drink ob duh healin' waters Some o' dese days, Hallelujah, I'm gwine tuh drink ob duh healin' waters, Gwine tuh drink ob duh healin' waters Some o' dese days. 3 I'm gwine tuh drink en nebbuh git tu'sty,(1) I'm gwine tuh drink en nebbuh git tu'sty Some o' dese days, hallelujah, I'm gwine tuh drink en nebbuh git tu'sty Gwine tuh drink en nebbuh git tu'sty Some o' dese days. 4 I'm gwine tuh eat en nebbuh git hongry, etc. 5 I'm gwine tuh seddown(2) 'side my Jedus, etc. 6 I'm gwine tuh ride een duh glycerin' cha'ayut(3) 7 I'm gwine tuh see all duh 'Postles, etc. 8 I'm gwine tuh see my dear gran'mudduh, etc. 9 I'm gwine tuh set een duh elbow chair, etc. 10 I'm gwine tuh rock from side tuh side, etc. 11 I'm gwine tuh res' from all muh labuh, etc. 12 I'm gwine tuh rally wid duh Ainjul Gabrull,'etc. Rendered in the gullah of the Carolina Low Country. (1)nebbuh git tu'sty- never get thirsty; (2)seddown- sit down; (3)glycerin cha'ayut- glistening chariot. With musical score, pp. 298-299, 1931, Augustine T. Smythe et al.,The Carolina Low Country, spirituals coll. by K. C. Hutson et al. Society for the Preservation of Spirituals. The Macmillan Company. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST Date: 04 May 10 - 05:09 PM You can gets lots on information on this song and its origins in the amazing movie "Soundtrack for A Revolution". This is an incredible, powerful movie on the Civil Rights Movement, it's a must see. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,Fernando Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:57 AM Thank you very much, we are havinga devotional every morning and i'm sure these songs will help. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Sep 10 - 10:06 AM Adding to Spirituals Permathread index. ~S~ |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Bob the Postman Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:37 AM Here is a bluegrass-style voice and guitar href="http://toneway.com/songs/im-gonna-eat-at-the-welcome-table">audio clip of this song. There is an outstanding harmonica and voice rendition on Revenant Records' release "American Primitive Vol. 1 Raw Pre-War Gospel (1926-36)" by Jaybird Coleman. I originally heard Coleman's rendering of the line "I'm gonna sit at the side of King Jesus" as "I'm gonna sit outside with King Jesus" and wondered why Jesus would be sitting outside. Then I figured it out--obviously, he was enjoying a cigarette. There'll be no second-hand smoke in that holy city fair. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Bob the Postman Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:41 AM Trying again--this is the link for the audio clip with free mp3 download. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Kent Davis Date: 22 Sep 10 - 01:28 AM Here's an acappela version by Acappela: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT1irEoPVN8 You know that I'm gonna view that holy city Oh, I'm gonna view that holy city one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna view that holy city I'm gonna view that holy city one of these days, one of these days You know that I'm gonna meet my loving Jesus Oh, I'm gonna meet my loving Jesus one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna meet my loving Jesus I'm gonna view that holy city, (and I will) meet my loving Jesus one of these days, one of these days You know that I'm gonna sit at the welcome table Well now, I'm gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna sit at the welcome table I'm gonna view that holy city, (and I will) meet my loving Jesus, (we're gonna) sit at the welcome table one of these days, one of these days You know that I'm gonna feast on milk and honey Well now, I'm gonna feast on milk and honey one of these days, Hallelujah! I'm gonna feast on milk and honey I'm gonna view that holy city, (and I will) meet my loving Jesus, (we're gonna) sit at the welcome table, (and we will) feast on milk and honey one of these days, one of these days [The lyrics are from an earlier arrangement of the same song by the same group. The linked arrangement is a little longer.] Kent |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,Louise Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:20 PM Anyone know if a version of this song was preformed by the Fisk Jubilee Singers? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 25 Jul 11 - 03:09 PM "Welcome Table" not sung by the original Fisk Jubilee Singers, but one of the later groups may have used it. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: PoppaGator Date: 25 Jul 11 - 03:17 PM I first heard this song fairly recently ~ just this past Christmas season ~ performed quite exuberantly by four members of the Boutte family of New Orleans: John, his sister Lillian, and their nieces Tricia ("Sister Teedee") and Tanya. All four are professional jazz and/or gospel vocalists who tour internationally, and it's rare for all of them to be in the same place at the same time (but apparently, they were all home for Christmas this time around). In their version, each verse is longer than the previous one as the key lyric in every verse is repeated, as in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." I don't know if I can explain this clearly enough; in other words, the line "I'm gonna sit at the welcome table," which concludes the first verse, is repeated at the end of every verse, and each verse is longer than the previous one as an additional line added describing what's it's gonna be like "when I get to heaven." I wonder if anyone's research has turned up set of lyrics incorporating this structure... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 25 Jul 11 - 05:33 PM Interesting. I would like to see the lyrics of this cumulative song. Not heard of it previously. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Mark Ross Date: 25 Jul 11 - 06:42 PM First heard it from The Ramblin' Boys, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Derrol Adams as I'M GONNA WALK THE STREETS OF GLORY. It was on a record from Everest (I think) titled RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT. I think that it was a bootleg of one of their recordings for Topic Records in the UK. Mark Ross |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Kent Davis Date: 25 Jul 11 - 10:12 PM I may have misunderstood you, Poppagator, but I wonder if the cumulative version you heard was anything like the version I posted on 22 Sept 10? Kent |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,Lasse Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:46 PM African-American traditions in song, sermon, tale, and dance, 1600s-1920 by Eileen Southern,Josephine Wright lists that "I'm gonna sit at the welcome table" was is found on page 37 in Theodore F. Seward's Jubilee Songs: complete as sung by the Jubilee Singers, from 1872. That seems to indicare that the song indeed was preformed by the Jubilee Singers. Does anyone have the lyrics that are listed in Seward's book? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: PoppaGator Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:31 PM Kent: I'll have to go back and listen to what you posted earlier. I do a lot of my "Mudcatting" at work (don't tell!) where I have no audio and wouldn't play anything out loud even if I could... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST Date: 24 Aug 11 - 09:25 PM Great lyrics, thanks! GUEST j.b. requests chords. Caveat: there are many slight variations of this melody, and not all chords will work with variations. That being said, here's what I use: I tend to sing this melody: X:1 T:Welcome Table K:G D6ED | GG2GA2G2 | z2B4-A2 | G8 | E6GE | GG2EG2E2 | G2G2GGGG | z2GGE2D2 | D6ED | GG2GA2G2 | z2B4-A2 | G6 GG | AA2AG2A2 | B2B2BGA2 | G8-|G8 |] in which case, these chords work pretty well: G - - G7 C - - - G - B7 Em D G C G And for a variation of the melody with this last line: GG | BB2BG2B2 | AA2AGA2 | G8-|G8 |] try these chords for that last line: G D GC G To simplify the above chords, you could replace the G7, B7, and Em chords with G chords, and it will sound OK. If you wanted to dress it up a little, you could do something like this: GG6 GG6 GG6 G7 C - GAm C GG6 GG6 GB7 EmG D GAm C G Dan threeoranges.org |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Aug 11 - 10:20 PM I've been looking for an opportunity to sing this song and use the "I'm gonna tell God how you cheated" verse..... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:47 PM Contrary to a post above by Guest Lasse, the spirituals published by Seward did not include "I'm Going to Sit at the Welcome Table. Fairly early the verse appeared in several spirituals mostly as a floater, but was not a song in itself in the 19th c. literature. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: Azizi Date: 11 Jun 12 - 08:31 AM Request for information from an archivist for the PBS historical documentary series History Detectives. [I received this request via email to my website Cocojams.com.] "We are currently working on an investigation involving what we believe to be the signage that hung above the doors of the Liberty St. Woolworth lunch counter in WInston-Salem North Carolina. Winston-Salem became the first NC city to desegregate its lunch counters (May, 1960). Your website provides some great information about Civil Rights and Freedom Songs, and I am particularly interested in obtaining a recorded version of the song, "I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table," featuring the Woolworth-specific lyrics ("I'm Gonna Sit at the Woolworth Counter"). If you have an idea as to the source for a recorded version, I would be most grateful to know (as the song would work great for our piece)"... -snip- If you have any information on this request, please post it here or directly contact ashley.levine at liontv dot us. Thanks! Azizi Powell |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST,welcome tabl;e Date: 22 Sep 12 - 07:51 PM i love all the versions of this song:) |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: blinddrunkal Date: 23 Sep 12 - 12:39 PM I have a version by "The Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartette" dating from 1922! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: blinddrunkal Date: 23 Sep 12 - 12:42 PM p.s. I had a go at it myself too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-YUbSHPtQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-YUbSHPtQ |
Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table' From: GUEST Date: 06 Aug 14 - 03:27 PM copyright?? |
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