Lyr Add: I'm Goin' Down to de Ribbuh ob Jerdan

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M GOIN' DOWN TO DE RIBBUH OB JERDAN
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 08:19 PM

Lyr. Add: I'm Goin' Down to de Ribbuh ob Jerdan
Spiritual

1
I'm goin' down to de ribbuh ob Jerdan, O yes
I'm goin' down to de ribbuh ob Jerdan some o'dese days, halleuia!
I'm goin' down to de ribbuh ob Jerdan, O yes
I'm goin' down to de ribbuh ob Jerdan some o'dese days.
2
I'm goin' to set at de welcome table, O yes
I'm goin' to set at de welcome table some o'dese days, halleuia!
I'm goin' to set at de welcome table, O yes
I'm goin' to set at de welcome table some o'dese days.
3
I'm goin' to feast off milk and honey, O yes
I'm goin' to feast off milk and honey some of 'dese days, halleuia!
I'm goin' to feast off milk and honey,
I'm goin' to feast off milk and honey some o'dese days.
4
I'm goin' to march wid de tallest angel, O yes
I'm goin' to march wid de tallest angel some o'dese days, halleuia!
I'm goin' to march wid de tallest angel,
I'm goin' to march wid de tallest angel some o'dese days.

With music, 4/4, no. 99, Nicholas George Julius Ballanta-(Taylor), 1924, Saint Helena Island Spirituals, Penn Normal, Industrial and Agricultural School, Press of G. Schirmer, Inc. New York.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Goin' Down to de Ribbuh ob Jerdan
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 08:37 PM

Thanks, Q ...

Nice early version of the song Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston recorded in the 1940s as Streets of Glory or I'm Gonna Tell God How You Treat Me:

I'm gonna tell God how you treat me, O yes ... [as above]

I'm gonna walk the streets of glory, ...

I'm gonna sit at the welcome table ...

etc.

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Goin' Down to de Ribbuh ob Jerdan
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 01:01 PM

Helen Creighton made a field recording of this song, performed by Black Nova Scotian Charles Owen and his family. A sample can be heard here. A pdf of the liner notes with a transcription of the lyrics can be downloaded from the same site.

Jaybird Coleman's outstanding harmonica and vocal version is included on Revenant Records' compilation "American Primitive Volume 1". A sample is available on the web but I was unable to link to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Goin' Down to de Ribbuh ob Jerdan
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 02:12 PM

Several hymns have the 'welcome table' verse, both white and black.
The song collected by Creighton was discussed in thread 93754, along with a few others.
Tunes and intent differ and most are collected as separate songs although they may contain 'welcome table' as a floating verse.

The verse floats into a number of spiritual songs.

I will post a rather full version of "Welcome Table" from the Carolina Low Country later today in that thread.

Origins Welcome Table