This seems to have been a widely known song (with variations) in Alabama, Florida and other states. Newman I. White (American Nebgro Folk-Songs, 1928, pp. 60-62) collected 8 versions (from Ala. & Fla.) under the headings of SIS MARY WORE THREE LINKS OF CHAIN and ALL MY SINS BEEN TAKEN AWAY. Howard W. Odum and Guy B. Johnson (The Negro and His Songs, 1925, pp. 60-63) says of ALL MY SINS DONE TAKEN AWAY that this was a "very popular song," quoting a number of stanzas from different versions. Erskine Peters (Lyrics of the Afro-American Spirituals, Greenwood, 1993, p. 206) quotes a version of ALL MY SINS ARE TAKEN AWAY, which is from McIlhenny's Befo' De War Spirituals (1933). ALL MY SINS BEEN TAKEN AWAY ("Mary Wore Three Silver Chain") is in Alton C. Morris's Folksongs of Florida (University of Florida Press, 1950, 1990, pp. 168-9; with music).

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See also The Traditional Ballad Index : Mary Wore Three Links of Chain.

Mary Wore Three Links of Chain

DESCRIPTION: Floating religious verses with the chorus, "All my sins been taken away, taken away." Sample verses: "Mary wore three links of chain (x3), Ev'ry link bearing Jesus's name." "I don't know but I've been told (x3) Streets of heaven are paved with gold."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: religious Bible nonballad sin floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
BrownIII 543, "Mary Wore Three Links of Chain" (1 text plus mention of 1 more)
Sandburg, pp. 474-475, "Mary Wore Three Links of Chain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #5027
RECORDINGS:
George Herod, "Sister Mary Wore Three Lengths (Links) of Chain" (on MuSouth07)
Bradley Kincaid, "Mary Wore Three Links of Chain" (Supertone 9666, 1930)
Dock Reed, "I'm Going Home on the Morning Train" (on NFMAla5)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Hand Me Down My Walkin' Cane" (lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
cf. "All Night Long" (floating verses)
NOTES: This is probably a religious adaption of "Hand Me Down My Walkin' Cane." Since, however, it seems to circulate widely on its own, it gets its own listing.
I sure hope I remember that I split them.... - RBW
File: San474

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2011 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.