Alan Lomax collected the song August 30, 1941, performed by Reverend C.H. Savage and group, at Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, King and Anderson Plantation, Coahoma County, Mississippi. Savage said he learned it from his grandmother when he was a boy, and that the song came from slavery times. Lomax calls it a "shout song," sung while "parading around the church." Savage sings the verses and the choir responds with "Daniel" on each line.

ROCK, DANIEL

Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.

How you do me here, Daniel (4x)

Put on your warfare shoes, Daniel (4x)

Slip and slide the street, Daniel (4x)

This ain't none of my home, Daniel (4x)

Living on borrowed land (4x)

I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel
I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel (Lordy)
How you do me here, Daniel (2x)

Put on your moving shoes, Daniel (2x)
Getting in a hurry now, Daniel (2x)

I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel (2x)
How you do me here (2x)


from the CD booklet for the Alan Lomax Collection CD, Deep River of Song, Mississippi: Saints & Sinners (click).