In Dat Great Gittin'-up Mornin'
Fenner, 1874, Hampton Singers (from a student)

"This song is a remarkable paraphrase of a portion of the Book of Revelations, and one of the finest specimens of Negro 'spirituals'. The student who brought it to us and who sings the solo has furnished all that he can remember of the almost interminable succession of verses, which he heard sung for half an hour at a time by the slaves in their midnight meetings in the woods. He gives us the following interesting account of its origin:-
I have heard my uncle sing this hymn and he told me how it was made. It was made by an old slave who knew nothing about letters or figures. He could not count the number of rails that he would split when he was tasked by his master to split 150 a day. But he tried to lead a Christian life, and he dreamed of the General Judgement, and told his fellow servants about it, and then made a tune to it and sang it in his cabin meetings." J. B. Town (Hampton).

Solo
I'm a gwine to tell you 'bout de comin' ob de Saviour;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.
Solo
Dar's a better day a-comin';
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.
Solo
When my Lord speaks to His Fadder;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.
Solo
Says Fadder, I'm tired o' bearin',
Tutti- Fare-you-well,
Solo
Tired o' bearin' for poor sinners;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.
Solo
Oh, preachers, fold your Bibles;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well;
Solo
Pray'r makers, pray no more;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.
Solo
For de last soul's converted;
Tutti- Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.

Refrain:
In dat great gittin'-up mornin'
Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well,
In dat great gittin'-up mornin'
Fare-you-well, Fare-you-well.

1
Dere's a better day a-comin',
When my Lord speaks to His Fadder,
Says, Fadder, I'm tired o' bearin',
Tired o' bearin' for poor sinners,
Oh, preachers, fold your Bibles,
Prayer-makers, pray no more,
For de last soul's converted. bis
Refrain
2
De Lord spoke to Gabriel,
Say, go look behind de altar,
Take down de silver trumpet,
Go down to de seaside,
Place one foot on de dry land,
Place de oder on de sea,
Raise your hand to heaven,
Declare by your Maker,
Dat time shall be no longer. bis
Refrain
3
Blow your trumpet, Gabriel,
Lord, how loud shall I blow t?
Blow it right calm and easy,
Do not alarm my people,
Tell dem to come to judgement. bis
Refrain
4
Den you see de coffins bustin',
Den you see de Christians risin',
Den you see de righteous marchin',
Dey are marchin' home to heaven.
Den look upon Mount Zion,
You see my Jesus comin',
Wid all His holy angels.
Where you runnin', sinner?
Judgement day is comin'. bis
Refrain
5
Gabriel, blow your trumpet,
Lord, how loud shall I blow it?
Loud as seven peals of thunder,
Wake de sleepin' nations.
Den you see poor sinners risin',
See de dry bones a-creepin'.
Refrain
6
Den you see the world on fire,
You see de moon a-bleedin',
See de stars a-fallin',
See de elements meltin',
See de forked lightnin',
Hear de rumblin' thunder.
Earth shall reel and totter,
Hell shall be uncapped,
De dragon shall be loosened.
Fare-you-well, poor sinner.
Refrain
7
Den you look up in de heaven,
See your mother in heaven,
While you're doomed to destruction.
When de partin' word is given,
De Christian shouts to your ruin.
No mercy'll ever reach you.
Refrain-
Den you'll cry out for cold water,
While de Christian's shoutin' in glory,
Sayin' amen to your damnation,
Den you hear de sinner sayin',
Down I'm rollin', down I'm rollin',
Den de righteous housed in heaven,
Live wid God forever. bis
Refrain-