("And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock."). House-building song.
Lyr. Add: Hosanna!!
Hosanna! Hosanna, me build me house, oh, Me buil' it 'pon sandy groun' An' de breeze come blow it down De rain come leak in deh De storm come blow it 'way. De flood come deluge it, De sun come down bu'n it, For it was built 'pon sandy groun' Without a rock for foundation Ha-ha. Hosanna, oh, Haaaaa. Hosanna, oh. Ha-ha!
WATER! Hosanna, me buil' back me house now, This time 'pon rocky groun', De breeze come blow 'pon it, De rain come down wet it, De flood come deluge it, De sun come down bu'n it, Grudgeful man come *obeah it, *Red-eye people put dem mout' 'pon it, But never was moved a nail from it, For it was built 'pon a rocky groun', With a rock for foundation. Ha-ha. Hosanna, oh, Haaaaa Hosanna, oh. Ha-ha.
*obeah- black magic. *red-eye- evil-eye.
Frats Quintet of Jamaica, Insert edit. Edward Seaga Insert in 1955 LP, Jamaican Folk Songs Selections by the Frats Quintet of Jamaica "Printed by The Gleaner Co., Ltd. 148-156 Harbour St., Kingston, Ja., B.W.I. - 1949 - 3/58" The Lp was pressed several times, known dates 1955 (Ritma label); 1958 (Best Folk Songs of Jamaica), Request Records NY. The insert is dated 1949, so perhaps the first pressing is lost.
From the Mento Music site: http://www.mentomusic.com/images/jfs4.jpg
Lyr. Add: Hosanna! (Belafonte)
Hosanna me built a house, oh (4x)
House built on a weak foundation Will not stand oh no Stoics stall thru all creation Will not stand oh no House built on a weak foundation Will not stand oh no Stoics stall thru all creation Will not stand oh no.
Hosanna, well come wash it down Sun come, burn it up, Storm come blow it down This house could never be This house could never be It would be weak you see
House built on a weak foundation Will not stand oh no Stoics stall thru all creation Will not stand oh no.
Hosanna me built a house, oh (4x)
House built on a rock foundation It will stand oh yes Stoics stall thru all creation It will stand oh yes.
Hosanna, well come wash on it Sun come shine on it Storm can't blow it down This house will always be This house will always be It will be strong you see.
Hosanna me built a house, oh (4x)
Belafonte lyrics posted at several online sites
Edric Connor version from his book to follow at a later time.
This song was included in the school songbook, Exploring Music 6, with musical score in the Teacher's edition. Eunice Boardman and Beth Landis, 1966, source not stated. Modified version. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.