Lyr. Add: THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Come and I will sing!
What will you sing?
I will sing of three.
What of the three?
Three of them were strangers,
Two of the little whiter babes
Dressed in the mournin' green.

Come and I will sing!
What will you sing?
I will sing of four.
What of the four?
Four of the gospel preachers,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of the little white babes
Dressed in the mournin' green.

Come and I will sing!
What will you sing?
I will sing of five.
What of the five?
Five of the ferrymen in the boat,
Four of the gospel preachers,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of the little white babes,
Dressed in the mournin' green.

Come and I will sing!
What will you sing?
I will sing of six.
What of the six?
Six of the cheerful waiters,
Five of the ferrymen in the boat,
Four of the gospel preachers,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of the little white babes
Dressed in the mournin' green.

......
What of the seven?
Seven of the seven stars in the sky,
Six of the cheerful waiters,
..........

............
What of the eight?
Eight of the eight archangels,
Seven of the seven stars in the sky,
..........

.......
What of the nine?
Nine of the sunshines bright an' fair,
Eight of the eight archangels,
..........

.........
What of the ten?
Ten of the ten commandments,
Nine of the sunshines bright an' fair,
..........

..........
I will sing of 'leven,
What of the 'leven?
'Leven of the saints that has gone to Heaven,
Ten of the ten commandments,
...........


............
I will sing of twelve.
What of the twelve?
Twelve of the twelve apostles,
'Leven of the saints that has gone to heaven,
Ten of the ten commandments,
Nine of the sunshines bright an' fair,
Eight of the eight archangels,
Seven of the seven stars in the sky,
Six of the cheerful waiters,
Five of the ferrymen in the boat,
Four of the gospel preachers,
Three of them were strangers,
Two of the little white babes,
Dressed in the mournin' green.

No. 605, Sung by Mrs. Isabel Spradley, Arkansas, 1932. Pp. 34-36, with musical score.
Vance Randolph, 1980, "Ozark Folksongs," vol. IV