God Rode on a Mighty Storm

Sixteenth day of September,
1928,
God started to riding early
and He rode until very late.

[chorus]
Oh in that storm, oh in that storm!
Lord somebody got drowned in that storm.
Oh in that storm, oh in that storm!
Oh in that storm, oh in that storm!
Lord somebody got drowned in that storm.

He rode out on the ocean,
chained the lightning to his wheel.
Stepped on the land of West Palm Beach,
and the wicked hearted yield.
[cho.]

Over in Peehokee,
families rushed of that door.
Somebody's poor mother
have never been seen anymore.
[cho. audio drops in-out]

...looked at the children,
as they they began to cry.
..., have mercy,
for we are gonna die!

[cho. garbled]

I'll tell you, you wicked people,
what you had better all do.
Go down and get the Holy...
[audio ends mid-verse.]*

Library of Congress Catalog

327 A
God rode on a mighty storm. Sung by Lily Mae Atkinson and mixed group.
Frederica, Ga., Alan Lomax, Zora Neale Hurston amd Mary Elizabeth Barnicle.
June, 1935.
Ballad about 1928 Miami hurricane**


* 327 B is Bill Tatnall, I am Looking for the Bully of that Town. I don't know if there is any more of Atkinson &co.

** The Miami hurricane struck in 1926. This song first appeared right after the 1928 Okeechobbe Hurricane

Lily Mae on youtube: God rode on a mighty storm