ISRAELITES SHOUTING

[Another song, "Israelites Shouting," reflects on the death of various loved ones, all of whom now are "hidden behind God's altar," where they will remain until judgement day. The following stanzas are excerpted:]

Oh I wonder where's my sister,
She's gone away to stay.
Got hidden behind God's altar,
She'll be gone till judgement day.

Chorus (after each stanza, with variations)
Goodbye, the Israelites shoutin' in the,
Goodbye, the Israelites shoutin' in the heaven
Goodbye, the Israelites shoutin' in the heaven
Goodbye, the Israelites shoutin' in the
This day, the Israelites shoutin' in the heaven
This day, the Israelites shoutin' in the

This day, the Israelites shoutin' in the heaven
This day, the Israelites shoutin' in the

Oh I wonder where's my father,
He's gone away to stay.
He left his church this mornin',
And now he can't be found.

[Stanzas that follow name the mother and various other relatives, and then:]

God knows I am a Christian,
God knows I'm not ashamed.
Well the Holy Ghost is my witness,
The angels done signed my name.

Source: Harold Courlander, Negro Folk Music, U.S.A. (Columbia University Press, 1963, pp. 71-72). Music is transcribed on pp. 248-249, the words being slightly different (e.g., "One born, the Israelites a-shoutin' in the").

~Masato