Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Around

Subject: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Aroun
From: bradfordian
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 12:43 PM

Seeing as the African American Spirituals Permathread has re-surfaced, here's one that the editor may wish to harvest, if it fits in with the criteria. It is also adapted into the comtemporary peace/protest movement as exemplified by the Joan Baez version.

(aint gonna let nobody) Turn me around
spiritual
version 1
source http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/powerofsong/script.shtml#20

Ain't gonna let nobody, Turn me around,
Turn me around,Turn me around.
Ain't gonna let nobody, Turn me around,
Keep on a walkin', Keep on a talkin',
Marchin' up to Freedom Land.

Ain't gonna let no injunction, Turn me around,
Turn me around, Turn me around,
Ain't gonna let no injunction, Turn me around,
(I'm gonna,) Keep on a walkin', Keep on a talkin',
Marchin' up to Freedom Land.

Ain't gonna let no jail house, Turn me around,
Turn me around, Turn me around.
Ain't gonna let no jail house, Turn me around,
Keep on a walkin', Keep on a talkin',
Marchin' up to Freedom Land.

Ain't gonna let nobody, Turn me around,
Turn me around, Turn me around.
Ain't gonna let nobody, Turn me 'round,
Keep on a walkin', Keep on a talkin',
Marchin' up to Freedom Land.

version 2
source www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/ain_t_gonna_let_nobody_turn_me_roun.htm
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'roun'
Turn me 'roun'
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'roun'
I'm gonna wait until my change comes

Don't let nobody turn you 'roun'
Turn you 'roun'
Don't let nobody turn you 'roun'
Wait until your change comes

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Aroun
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 02:05 PM

Neither of the versions posted by bradfordian is a spiritual, although they are parodied from the spiritual Don't You Let Nobody Turn You Around," aka "Doncher Let Nobody Turn You Roun'," etc.; published collections of C. C. White and Hall Johnson, resp.

The first parody was a favorite in the protest movements, the purpose of the second is unclear.

Richie (29 Nov. 02) posted one of the spiritual versions, "Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round" in thread 54156:
Nobody Turn You Around
(Listed in Spirituals Permathread)

The spiritual was sung by Theckle Jones for the Alabama Folk Life Collection.

Ref.: White, Clarence Cameron, 1927, "Forty Negro Spirituals, Compiled and Arranged for Solo Voice," Theodore Presser, Philadelphia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Around
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 02:57 PM

I like the word 'adaptation' better than 'parody'.

Be that as it may, I agree with Q that "Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round" as sung by civil rights demonstrators isn't an African American spiritual.

Protest songs [Freedom songs] may have come from spirituals, but that doesn't make them spirituals.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Around
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 03:35 PM

My slip, Azizi, parody has the usual sense of to ridicule, which I didn't mean.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Around
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 05:42 PM

Q, I gathered that you were probably using 'parody' in its academic sense.

I believe that I know you well enough {through your posting on Mudcat} to know that you didn't mean that Turn Me Around or any other civil rights song is ridiculous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Ar
From: bradfordian
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 10:47 AM

Thanks for the information guys. Much appreciated to have my misconceptions corrected. In the choir(chorus)business we often come across adaptations but don't posses the knowledge to trace their roots, especially as the title keeps changing. I'm pleased to have this clarified. If I hadn't posted the song, I would still be shrouded in my ignorance. I initially picked it up from looking at songs sung by the Seattle Peace Chorus.

Regards Brad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: african-american spiritual-Turn Me Around
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 03:21 PM

bradfordian, I haven't checked fully, but your lyrics may be the first appearance in Mudcat of a Civil Rights version.