Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)

Subject: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 11:20 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to the song "God's Little Acre" from the movie by the same name?

                                              SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 12:31 AM

Well, I found out who wrote it. It looks as though his estate might have tight control over his music. There's a note about contacting an agent to "rent" any of it. Here you go: Elmer Bernstein, not that it's much help.:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 04:20 AM

Acted in the stage version 35 years ago.

Book came out in 1933 the film version 1958.

Can recall lots of lines things like.... "all these turnips have those green gutted worms in them, God must have it in good and hard for poor folk." But we played it pretty loose.

But for the life of me I don't recall a single song, just some background humming.....while shellling peas.....standard hymns.

Throw us a line or chorus Mr. Sol and see what can be done.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 12:26 AM

I transcribed this from a sound sample. Does this help?

…Diggin' in the sun,
Diggin' in the ground till the diggin' was done.
Come over to God's little acre.
Come over to God's little acre.
Come over to God's little acre.
Come back home.
If you've got trouble, don't pay no mind. (Fare thee well. Fare thee well.)
Ever'body's got another kind. (Fare thee well. Fare thee well.)
(Diggin' in the moonlight) Diggin' in the moonlight,
(Diggin' in the sun) Diggin' in the sun,….

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 06 Oct 07 - 10:31 PM

I remember seeing the film at the Loews Oriental Theatre in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. I went there to see the closed circuit TV telecast of the Floyd Patterson vs. Roy Harris heavyweight title fight. They gave you the movie as an added feature for the $20 that they charged you. That was the one and only time I heard the song so I do not remember any of the lyrics.

                                              SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Oct 07 - 11:17 PM

Here's the track list from the movie:

1.            God's Little Acre (01:32)
Erskine Caldwell & Elmer Bernstein
2.         Diggin' in the Morning (02:15)
3.         The Prayer (01:29)
4.         Going to Town (01:16)
5.         The Love Scene (02:54)
6.         Will's Blues (02:41)
7.         Chasing Darlin' Jill (01:12)
8.         Gold Hunt (02:14)
9.         The Fight (01:18)
10.         Poor Old Ty Ty (01:41)
11.         Griselda's Theme (03:46)
12.         Peachtree Valley Waltz (02:59)
13.         A Piano Solo (01:27)
14.         The Funeral (02:21)
15.         God's Little Acre (01:07)
Erskine Caldwell & Elmer Bernstein

From the sounds of the following review, it's not clear if there are actually lyrics on the album:

        
God's Little Acre
Composer(s):
Elmer Bernstein

Released in:
1958

Reviews
It's All Good And It's All Sweet!
by a soundtrack collector (April 6, 2006)

This is one of those things that proved to be a dream come true!

From 1958 another fine release in the series of film score recordings from United Artist. The original soundtrack music from Erskine Caldwell's story of sweat drenched frustrations in rural southern USA scored by Elmer Bernstein, a man whose name, to me, is synonymous with gritty tough ass 50's jazz rooted film scoring without equal!

The film stars Robert Ryan as a dirt poor farmer obsessed with finding a fabled stash of gold buried somewhere on his unproductive farm land.

The score is a treasure chest unto itself! Cool, hot, bluesy sounds created by a true master and displayed beautifully within the soundtrack of an exceptional film directed by Anthony Mann.

Jacket of the original L.P. release features lines notes by Caldwell himself explaining that the music contained within the grooves is being performed by premier West Coast studio musicians who cannot be identified by name due to contract restraints.

Needless to say, the percussion of the great Shelly Manne can be heard loud and clear during the opening title! *****

Supposedly, you can download the album HERE, but I don't know anything about that site and wouldn't recommend it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: JJ
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 11:45 AM

Guest Gargoyle, are you sure you're not confusing GOD'S LITTLE ACRE with Erskine Caldwell's other po' white trash classic, TOBACCO ROAD?

I remember turnips from TOBACCO ROAD, but they cerainly might have been in GOD'S LITTLE ACRE as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God's Little Acre (from the movie)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 07 Apr 21 - 12:24 PM

The song is sung while the opening credits roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlRAXiMS0bA