Lyr Req/Add: Rock Daniel

Subject: Lyr Req: Rock Daniel
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 09:39 AM

A friend having heard the track by sister Rosetta Tharpe on the Uncle Ben's rice advert, says I should learn the song.

As I want to increase my repertoire, did a search on sister Rosetta Tharpe and "yeah" I am impressed.

Can't seem to find the lyrics to Rock Daniel anywhere. One bit goes
"We gotta hold a meeting tonight." Hope I have that right.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Daniel
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 12:20 PM

Is this song a mere figment of my imagination?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Daniel
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 03:57 AM

Did I touch a sore spot with this request? Is this an unmentionable?

Subject: ADD: Rock Daniel (Joseph Spence/Rosetta Tharpe)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 06:21 AM

Well, the basic part of the Joseph Spence recording is fairly easy:

ROCK DANIEL (Joseph Spence)

Rock Daniel
Rock Daniel
Rock Daniel until I die,
Rock Daniel

It's so different from the Rosetta Tharpe song, that you wonder if they're the same song - but I think they are.

---

Tharpe sings her part, and the male chorus responds (with "Rock Daniel" in most verses, not all), with a big band accompaniment.

ROCK DANIEL (Sister Rosetta Tharpe)

We going to hold a meeting tonight (tonight)
We going to hold a meeting tonight (tonight, tonight)
We going to hold a meeting tonight
So we can straighten out the business at hand.

We are going to learn a new thing (3x)
A rhythm and a rock, and a rock got rhythm.

We come out tonight (Rock Daniel) (3x)
Oh, oh, oh (Rock Daniel)

No, it ain't no harm (Rock Daniel) (3x)
Oh, oh, oh (Rock Daniel)

[instrumental break]

I said we come out tonight (Rock Daniel) (3x)
Oh, oh, oh (Rock Daniel)

You know, it ain't no harm (Rock Daniel) (3x)
Oh, oh, oh (Rock Daniel)

Come on and rock (Rock Daniel),
Rock, rock, rock, rock
Rock Daniel


She pronounces it "Dan-u-el."

That's the basic song - getting down the nuances of it, is quite another matter. I'm guessing that's Rosetta on lead guitar - quite impressive.

Transcribed by ear from the Properbox "The Original Soul Sister" 4-disc box set. This set is $26 at Amazon.mudcat.org, and $22 at CAMSCO, so it's quite a bargain.

Subject: ADD: Rock Daniel (Rec. C.H. Savage)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 06:53 AM

Alan Lomax collected the song August 30, 1941, performed by Reverend C.H. Savage and group, at Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, King and Anderson Plantation, Coahoma County, Mississippi. Savage said he learned it from his grandmother when he was a boy, and that the song came from slavery times. Lomax calls it a "shout song," sung while "parading around the church." Savage sings the verses and the choir responds with "Daniel" on each line.

ROCK, DANIEL

Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.
Gonna tell my Lord, Daniel.

How you do me here, Daniel (4x)

Put on your warfare shoes, Daniel (4x)

Slip and slide the street, Daniel (4x)

This ain't none of my home, Daniel (4x)

Living on borrowed land (4x)

I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel
I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel (Lordy)
How you do me here, Daniel (2x)

Put on your moving shoes, Daniel (2x)
Getting in a hurry now, Daniel (2x)

I'm gonna tell my Lord, Daniel (2x)
How you do me here (2x)


from the CD booklet for the Alan Lomax Collection CD, Deep River of Song, Mississippi: Saints & Sinners (click).

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Rock Daniel
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 08:01 AM

Shouts go way beyond parading, and this song is definitely a spiritual (of which the "shout" is one form), as so many collectd in that time period were, which also were passed down just exactly as Lomax here describes.

~S~

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Rock Daniel
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 11:56 AM

Yeah, I thought Lomax's choice of words ("parading around the church") was interesting... I don't know that Rev. Savage would have described it quite that way. Of the three versions, I like the Rev. Savage version best.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Rock Daniel
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 12:01 PM

Er, yes.

When I do a spirituals workshop, we work our way up to what the shout really was/is with sound samples from various time periods. This eases modern-day (mostly white, middle class) folks into the raw power reflected in the earlier and most authentic recordings. We also talk about movement in other forms of worship/other religious traditions, from the Shakers of different time periods/styles (they can relate to that one) to whatever is the latest form around the planet I've been learning about, to their own gentle, spontaneous swaying at their own very-mainstream Sunday AM worship.

Some folks DO parade, too, so Lomax may have been merely accurate in the few, brief experiences he happened to have.

~S~

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Rock Daniel
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 02:45 AM

Bless you Joe!

Now I have a Christmas present sorted. Does CAMSCO post to the UK? I also need to find out if it will be held at UK customs.

Thanks susan for the extra info.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Rock Daniel
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 03:45 AM

Yes, CAMSCO posts to the UK, but I think the "Original Soul Sister" box set is manufactured in the UK. It's available at amazon.co.uk for £12.98.
The Rosetta Tharpe version may work for you, but I prefer the version on Deep River of Song, Mississippi: Saints & Sinners. It's a good, good song. Thanks for posting your request. I had a great time researching this song.

-Joe-