Origins: No More, My Lord

Subject: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: simon-pierre
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:59 AM

Hi folks!

I try again. I started a thread two weeks ago about a song recorded by Alan Lomax, but there was a mistake in the title, and maybe the title of the song was unknown by many. It's «No more, my land», and it may be on the reedition of Lomax's recording on Rounder Records. I have a cheap edition of the recording (on Laserlight), but I can't catch all the lyrics.

Thanks all, and forgive any mistake in this post, I'm doing my best. SP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 05:11 AM

Simon-Pierre

I can't find it in the 13 volume Rounder reissue of Alan Lomax's 'Southern Journey'. It's not on 'Murderer's Home' either. CDNOW only lists it on the Laserlight album that you have. I'll keep my eyes open for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 09:21 AM

Hi Simon, it wouldn't start of "No more , my Lord, no more my Lord," more of a prison holler or a cotton or a cane song rather than a group song? Give us a little more to go on. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Abby Sale
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:56 AM

If Barry's right (and why not?) it's on (without booklet) Lomax's _Negro Prison Songs_, Tradition - LP, 196? & 1947 and copied onto _Negro Prison Blues & Songs_, Legacy International CD, 199?. Given as "...My Lawd." I'll have a listen for the words on both later this weekend but am pessimistic how much I'll get. This was made in 1947 of not so good equipment. The remastering to LP produced much quality the 78s never gave. Remastering to CD might give even more signal that was actually in the original - but the Legacy International is just a copy of the LP. (Cheap enough, though.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: simon-pierre
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 12:44 PM

Thanks you all folks. The song is sung a capella by one man, as Barry describe, and the first verse goes like this:

No more, my land No more, my land Lord I'll never come back no more

The particular accent could be heard «my lawd» indeed. You have the good record Abby. The rounder record 1714-1715 is called «Prison songs» (not in the Southern Journey series) in the Alan Lomax collection.

Please Abby, try to listen again!

SP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 05:08 PM

It's on Lomax's Southern Journeys with words. There are 2 vol. of prison songs can't recall which it's on but judging by what Stewie mentioned I'd say it is on Murder's Home, I believe thta's may be the name of the song. If you don't have it by Monday I'll post it, sorry my tech box at home caught a bug & I'll have to wait till I get back to work on Monday. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 06:38 PM

Simon-Pierre and Barry

My apologies, it is on 'Murderer's Home', but the name of the song is 'No More, My Lawd'. It didn't surface on my database because I was searching for 'No More, My Land'. It is also what I put in to search CDNOW and came up with the album S-P has. It must be wrong titling that has been perpetuated. It's a solo performance with Jimpson chopping - evidently, a chip actually flew into the mike during the recording. From a preliminary listen, I can appreciate S-P's difficulties. My copy of 'Murderer's Home' is on the earlier CD release on Sequel Nix and no words are provided. As Barry point out, it has been re-released by Rounder - but it is not part of the Southern Journey series. If that has the words, Barry will be able to post. If not, we can both have a lash at a transcription.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: simon-pierre
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 01:31 AM

Thanks for your care, folks. Since we're talking about the same thing, whether it's «land» or «lord», I'm waiting for your posts.

SP

Subject: Lyr Add: NO MORE, MY LORD^^
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 12:48 PM

Simon-pierre, I can appreciate your confusion. In my experience, Lomax's transcriptions are full of obvious errors. I seem to remember that he had other people do that work. Perhaps he didn't edit them.

Here's what he put down for the song "No More, My Lord". Sung by Jimpson with men chopping trees.

NO MORE, MY LORD^^

CHORUS:
No more, my Lord,
No more, my Lord,
Lord, I'll never turn back no more.

I found in Him a resting place,
and He have made me glad.
CHORUS:

Jesus, the Man I am looking for,
Can you tell me where He's gone?
(Chip strikes microphone)
CHORUS:

Go down, go down, among flower yard,
And perhaps you may find Him there.
CHORUS:

Enjoy the song! I have a real affection for these work songs.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: simon-pierre
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 06:41 PM

MERCI, MERCI, MERCI, Mille fois MERCI!!!

(A thousands thanks!)

SP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Abby Sale
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:37 PM

Roger - When I finally got to listening I agreee wit this transcription except maybe the "among flower yaer." But I don't really have anything better to suggest.

As to Lomax's transcriptions are full of obvious errors. I seem to remember that he had other people do that work. Perhaps he didn't edit them. one might keep in mind that all these recordings were made under revolutionary, but auful conditions. On portable record-cutters. Then this was transferred to masters & ten to 78s. Although the record-cutter picked up a lot of data that later emerged on remastering to LP & then CD, much is simply not audible when you listen to the 78s. That and the typical dropped sylables, etc must have made transcribing a nightmare. Alan writes of his surprise (& pleasure) at the additional material emerging on hearing the LP. On the other hand, even when listening to the 78s, there are a lot of really obvious transcription errors anyway.

This particular I believed was "faked" & done (as many were - realities realized) back in the cell with a single other prisoner demonstrating the chopping.

So many extraordinary pieces on this record "Rosie" ... "Old Dollar Mamie" ... Jumpin' Judy" (even compared to the better one John collected years earlier) ... "Early in the Morning."

Then Lomax asks why they sing. An unnamed prisoner answers:
"When you're singing, you forget yourself and the time pass on away..."

What Makes a Good Work Song Leader?
"Well now, it wouldn't just exactly make any difference about the dependability of his voice or nothing like that, Boss. But it would take the man with the most experience, to my understanding, to make the best leader. If you was to take a brand new man and he could sing just like Peter could preach, and he didn't know what to sing about - he wouldn't do no good."

The gang then sings "Early in the Mornin'" as a responsive work song and the prisoner offers that he learned that song in Tennesee. Lomax asks "Did you learn that on the farm?"
... "Yeah, the county farm."

I thought I'd have a look over at Library of Congress field collections to see if there were another transcription of "No More, My Lor'" [my hearing] but it seems closed today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Stewie
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:51 PM

I think he may be singing 'my' resting place. The sound of the recording at 'among flower yard' is clear enough - it's his accent or pronunciation that is the difficulty. 'Flower' doesn't make much sense, but neither does 'further' or 'father' or anything else I can think of.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 08:51 AM

When I hear it, I hear something other than what's been noted & what's been noted doesn't make great sense some of the time. Roger & I did a workshop on these at the Washington Getaway & I gotta say it was great doing time with him. I'll be doing another of these at NEFFA if any of you are around & interested, join in. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: prison songs by Alan Lomax
From: Abby Sale
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 09:02 AM

No, L of C has no similar song online in any collection. Stewie - yeah. But I'd bet a dime "Him a resting place" is correct. He typically "liassons" the words - "Hi- ma resting place."