Lyr Req: Evening Shades & Northfield (Weavers)

Subject: Weavers 'Kisses Sweeter than Wine' 1994
From: MiriamKilmer
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 04:22 PM

I was searching for Shape Notes on the web and found "Two Shape Note Hymns" on The Weavers' 'Kisses Sweeter than Wine' 1994

Click

I played the audio file. It's "Evening Shade" from The Sacred Harp. Does anyone have the recording? Would you be willing to check for me and find out what the other Shape Note Hymn is? (This track would not be on a pre-1994 release.)

Subject: RE: Weavers 'Kisses Sweeter than Wine' 1994
From: MiriamKilmer
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:31 AM

Kisses Sweeter than Wine

The second shapenote hymn is "Northfield." I got my answer from Berkley Moore, shapenote recording guru extraordinaire, and I post it here in case anyone is curious.

That's the song that the Potomac River Sacred Harp Singers use as a grace before meals, adding a verse by Billings that's not in the book (slightly folk-processed for the sake of gender inclusive-language).

How long, dear people, oh how long Shall dinner hour delay? Fly swift around, ye idle folk And bring the fine buffet.

The story goes that Billings sang this verse in a restaurant when he was tired of waiting. It may have been the first verse ever sung to that tune.

In our group, it is particularly ironic, since the "idle" volunteers who have given up their singing time to prepare the food for the potluck dinner have made sure that all the hot dishes are ready at the time requested. Meanwhile the singers have done the "just one more song" bit," followed by interminable announcements, so that the hot food has had plenty of time to cool off by the time "Northfield" is sung.

It silly, but it's traditional.