Help: My Lord What a morning

Subject: My Lord What a morning
From:
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 07:28 PM

I am trying to find the public domain version of the 'Negro Spiritual,' "My Lord, What a morning." (the phrase 'Negro Spiritual' is from the LC not me) I am fairly certain it is in the public domain because the US Copyright database show filings that refer to the original as public domain. I would appreciate any assistance. I want to use about 5 seconds for a one minute movie. Please feel free to email me. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:23 AM

Well I found one version here. And another here. I have no idea how you would tell whether or not they were public domain, though...

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Haruo
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:40 AM

It would never have occurred to me to try searching for it with a u in "mo[u]rning"!

and GUEST, was it just the tune or just the words or both that you needed 5 seconds of?

Liland

Subject: ADD: My Lord What a Morning
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 01:44 AM

Hi - I thought I was stuck, because the earliest book I have with it is The Books of American Negro Spirituals, published in 1925-26 by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson - and 1923 is the cutoff for U.S. copyrights (thanks to U.S. Corporate Welfare). However, I have 1998 book called Go Down Moses: Celebrating the African-American Spiritual, by Richard Newman. This book was published in 1998, but the music notation is copied from an 1880 book titled The Story of the Jubilee Singers; With Their Songs, by J.B.T. Marsh.

Here are the 1880 lyrics:

My Lord, what a mourning,
My Lord, what a mourning,
My Lord, what a mourning,
When the stars begin to fall.

1. You'll hear the trumpet sound
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

2. You'll hear the sinner mourn,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

3. You'll hear the Christian shout,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

The Newman book says that in some versions, the title of the song is "Mourning," and in some it's "Morning." The 1925 Johnson book calls it "Mornin'" and notes that "the title of this song has at times been erroneously printed "My Lord, What a Mourning." Johnson has plural "Christians" shout, and "hear de sinner moan" - Johnson uses "de" instead of "the."

The 1940 John W. Work classic, American Negro Songs, has "Mourning," and has the sinner "cry."

Seems to me you're pretty safe to use this song without infringing on a copyright.

-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From:
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:06 AM

Many thanks to all of you who responded to my request. I was not expecting such a quick and informative response.

To Liland's question: I want to use the music and words for 5 - 8 seconds.

Joe Offer, I received your email and will respond via email. Many thanks.

Again, thank you all for helping solve my problem.

Mark

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: MMario
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 01:44 PM

Joe - isn't this one of the ones we have in NWC?

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: nutty
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 05:08 PM

The version I have, which is sung and recorded by Judith Durham of the Seekers, is slightly different

My Lord, what a mourning, My Lord, what a mourning, My Lord, what a mourning, When the stars begin to fall.

1. oh sinner what will you do etc.

2.You will weep for the rocks and the mountains etc.

3You will hear the shout of victory etc

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Haruo
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:38 PM

The Cyber Hymnal has the following version

MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING!

"They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven." Matthew 24:30

Words & Music: African-American spiritual (MIDI, score).

Refrain
My Lord, what a morning!
My Lord, what a morning!
O my Lord, what a morning!
When the stars begin to fall.

You'll hear a sinner mourn,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

Refrain

You'll hear a sinner pray,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

Refrain

You'll hear a Christian shout,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

Refrain

You'll hear a Christian sing,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.

Refrain

Liland

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:42 PM

Thomas Fenner published a slightly different version, used by the Hampton Singers in the 1870s. Sheet music is given.
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When de stars begin to fall.
Verse 1
You'll hear de trumpet sound
To wake de nations underground
Look in my God's right hand
When de stars begin to fall.
You'll hear de sinners moan
To wake the nations underground
Look in my God's right hand
When de stars begin to fall.
Verse 2
You'll hear de Christians shout, To wake etc.
Look in my God's right hand, When de stars etc.
You'll hear de angel's sing, To wake etc.
Look in my God's right hand, When de stars etc.
Cho. My Lord, what a morning, etc.
Verse 3
You'll see my Jesus come, To wake etc.
Look in my God's right hand, When de stars etc.
His chariot wheels roll round, To wake etc.
Look in my God's right hand, When de stars etc.
Cho. My lord, what a morning, etc.

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:31 PM

My Lord, What a Morning is used as the title of Marian Anderson's autobiography. I read it three decades ago.

Masato

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: raredance
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:51 PM

"Slave Songs of the United States" by Allen, Ware & Garrison first published in 1867 includes the following version.

STARS BEGIN TO FALL

I think I hear my brudder say,
Call de nations great and small;
I lookee on de God's right hand,
When de stars begin to fall.

Oh what a mournin' (sister)
Oh what a mournin' (brudder)
Oh what a mournin',
When de stars begin to fall.

rich r

Subject: ADD: My Lord What a morning
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:02 AM

Slight variation.

~S~

=========================================================

MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING Traditional Negro Spiritual

REFRAIN: My Lord, what a morning My Lord, what a morning (O) My Lord, what a morning When the stars begin to fall When the stars begin to fall

You'll hear the trumpet sound To wake the nations underground Looking to my God's right hand When the stars begin to fall When the stars begin to fall

You'll hear the sinner moan To wake the nations underground Looking to my God's right hand When the stars begin to fall When the stars begin to fall

You'll hear the Christians shout To wake the nations underground Looking to my God's right hand When the stars begin to fall When the stars begin to fall

SOURCE : Park New Choir, http://parknewchoir.free.fr/

@spirituals

SH

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: My Lord What A Mornin'
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Nov 01 - 11:28 PM

Chadly, I saw a listing in the DT for "When the Stars Begin to Fall" but I couldn't get to it just now. Here is a DT mirror with this song. However, it's not exactly as I remember the song, so I would keep looking and inquiring here.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: My Lord What A Mornin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Nov 01 - 11:52 PM

The sound recording by Alan Lomax (Goree State Farm, near Huntsville, Walker County, Texas, 1939) is HERE. Performers are Doris McMurray and Ella Mae Fitzpatrick.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: My Lord What A Mornin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 12:04 AM

Scores are HERE and HERE.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 03:33 PM

The version in John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip offers no new material, so is not reproduced here. The chorus, plus the verse, You can hear a sinner moaning, etc. are all that is given.

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 08:21 PM

A fragment from Anna Cason, Clemson, SC, has these verses which differ from those of posted versions:

Look an' hear, my God's right hand, etc.

You hear the church bells tonin', etc.

John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip.

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 10:37 PM

All the above indexed.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:00 PM

SUSAN! This is the one you can sing for me next week!

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: masato sakurai
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:04 PM

The title sometimes, but not often, is "When the Stars Begin to Fall," as the version in the DT (CLICK HERE).
~Masato

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:11 PM

I just noticed that there is no tune for that in the DT...surprised I missed that one...I'll see what I can do. (I'll check to see if it's on MMario's list.)

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:37 PM

I grew up in the Penticostal church ... a hundred years ago. We often sang this song, and then it evolved into "In That Great, Gettin' Up Mornin', Fare Thee Well, Fare Thee Well." I've always enjoyed the way these olde songs just flow, one into the other. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:54 PM

You're on, Mar'!

For a tune for DT, just grab the MIDI off the Cyberhymnal!

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:58 PM

Lyr. Add: MY LORD WHAT A MORNING (4)

My Lord, what a morning,
When the stars begin to fall,
You'll see de worl' on fire,
You'll see de moon a bleedin' an'
De moon will turn to blood,
Den you'll see de elements a meltin',
You'll see de stars a fallin',
An' de moon drips way in blood,
When God goin' call dem chilluns from de distant lan',
Den you see de coffins bustin',
Den you see de bones a creepin',
Den you see po' sinner risin',
Den you hear de tombstones crackin',
An' you see de graves a bustin',
Hell an' seas gwine give up their daid,
Den you see de forked lightnin',
Den you hear de rollin' thunder,
Earth shall reel an' totter,
Hell shall be uncapped.
De dragon be loosed--
Don't you hear them sinners cryin'?

Often followed by a sinner(s) crying for mercy, and a Christian singing "Fare you well, po' sinner," and
"A mighty sea of glass mingled wid fier,
Good-bye brother, I'm goin' higher."

H. W. Odum and G. B. Johnson, 1925 (1976) The Negro and His Songs, p. 54, no music.
@religion @spiritual

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 04:45 AM

CDs containing this song (most of which are with sound clips) are:

My Lord What A Morning

My Lord What A Mornin'

My Lord, What A Mourning

When The Stars Begin To Fall

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 09:11 AM

Thanks Masato! Now I can hear different approaches and see how to make this OURS.

Look out Mary! *G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 11:49 PM

Having always sung the "Morning" in this spiritual, and reading Miss Anderson's book, I was surprised to find the spelling of "Mourning" on an African-American spiritual site. This put a different slant on it for me. Opinions? Thanks, Sheila

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,Bird
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 08:41 PM

I've got these words for it...

My Lord, What a mornin', when de stars begin to fall.
Done Quit all my worl'ly ways. Jine dat hebbenly ban'.

That's it...

Ciao

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 09:04 PM

The Seekers (an Australian "pop" group, who nevertheless played mainly acoustic and folk-influenced music, and who seem to wear pretty well) did a great version of this one called "When the Stars Begin to Fall" (unfortunately it is not on "The Seekers Collection", a 23 song CD I was listening to a few hours ago) on a flip side of one of their hit singles. I think it goes like this (I should have the single somewhere):

My Lord, what a morning (or mourning?)
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

You will weep (or leap?) over the rocks and mountains
You will weep (or leap?) over the rocks and mountains
You will weep (or leap?) over the rocks and mountains
When the stars begin to fall

You will hear the shout of victory
You will hear the shout of victory
You will hear the shout of victory
When the stars begin to fall

My Lord, what a morning (or mourning?)
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

There may be another verse but I don't recognise it from the lyrics already posted, and "Oh sinner what will you do" (attributed by someone above to the Judith Durham/Seekers version) does not appear on my record.

The theme is somewhat similar to another Spiritual "Oh sinner man":

Oh sinner man, where you gonna run to (X3)
All on that day

I'll run to the Rocks, Rocks won't you hide me (x3)
All on that day

The previous verse is repeated with "The Lord" and "The Devil" replacing "The Rocks"


Singing on "When the Stars Begin to Fall" is by the excellent Judith Durham who I am happy to say (after she contracted cancer or leukaemia many years ago) appeared on daytime TV several years back, and was as good as ever. It is a real "belter" and she gets pretty high (musically, not pharmacologically) on the last "Lord" in the third line.

N.B. The Seekers are not to be confused with the British "New Seekers" who are much less memorable, though I think they may done the Eurovision Song Contest. Mind you even they probably sound better than any of the recent ESC winners (to paraphrase a well-known saying, "In the country of the crap the medicore is king".

Please don't anyone start a thread on the awfulness of the Eurovision Song Contest!

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,Mr Happy
Date: 19 May 05 - 07:39 AM

The other verse I recall is

'Will there be time to find salvation?'
'Will there be time to find salvation?'
'Will there be time to find salvation?'
When the stars begin to fall

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 May 05 - 07:48 AM

Here's the whole of the version I do:

My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

O sinner, what will you do?
O sinner, what will you do?
O sinner, what will you do?
When the stars begin to fall

You will weep o쳌fer the rocks and mountains
You will weep o쳌fer the rocks and mountains
You will weep o쳌fer the rocks and mountains
When the stars begin to fall

You will hear the shout of victory
You will hear the shout of victory
You will hear the shout of victory
When the stars begin to fall

Will there be time to find salvation?
Will there be time to find salvation?
Will there be time to find salvation?
When the stars begin to fall

My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 03:54 PM

While doing some research on this song, I found this thread. I first heard it on the album The Weavers' Almanac. There's no date on my old vinyl copy, but it's obviously from the early 1960's, having been released after The Weavers at Carnegie Hall - Vol. 2. (One Internet source says 1963, but I can't verify that.) At the time, The Weavers were Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert and Erik Darling.

From Studs Terkel's liner notes:

WHEN THE STARS BEGIN TO FALL - The theme of resurrection has always been part of the substance of Western music. This is what may be described as a jubilee song, in contrast to the more somber spirituals. It has the elements of belief and hope everlasting. These great old songs have a way of staying around and popping up when they are needed most, and end up being as timely as today's or tomorrow's newspaper.

Here are the words, exactly as transcribed from the record:

My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

Oh sinner, what will you do?
Oh sinner, what will you do?
Oh sinner, what will you do?
When the stars begin to fall

You'll weep for the rocks and mountains
You'll weep for the rocks and mountains
You'll weep for the rocks and the mountains
When the stars begin to fall

My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall

Oh, who will hear the shout of victory?
Who will hear the shout of victory?
Who will hear the shout of victory?
When the stars begin to fall

Will there be time to find salvation?
Will there be time to find salvation?
Will there be time to find salvation?
When the stars begin to fall

My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
My Lord, what a morning
When the stars begin to fall
When the stars begin to fall

Nearly identical to what has been posted above, and probably predates the version by The Seekers (which I've not yet heard). What I find interesting is the credits say: Additional words, arr. & adpt. Hays, Hellerman, Gilbert, Darling. So, perhaps this particular version owes much of its lyrics to The Weavers.

Jay

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 02:30 PM

i seem to remember the song being on the B side of "morning town ride" by the seekers.i was fortunate to pick up a cassete at a boot fair-as i remember-with this song as the opening track and a good buy it was too!.

judith durham
the seekers
25 year reunion celebration live
premier TCDPR 130

DICHO
thanks for posting the powerful words of the additional verse[s]

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,Joan Smith
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 10:25 PM

I heard from someone that this hymn was used by slaves to indicate when someone was going to make a run for it. Any truth to this?

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 02:13 PM

Many such anecdotal remarks about spirituals, no supporting evidence.
Any person of intelligence would keep his mouth shut.

Subject: RE: Help: My Lord What a morning
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 10:49 PM

Hello, Joan

I have been aware of this song since 1961, and I have never heard anything like that. It doesn't seem very likely, does it? What if a person just happened to be singing the song absent-mindedly and triggered a whole lot of consternation?

Besides the song is about the end of the world. What would that have to do with running away?

As Q indicates, the Internet is rife with rumors like this about old songs.