Lyr Add: Before This Time Another Year (Spiritual)

Subject: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spiritual?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:03 PM

An unusual short, eerie lament in Work, American Negro Songs and Spirituals, 1940. I am not certain about the meaning of "broke the ice" in this song- I presume died and went to heaven.

BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR

Before this time another year
I may be gone.
Out in some lonely graveyard
O Lord, how long?

My mother's broke the ice and gone,
O Lord, how long?
By the grace of God I'll follow on,
O Lord, how long?

My father's broke the ice and gone,
O Lord, how long?
By the grace of God I'll follow on,
O Lord, how long?

My Saviour's broke the ice and gone,
O Lord, how long?
By the grace of God I'll follow on,
O Lord, how long?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:26 PM

Getting all metaphysical here, but the "ice" sounds like the boundary between life and death.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:38 PM

Jeri, that is a better interpretation.

Subject: ADD: Oh, Lawd, How Long? (Spiritual)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 11:40 AM

The "broke the ice" line is also found in the version in John A. & Alan Lomax, American Ballads and Folk Songs (Macmillan, 1934, pp. 586 -587, with music). The title is "Oh, Lawd, How Long?":

OH, LAWD, HOW LONG?

Before this time another year I may be gone,
And in some lonesome graveyard, oh, Lawd, how long?

Jes' so de tree fall, jes' so it lie,
Jes' so de sinner live, jes' so he die.

My mother's broke the ice an' gone--oh, Lawd, how long?
An' soon she'll sing dat heavenly song--oh, Lord, how long?

There're recordings by Odette and Ethel (1926), Bryant's Jubilee Quartet/Quintet (1931), Sister Goldia Haynes, the Chosen Gospel Singers, Rev. Cleophus Robinson, and Bessie Jones.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 01:57 PM

The problem of multiple titles will be a problem unless they can be referenced together to the DT lyrics. Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 02:00 PM

Only the Index knows. Bwahahahahahhhh!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 06:33 PM

This is well sung on Georgia Sea Island Singers, Lomax, Rounder 1712.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BEFORE THIS TIME ANOTHER YEAR Spirit
From: Richie
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:10 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if there are any versions of this old-time hymn. Randolph reported taht it was found in hymnals in the 1890s but I can find it?

It was sung in the 1940s and 50s by various gospel groups. Any lyrics?

Also any lyrics under the title: Please Don't Drive Your Children Away

Richie

Subject: Lyrics: Don't Drive Your Children Away
From: Richie
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:14 PM

Looks like the main title done by gospel groups was "Don't Drive Your Children Away"

Richie