Lyr Add: The Social Band

Subject: The Social Band
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 11:11 PM

THE SOCIAL BAND

Bright angels on the water,
Hovering by the light
Poor sinner stand in the darkness,
And cannot see the light.

I want Aunty Mary* for to go with me,
I want Aunty Mary for to go with me,
I want Aunty Mary for to go with me,
To join the Social Band.

*Brother David. William Francis Allen et al., Slave Songs of the United States, 1867, song 127 (p. 105 of electronic edition). The "Social Band" is a part of several spirituals and gospel songs and this is perhaps the oldest known. See posting of Angel's Standin' In De Water, Lomax and Lomax, 1939 Southern States Field Trip.
@religion @spiritual

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Social Band
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 12:03 PM

indexed

Subject: Lyr Add: HALLELUJAH, WE'LL JINE THE UNION BAND
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 02:23 PM

HALLELUJAH, WE'LL JINE THE UNION BAND

Hallelujah, hallelujah, we'll jine the union band,
Make old Satan leave me alone,
Let me do my Master's will,
My head got wet with the morning dew,
The morning star bow down with the wetness dew,
I went down to the valley to pray,
When I got there, ole Satan was there.
My soul got happy and I stayed all day.
There wasn't but one thing I done wrong,
I stayed in my sins one day too long,
One day, one day, walking along
I heard a voice in the sky,
It made me think my time was near,
That must have been my Lord passing by.

White, N. I., 1928 (1965), American Negro Folk Songs, p. 93, no music. This one made up of phrases from other songs. Old white songbooks have songs about joining the union band or the band: Zion Songster (1827), The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1836) and others.
@religion @spiritual @gospel

Lyr. Add: I'M AGOING TO JOIN THE BAND

Chorus:
I'm a going to join the band, Hallelujah!
I'm a going to join the band, Can't you sing it!
I'm a going to join the band, O Lord.
I'm a going to join the band.

The more come in with a free good-will,
Make the band seem sweeter still.
And I'm (chorus)

Jordan's stream is so chilly and cold,
If you don't mind* it'll chill your soul.
And I'm etc.

Watch that sun, how steady she runs,
Don't let her catch you with your work undone.
And etc.

Joshua prayed for to stop the sun,
The sun did stop till the battle was won.
And etc.

Going to hang my harp on the willow tree,
It'll sound way over in Galilee.
And etc.

Exclamations for verses:
1. Come on children!
Join the band!
Sing to Jesus!
2. Cold Jordan!
Chilly waters!
Watch it, Christians!
3. Watch that sun!
Steady, traveler!
Work, children!
4. Going to heaven!
With Joshua!
And David!
5. O the willow!
And the children!
Couldn't sing!
"The chorus in this song ...is continuous, while the leader interjects whatever exclamations seem to him apropriate." Other suitable exclamations may be used.
*mind- Southern term for Be careful! or Watch out!
Work, J. W., 1940, American Negro Songs and Spirituals, p. 196 with music.
@religion @spiritual

Subject: Spirituals About Bands
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 02:52 PM

Please be sure to list those-- I'm out of the index thing for the day!

~S~