Lyr Add: Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child

Subject: Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
From: Mikey joe
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 09:05 AM

anyone got the words of the song that begins...

sometimes I feel like a motherless child (x3)

went to see Dylan last night, and got this ringing in my head

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I feel like a motherless c
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 09:12 AM

wow..Havent heard this since Richie Havens at Woodstock!!!

Its something like:

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child (x3)
A long ways from home

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone(x3)
A long ways from home

repeat ad lib or till the faceplate wears through!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I feel like a motherless c
From: Pene Azul
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 09:46 AM

You can get the lyrics here (click). Richie Havens' version was part of improv to extend his time until more performers arrived.

Jeff

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD
From: Pene Azul
Date: 18 Sep 00 - 09:49 AM

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD

(Harry Thacker Burleigh) 191? (1866-1949)


|: Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child :|
Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child
|: A Long Way From Home :|
True Believer
|: A Long Way From Home :|
|: Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child :|
|: Sometimes I wish I could fly,
Like a bird up in the sky :|
Sometimes I wish I could fly,
Like a bird in the sky
Little closer to home

|: Motherless children
Have a real hard time :|
Motherless children
Have a such a real hard time
So long so long so long

|: Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child :|
Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child
So far away

|: Sometimes I feel
Like freedom is near :|
Sometimes I feel
Like freedom is near
But we're so far away

|: Sometimes I feel
Like it's close at hand :|
Sometimes I feel
Like the freedom is near
But we're so far from home

|: Sometimes, sometimes, |
Sometimes
|: So far, so far, so far, :|
So far Mama from you, so far

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD
From: Escamillo
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 03:21 AM

This is one of my favorite songs. The version I have, adapted by J.Rosamonde Johnson, includes this verse:

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone,
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone,
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone,
way up in the heavenly land,
way up in the heavenly land.
True beleiver !
Way up in the heavenly land.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I feel like a motherless c
From: GeorgeH
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 07:14 AM

Well, the Oyster Band recorded a song which starts with that line, but somehow I don't think that's the one you were looking for!

G.

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 05:56 PM

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD I

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home,
A long way from home.
True believer,
A long ways from home,
A long ways from home.

Ef this was judgement day,
Ef this was judgement day,
Ef this was judgement day,
Ebry little soul would pray,
Ebry little soul would pray.
True believer,
Ebry little soul would pray,
Ebry little soul would pray.

Sometimes I feel like I'm almos' gone,
Sometimes I feel like I'm almos' gone,
Sometimes I feel like I'm almos' gone,
Way up in de Hebbenly lan',
Way up in de Hebbenly lan'.
True believer,
Way up in de Hebbenly lan',
Way up in de Hebbenly lan'.

R. Nathaniel Dett, Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro (Hampton Inst.), 1927 revision.

Harry Thacker Burleigh prepared this spiritual as an art song sometimes after 1911 (This arrangement has been posted by Pene Azul, threadid 25534, 18-Sep-00). He was a classically trained Black composer and baritone, much influenced by Antonin Dvorak.
@religion @spiritual

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD II

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, (3 times)
Lord, Lord, I know my time ain't long. (twice)

Sometimes I feel like a feather in the air, (3 times)
Lord, Lord, I know my time ain't long. (twice)

Sometimes I feel like I haven't got a friend, etc.

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, etc.

Clifford Reed, Julia Griffin and Jonnie Mae Medlock, Florida State Prison, Raiford. John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Click on Links at top of page and go to Lomax Collection for notes and sound.
@religion @spiritual

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILE
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 06:13 PM

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILE III

Sometimes I feel like a motherless chile, (3 times)
Far, far away from home,
A long, long ways from home.

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone, (3 times)
Far, far away from home,
A long, long ways from home.

Cho.
Then I get down on my knees an' pray,
Get down on my knees and pray.

John W. Work, American Negro Songs and Spirituals, 1940, p. 146.
@religion @spiritual

Subject: Lyr Add: MOTHERLESS CHILD
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 08:27 PM

The Lomax recording (mp3 of II above) is HERE. Alternate version (titled "My Time Ain't Long") is HERE.

The Burleigh version (words) posted by Pene Azul is HERE in the forum. We can see the 1918 sheet music HERE.

Though Jame J. Fuld says, "The first known appearance in print ... is in William E. Barton, Old Plantation Hymns, copyrighted Feb. 6, 1899, ..., under the title Motherless Child" (The Book of World-Famous Music, 4th ed., p. 514), it was preempted by the same version, also titled "Motherless Child," in the Barton article "Hymns of the Slave and the Freedman" (in New England Magazine, Jan. 1899; with music), which is reprinted in Bernard Katz, ed., The Social Implications of Early Negro Music in The United States (Arno/The New York Times, 1969, p. 91):

MOTHERLESS CHILD

1--
O, sometimes I feel like a motherless child!
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child!
 O my Lord!
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child!
Den I git down on my knees and pray, pray!
 Git down on my knees and pray!
O, I wonder where my mother's done gone,
Wonder where my mother's done gone,
I wonder where my mother's done gone.
Den I git down on my knees and pray, pray!
 Git down on my knees and pray!

2--
O, sometimes I feel like I'd never been borned,
Sometimes I feel like I'd never been borned,
 O my Lord!
Sometimes I feel like I'd never been borned.
Den I git down on my knees and pray, pray!
 Git down on my knees and pray!
O, I wonder where my baby's done gone,
Wonder where my baby's done gone,
Wonder where my baby's done gone.
Den I git down on my knees and pray, pray!
 Git down on my knees and pray!

3--
O, sometimes I feel like I'm a long ways from home, etc.
I wonder where my sister's done gone, etc.

4--
Sometimes I feel like a home-e-less child, etc.
I wonder where de preacher's done gone, etc.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 08:34 PM

Lines 7 and last should have been:
 Git down on my knees and pray!

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: Kaleea
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 01:09 AM

Mahalia sang: Sometimes I feel like an eagle on the wing . . . a long way from home . . .

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 02:47 AM

In the medley version with "Summertime", she sang "Sometimes I feel like a montherless child" (on Mahalia Jackson Vol. 2, Columbia/Legacy, and The Best of Mahalia Jackson, Legacy/Columbia). The Harmonizing Four version ("Motherless Child") is interesting (on Jubilation, vol. 2, and I Shall Not Be Moved), with the bass is the lead.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 06:48 AM

Lomax 1939 recordings of Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, #106, and My time ain't long, # 83, contain the same verses and use the same tune but with different singers in part. Alternate titles only.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I feel like a motherless c
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 07:27 PM

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child: Added verses.
If this was judgement day,
If this was judgement day,
If this was judgement day,
Eb'ry little soul would pray,
Eb'ry little soul would pray,
True believer!
Eb'ry little soul would pray,
Eb'ry little soul would pray

Dett, R. N., 1927, Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro, p. 172 with music.

Refrain (chorus):
Then I get down on my knees and pray,
Then I get down on my knees and pray.

J. W. Work, 1940, American Negro Songs and Spirituals, p. 146 with music. "True Believer" is omitted from this version.

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: GUEST,skippy
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 05:10 PM

sometime I feel like an old bag lady,

But where can I find one this time of night?

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: masato sakurai
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 10:01 PM

The earliest appearance of "Motherless Child" in The New England Magazine, Volume 25, Issue 5 (Jan 1899), p. 610 in online.

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 01:24 AM

The set of three articles by William E. Barton, "Old Plantation Hymns," New England Mag., Vol. 25 no. 4, Dec. 1898, pp. 443-455; "Hymns of the Slave and the Freedman," Vol. 25 No. 5, Jan. 1899, pp. 609-624; and "Recent Negro Melodies," Feb. 1899, Vol. 25 no. 6, pp. 707-719, are an important contribution to our knowledge of the songs sung by African-Americans in the last quarter of the 19th century (the author says most were collected in the South between 1880-1887). There are 54 "old plantation hymns," and in the 3rd article, songs of more recent origin. Music is given for the songs, and Barton comments on how they were sung.

Thanks, Masato, for citing "Motherless Child," which called my attention to these on line articles, which are a real complement to the collections of Allen and Fenner.

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 01:25 AM

Masato, have you called our attention to these articles in a previous thread?

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 01:45 AM

Yes, Q. Links are given in African-American Spirituals Permathread.

Subject: RE: Add: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 07:15 AM

I must have been asleep-- never saw that site till now. If I'm not back in 60 days, send a search party! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 01:42 AM

hi I wanna know
who sing that same song
but its a woman
i dont know who
can you tell me please fast
thx
bye
its a good song

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOURNING DOVE (spiritual)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 04:55 PM

Lyr. Add: DE MO'NIN' DOVE

1.
Sometime I feel like a mo'nin' dove,
Sometime I feel like a mo'nin' dove,
Sometime I feel like a mo'nin' dove,
Feel like a mo'nin' dove, Feel like a mo'nin' dove.
2.
Sometime I feel like a yeagle een de yeah,
Sometime I feel like a yeagle een de yeah,
Sometime I feel like a yeagle een de yeah,
Feel like a yeagle, feel like a yeagle een de yeah.
3.
Sometime I feel like a muddahless chile, etc.
4.
Sometime I wish dat I nebbah been bawned, etc.

With score.
Marion Alexander Haskell, "Negro 'Spirituals,'" 1899, August, "The Century Magazine," vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 579-581.
Collected in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The author says, "After prayer and exhortation a voice would raise the sweet old melody of "De Mo'nin' Dove," and the first verse would wail through the dark woods slowly, softly, and sadly. Then, with a quickening of tempo and a ring of triumph as the eagle in his flight crossed their spiritual vision, they sang: "Sometime I feel like a yeagle een de yeah." Again with the pathos which so largely makes the beautty of the Negro voice, "Sometime I feel like a muddahless chile," etc."

This spiritual seems to be antecedent to "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
Mahalia Jackson included "Sometimes I feel like an eagle in the air" in her singing of "Motherless Child," but it is absent from most versions currently printed and sung, and some of the meaning of "The Morning Dove" is lost.
Not listed in the Cleveland Index.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 03:44 PM

Has anyone found a more recent printing with the title or verse:    "Mo(u)rning Dove"?
Emma Goldman, the anarchist, quoted it in one of her lectures.

Subject: Add: Vid: Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:35 PM

YouTube video clip of a "Jazz fusion of Afghan traditional song from Herat and the spiritual Motherless Child as performed by Ghulam Hossein and Ensemble Kabul and American Voices quartet featuring Mike Del Ferro Trio and CoCo York"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_eMVqJ9Dd8

Added July 26, 2006; From americanvoices