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Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem'
DigiTrad:
RUN COME SEE, JERUSALEM
Related thread:
'Run, Come, See Jerusalem' publishing (3)
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Subject: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: Nonie Rider Date: 25 Sep 97 - 04:19 PM I presume this comes up regularly, but I couldn't find "Run Come See Jerusalem" in the database. Where could I find the complete lyrics? This is the islands shipwreck song, not a hymn: There was three sails leaving at the harbor, Run come see They were the Ethel and the Myrtle and Pretoria, Run come see Jerusalem. Thanks! --Nonie |
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Subject: RE: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: Harold Date: 25 Sep 97 - 08:08 PM I know this song by the singing of Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. It´s on the album "Precious Friends" (great stuff, by the way). Lyrics are also included. But sorry, I don´t know where to find the lyrics "in no time" (via Internet or so). Greetings, Harald |
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Subject: RE: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: jeff s Date: 26 Sep 97 - 03:23 PM It's in Rise Up Singing. I haven't heard any recordings. I presume most of them use the counter melody (?) on the chorus? jeff s |
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Subject: Lyr Add: RUN, COME, SEE JERUSALEM (Blind Blake) From: rich r Date: 26 Sep 97 - 11:31 PM Run Come See is also in "The Collected Reprints from Singout! Vol. 1-6" and in "Travelin' On With The Weavers". The versions are different enough that I will include both. Pete Seeger thinks the song may be a parody of an older folk song that was written at the time of the described shipwreck. I will put the "Run come see's" in the first verse only.
RUN, COME, SEE JERUSALEM (Singout! version)
It was nineteen-hundred and twenty-nine. (Run come see, run come see.)
That day, they were talking about a storm in the islands.
That day, there were three ships a-leaving out the harbor,
These ships were bound for a neighboring island,
The Pretoria was out on the ocean,
Right then, it was a big sea built up in the northwest.
My God, when the first wave hit the Pretoria,
My God, there were thirty-three souls on the water,
My God, now George Brown he was the captain.
He said, "Come now, witness your judgment." (Weaver's Songbook version)
It was nineteen-hundred and twenty-nine.
My God, they were talkin' 'bout a storm in the island.
My God, there were three sails leaving from the harbor,
My God, they were the Ethel and the Myrtle and the Pretoria,
My God, the Pretoria was alone on the ocean,
My God, then a big sea built up on the starboard.
My God, then the first sea hit the Pretoria,
My God, well, it sent her head down to the bottom,
My God, there were thirty-three souls on the water,
My God, now George Brown he was the captain. rich r |
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Subject: RE: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: George MacDonald Date: 27 Sep 97 - 10:15 AM A great version of this song is also on Gordon Bok's album "A Water Over Stone" with Ed Trickett and Ann Mayo Muir. George MacDonald |
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Subject: RE: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: Wkailey Date: 29 Sep 97 - 02:25 PM The Brothers Four recorded this in the sixties on their "In Person" album. Their sound is rather mellow and not very "folky" but I like it nonetheless. However, "In Person" seems to be the only good album they ever made. They also have "mellow" versions of The Midnight Special, Mule Skinner Blues, and "Whiskey in the Jar" on that album that I value principally for their uniqueness but also for ease of understanding the lyrics. Another pretty song on that album that I've heard nowhere else is "Rolling Home". |
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Subject: RE: Lyric: Run come see Jerusalem? From: Downeast Bob Date: 01 Oct 97 - 11:36 PM The Pennywhistlers, an all-female chorus in New York in the late 60s or early 70s, also recorded Run Come See for Folkways, but were better known for their a capella renditions of Balkan choral folk songs. Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread. |
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Subject: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Big Jim from Jackson Date: 03 Mar 04 - 11:17 AM What is the event refered to in the song "Run, Come See Jeruselem"? Where did it take place? I just played the Gillette,Mangsen, Hills, Smith version from their new album "Fourtold"--Great! Gordon Bok has a fantastic version, too. And Odetta, and .....(your favorite here!).....a great song. |
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Subject: Origins: Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Mar 04 - 11:33 AM Hi, Jim- There's a pretty good explanation in the Traditional Ballad Index. -Joe Offer- Run Come SeeDESCRIPTION: "It was in nineteen hundred and twenty nine, I remember that day pretty well...." The singer describes the great storm that threatened the Ethel, Myrtle, and Praetoria, sinking the last. The Captain, George Brown, calls on the passengers to prayAUTHOR: claimed by "Blind Blake" Higgs EARLIEST DATE: 1940s (recording, Blake Higgs) KEYWORDS: religious ship storm wreck HISTORICAL REFERENCES: 1929 - The Bahamas are devastated by a hurricane with little or no advance warning. Three boats, the Ethel, Myrtle, and Praetoria, bound for Andros, are caught in the storm; the Praetoria sinks, and thirty-three are lost. FOUND IN: West Indies(Bahamas) REFERENCES (3 citations): Silber-FSWB, p. 58, "Run Come See" (1 text) DT, RUNCOME ADDITIONAL: Harold Courlander, _A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore_, Crown Publishers, 1976, pp. 131-137, "The Singing of the Pytoria" (1 text, 1 tune) RECORDINGS: Blind Blake Higgs, "Run Come See Jerusalem" (on WIHIGGS01) John Roberts & group, "Pytoria (Run Come See Jerusalem)" (on MuBahamas2) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "A Great Storm Pass Over" (subject) ALTERNATE TITLES: Run Come See Jerusalem NOTES [28 words]: John Roberts claims to have composed this song within four days of the ship's sinking, rather than Blake Higgs. On reading his account, I'm inclined to believe him. - PJS Last updated in version 3.7 File: FSWB058 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2019 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. Note that there is another song about the same storm on one of the Lomax recordings: Great Storm Pass Over, ADESCRIPTION: A hurricane passes over Andros Island; for three days the sun is blotted out. The singer fixes his heart on Jesus; while many are crippled, wounded, or killed, he is spared. He tells sinners that the time of judgement is coming; they had better prayAUTHOR: "Tappy Toe" (nickname, real name unknown; Andros Island sponger) EARLIEST DATE: 1935 (recording, men from Andros Island) KEYWORDS: warning death disaster storm Caribbean Jesus HISTORICAL REFERENCES: 1929 - The Bahamas are devastated by a hurricane with little or no advance warning. Many deaths and much damage results FOUND IN: West Indies(Bahamas) Roud #15622 RECORDINGS: Unidentified men from Andros Island, "A Great Storm Pass Over" (AAFS 504 A, 1935; on LomaxCD1822-2) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Run Come See" (subject) NOTES [17 words]: While the storm described is the same one described in "Run Come See," this is an independent song. - PJS File: RcAGSPO Barry posted the lyrics to "A Great Storm Pass Over" in another thread: Thread #84455 Message #1559238 Posted By: Barry Finn 08-Sep-05 - 03:39 PM Thread Name: Req/Add: Wasn't That a Mighty Storm Subject: Lyr Add: A GREAT STORM PASS OVER (trad. Bahamas) Another, not only great song but a great hurricane song that was collected by the younger Lomax, Allen in 1935. The song comes from Andros Island in the Bahamas & it's about the 1929 hurricane that drove through Hurricane Alley. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Mar 04 - 11:45 AM Has been attributed to Blind Blake, but I doubt it. More likely Joseph Spence from the Bahamas, who has recorded many Bahamian songs. No further info found. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Big Jim from Jackson Date: 03 Mar 04 - 11:48 AM Thanks, Joe. That covers the information I was looking for. I figured that it was a storm in Barbados, but I wasn't sure (at least, not sure enought to mention it on the air when I play the version I mentioned in my previous question). |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Mar 04 - 12:01 PM Sorry, my time frame was wrong. Lomax captured it first, as the Index states. I thought Spence was early, but I had dates mixed up. Joseph Spence recorded mostly in the 1960s as near as I can find out. He recorded a number of island hymns as well as popular songs, including a very good "Run...". |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: greg stephens Date: 03 Mar 04 - 02:11 PM Joseph Spense claimed to havw seen the result of the shipwreck (bits of the Pretoria I think) but I dont think he claimed the song as his own. Somewhere on Mudcat there is a fine reminiscence by Harvey Andrews of Blind Blake Higgs busking at Nassau airport. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: dick greenhaus Date: 03 Mar 04 - 05:15 PM Just to provide some needed confusion, there were two musicians named Blind Blake. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Mar 04 - 06:36 PM A box set with some 100 tracks of the American Blind Blake is available, but nothing seems to be available for the calypso artist Blind Blake Higgs. The old thread on him was 32602 Blind Blake calypso |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Charlie Baum Date: 04 Mar 04 - 12:37 AM There's another recording of "Run Come See Jerusalem" on the CD Kneelin' Down Inside the Gate: The Great Rhyming Singers of the Bahamas (Rounder CD 5035). The selections on the CD were recorded by various singers by Jody Stecher and Peter Siegel in June, 1965 in the Bahamas. The words in this version are different from the versions quoted above made famous by the Weavers et al. Among other differences, the ships are the Myrtle, the Result, and the Pretoria. Stecher and Siegel recorded this version sung by Frederick McQueen (1905?-1980?) and Reverend W.G. McPhee (1920- ), both of Andros. According to the liner notes, McPhee was "a sort of amateur folklorist and took a keen interest in Bahamian singing and boats as well." The liner notes (written in 1995) continue: We recorded the famous rhyming ballad "Run Come See Jerusalem" in McPhee's living room. It was first recorded in 1951 by Blind Blake, a famous Bahamian Calypsonian and tourist entertainer. Blake's version, which inspired several spirited "cover" recordings by American folksingers over the years was several steps removed musically, culturally, and factually from the world of the Bahamian sponge fishermen. Raymond Pinder and Joseph Spence witnessed many of the events described in the song including the wreckage of the Pretoria. Spence described to us how the smaller vessels, including the sloops the Myrtle and the Result, took refuge in the little channels near his home in Small Hope. But the Pretoria, a two-masted schooner, was too big. Spence recalls: "Now I can't remind what day it was but I was in the field, and where my house is up on the hill I could look right out to sea and see every boat comin' from Nassau. And I saw these three boats comin'; it was the Myrtle, Result, and Pretoria. It was more than three, it was the Gem too, with Bertram. Bertram boat he went in Love Hill Channel. Then the Myrtle and the Pretoria they went down for Staniard Creek Channel. The Pretoria, the schooner, he turned back from Staniard Creek, come up for Fresh Creek. When she come up behind the Cays, the cay is called Goat Cay, I ain't see it no more." Spence and Raymond went down the hill to see what had happened. On the beach they found the dead and their belongings. [end liner notes] ---Charlie Baum |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Charlie Baum Date: 04 Mar 04 - 01:29 AM My humble attempt to try to transcribe the words as sung by Frederick McQueen and Reverend W.G. McPhee: -------- Three sail leaving from the harbor (run come see, run come see [after every line]) (2x) It was the Myrtle, the Result, and the Pretoria (2x) It was a blessed Sunday morning (2x) Them boat bearin' down now for Andros (2x) The wind did bark in the Northeast (2x) It was a terrible storm was comin' (2x) The Result reach in now to Staniard Creek The Myrtle did go into [Reckittstown? (place name?)] The wind kept Pretoria on the ocean (2x) The weather getting at the mask the fine channel [?] Yes the [???? ] on the boatsman Yes Captain I see no channel (2x) Lord he say that he go on the reef now Lord when the sky at the yard for the reef now [?] The was one sea building up behind them Oh lord they run ahead on the bottom They had 34 souls on board there (2x) But of them only one get saved now I had a cousin on board her By the name of Johnny You know I had a buddy on board her By the name of Little Wheeler And yes I had a cousin on board her Oh yes I had a Uncle on board her By the name of Rav Jolly Brown And now I had an Uncle on board her O yes I had a rauntie [Auntie?] on board her By the of Etta You know I had a rauntie on board her Run along Remember that time I had a rauntie on board her Oh don't you know, I hope god gonna let him now Hope God made peace with his soul I hope he gone home to heaven Lord, I hope he gone home to heaven Run come see Jerusalem -------- Note that the refrain is always "run come see, run come see" and "Jerusalem" doesn't come into in until the final word of the song, after all of the personal memorials. --Charlie Baum |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: harvey andrews Date: 04 Mar 04 - 04:23 AM My son has found a website where the albums of Blind Blake Higgs can be downloaded for a fair fee which he got for me as a birthday present. "Run come see" is there, on one of my all time favourite albums which i cannot recommend too highly. A search should find the site easily enough.I have the downloads in my car and play them whenever I need cheering up and a good sing along! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: Run Come See From: Stewie Date: 14 May 07 - 03:02 AM RUN COME SEE (Traditional) (As sung by X-Seaman's Institute) It was nineteen hundred and twenty-nine (Run come see, run come see) I remember that day pretty well It was nineteen hundred and twenty-nine (Run come see Jerusalem) There were three sail leavin' out the harbour (Run come see, run come see) There was the Ethel and the Myrtle and the Pretoria There were three sail leavin' out the harbour (Run come see Jerusalem) There was the Ethel and the Myrtle and the Pretoria (Run come see, run come see) My God what a beautiful morning There was the Ethel and the Myrtle and the Pretoria (Run come see Jerusalem) Well the Ethel was bound for Fresh Creek (Run come see, run come see) With the mothers and the children on board Well the Ethel was bound for Fresh Creek (Run come see Jerusalem) Now the Myrtle was bound for Spanish Creek (Run come see, run come see) My God what a beautiful morning The Myrtle was bound for Spanish Creek (Run come see Jerusalem) Pretoria was out on the ocean (Run come see, run come see) She was dashin' from side to side Pretoria was out on the ocean (Run come see Jerusalem) Well a big storm built up in the northwest (Run come see, run come see) The children come holdin' to their mothers And a big storm built up in the northwest (Run come see Jerusalem) Then the first sea hit the Pretoria (Run come see, run come see) And the mothers came grabbin' for the children And the first sea hit the Pretoria (Run come see Jerusalem) That sail head down went to the bottom (Run come see, run come see) The skipper came grabbin' for the tiller That sail head down went to the bottom (Run come see Jerusalem) There was thirty-three souls on the water (Run come see, run come see) Just swimmin' and prayin' to Daniel, God There was thirty-three souls on the water (Run come see Jerusalem) Now George Brown he was the captain (Run come see, run come see) He shouts, 'My children come pray' George Brown he was the captain (Run come see Jerusalem) Well come now witness your judgment (Run come see, run come see) He shouts, 'My children come pray' Well come now witness your judgment (Run come see Jerusalem) Source: Various Artists 'Classic Maritime Music' Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40053 --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Run Come See From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 14 May 07 - 11:52 AM Is this based upon an actual event? I have heard several recordings and it seems like this song was in Sing Out some years back. But I do not trust my memory very far these days. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Run Come See From: GUEST Date: 14 May 07 - 01:50 PM Traditional? With an opening line...it was 1929? Blimey, that was quick. See Blind Blake, Bahamas. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Run Come See From: Stewie Date: 14 May 07 - 06:06 PM Yeah, I should have probably put 'Unknowwn'. Evidently, it was popularised by Blind Blake (Higgs), but there is no evidence that he composed it. --Stewie. |
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Subject: run come see jerusalem origins From: GUEST,robert Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:42 AM What is the story behind "Run Come See Jerusalem"? |
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Subject: RE: run come see jerusalem origins From: Azizi Date: 28 Dec 07 - 06:17 PM Run Come See, Jerusalem Blind Blake Higgs (Blake Alphonso Higgs) c. 1940s "Written by Blake Higgs (he recorded it in 1951), a Bahamian calypso singer who was well known for entertaining tourists in Nassau, this song has been covered by many American folk singers including The Weavers. It's about a devastating hurricane in the Bahamas in 1929 that caught people unaware and destroyed many ships. Alan Lomax documented another song also about the same store, called A Great Storm Pass Over, written by a Bahamian sponge fisherman called Tappy Joe; it was recorded in 1935." http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/run_come_see.htm That website includes a hyperlink to this Mudcat thread that was started in Sept 25, 1997: thread.cfm?threadid=67533#1128870 History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem |
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Subject: RE: run come see jerusalem origins From: Azizi Date: 28 Dec 07 - 06:57 PM Unfortunately, I couldn't find any YouTube video of this song. However, there's a short sound clip on this site: http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/trackdetail.aspx?itemid=8480 Smithsonian Global Sounds Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2: Anthems, Work Songs and Ballads Various Artists Pytoria (Run, Come See Jerusalem) John Roberts, H. Brown, and Charles Wallace Duration: 4:52 **** Jerusalem,the capital and largest city of Israel, is considered a holy city by followers of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. In my opinion, based on referents to "the New Jerusalem" in African American spirituals & gospel songs, in the context of the song "Run, Come See Jerusalem", I believe that "Jerusalem" refers to heaven-the final resting place and peaceful abode of those who died in those tragic shipwrecks. |
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Subject: RE: run come see jerusalem origins From: GUEST,robert Date: 29 Dec 07 - 02:29 AM Thankyou everyone. HNY |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jeruselem From: Charlie Baum Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:03 AM This hurricane tracking map from the "weather underground" archives shows the path of the 1929 Category 3 to 4 hurricane that swept over the Bahamas in late September. (They're the islands to the right of Florida on the map. Clicking on the map enlarges it.) --Charlie Baum |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: dick greenhaus Date: 22 Oct 09 - 06:49 PM The Blake Higgs recordings have been re-released on CD. Available from CAMSCO. Of course. J.P. Morgan, A Conch Ain't Got No Bone, Jones! Oh. Jones, Gin And Coconut Water, Yes! Yes! Yes!, Sara Jane, Pretty Boy, Foolish Frog, Run-Come-See Jerusalem, Hold'em. Joe, Love Alone, Goombey Drum, Lord Got Tomatoes, Eight Babies in Mind, My Pigeon Gone Wild, Noise In The Market, Watermelon Spoiling On the Vine, Boat Pull Out / Bahama Mama, Never Interfere With Man And Wife, Run, Joe, Peas and Rice, Delia Gone, Eighteen Hundred And Ninety One, Curley Coy, John B. Sail, Brown Skin Gal-Mary Ann |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: VirginiaTam Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:42 PM This song has been part of my repertoire for about 9 months. Thanks to Odetta on The Tin Angel. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: greg stephens Date: 23 Oct 09 - 02:33 PM Like all the best seasongs, this is also available from the Boat Band: on "Take Me Over the Tide" Harbourtown Records HARCD 053. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Steve Gray Date: 10 Mar 10 - 06:59 AM I have an excellent version of "Run Come See" recorded in 1962 by The Phoenix Singers. I'm going to post it on YouTube in the next day or two. All three members of this folk group earlier sang with Harry Belafonte groups. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 29 Jul 10 - 03:57 PM Johnny Carroll recorded 2 versions in the late 50s early 60s trying to make a rock & roll song out of it |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: BrooklynJay Date: 29 Jul 10 - 04:56 PM The American group Clam Chowder recorded an excellent version around thirty years ago. It is currently available on their CD "Salvaged." Click here for more info. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 28 Dec 11 - 11:58 PM Gordon Bok's version is really great. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Clarence Stovall Date: 15 Jun 13 - 09:48 AM "The Seekers" recorded this song sometime between 1963 and 1964. Their version was my introduction to this song and eventually led me here. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Jun 13 - 12:03 PM Versions by Blind Blake Higgs, and the Weavers, on youtube. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Southern Dixie Belle Date: 10 Nov 13 - 03:32 AM Thanks to all who provided the story behind the song "Run, Come, See Jerusalem." I have listened to the ballad many times since the 1960s when I bought The Brothers Four album "In Person" which contains a version. It is actually very well performed. The accompaniment is excellent and their diction is such that it is easy to understand every word. I had always thought the song told the story of a great storm & shipwreck, but I never could find any information - until now. Thank goodness for the internet! It made easy work for the curiosity of this little ol' Southern Belle. Huge thanks to all of you who made comments! I greatly enjoyed all of them! |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Jim Soule Date: 13 Feb 14 - 02:13 PM The Seekers have a wonderful version on their "Introducing the Seekers" album (1963) with Bruce Woodley on lead, Judith Durham, Keith Potger and Athol Guy singing the harmony. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: greg stephens Date: 13 Feb 14 - 02:57 PM Session in the Lazy Turtle, Tyrrel Bay (Carriacou in the Grenadine Islands) last month http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6v2jRqjHzg&list=RDJpdqkcar1IQ |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: greg stephens Date: 13 Feb 14 - 02:59 PM OOps link didn't work. Try again Run Come See in the Lazy Turtle |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: greg stephens Date: 13 Feb 14 - 03:01 PM Not having much luck with links. How do you delete posts? Maybe an elf will help |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 11 Apr 16 - 10:10 PM Run, Come, See Jerusalem Words and Music by Blake Alphonso Higgs (Blind Blake) © Copyright 1952 and 1963 by HOLLIS MUSIC, INC., New York, N.Y. 1. 'Twas Nineteen Hundred and Twenty Nine, Run, come see Jerusalem, 'Twas Nineteen Hundred and Twenty Nine, Run, come see Jerusalem, 2. Well, then there was a talk about a storm in our island Run, come see Jerusalem (My God, what a beautiful morning) They were talkin' about a storm in our island. Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 3. Well, then there were three sails leaving from the harbour Run, Come, see Jerusalem (with the women and children on board) There were three sails leaving from the harbour Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 4. These sails was the Ethel, and Myrtle and Pretoria Run, Come, see Jerusalem (My god, they were bound for Andros) The Ethel, and Myrtle and Pretoria Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 5. Right then, well the Ethel was bound for Stanniard Creek Run, Come, see Jerusalem (with the women and children on board) Yes, the Ethel was bound for Stanniard Creek Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 6. My God, well the Myrtle was bound for French Creek Run, Come, see Jerusalem (My God, what a beautiful morning) Well, the Myrtle she was bound for French Creek Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 7. Oh Lord, Pretoria was out on the ocean Run, Come, See Jerusalem (Dashing from side to side from waves) Well, the Pretoria was out on the ocean. Run, Come, see Jerusalem. 8. Great God, well the sea built up in the northwest Run, Come, see Jerusalem (Well the children run looking for their mothers) When the sea built up in the northwest Run, Come, see Jerusalem. [Patterson, Massie, Heyward, Sammy, eds., Calypso Folk Sing (New York: Ludlow Music, 1963, p.8)] |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 25 Apr 16 - 07:57 PM Run, Come, See T'was Nineteen hundred and twenty nine, Run, come, see, Run, come, see – (I remember that day pretty well) Nineteen hundred and twenty nine Run, come, see Jerusalem, Right then they was talkin' about a storm in the island Run, come, see, Run, come, see... (My God, what a beautiful morning) They was talking about a storm in the island. Run, come, see Jerusalem. Right then it was three sail leaving out the harbour Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (With mothers and children on board) Was three sails leaving out the harbour Run, come, see Jerusalem. Those sail was the Ethel, and the Myrtle and the Pretoria Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (My God, they were bound for Andros) The Ethel, and the Myrtle and the Pretoria Run, come, see Jerusalem. Right then the Ethel was bound for Stanniard Creek Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (with the women and children on board) Then the Ethel was bound for Stanniard Creek Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, then the Myrtle was bound for Fresh Creek Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (My God, what a beautiful morning) Then the Myrtle was bound for Fresh Creek Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, Pretoria was out on the ocean Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (Dashing from side to side from waves) The Pretoria was out on the ocean. Run, come, see Jerusalem. Right then when a big sea build up in the northwest Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (Then the children come holding on to mothers) When a big sea build up in the northwest Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, when the first sea hit the Pretoria Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (Then mothers come holding on to their children) When the first sea hit the Pretoria Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, then it send her head down to the bottom Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (Then the captain come grabbin' for the tiller) When it send her head down to the bottom Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, it was thirty-three souls on the water Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (Swimmin' and prayin' to the Daniel God) Thirty-three souls on the water Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, then George Brown he was the Captain Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (He shout, "My children come pray.") Now, George Brown he was the captain Run, come, see Jerusalem. My God, he say "Come now witness your Judgment" Run, come, see, Run, come, see… (He shout, "My children come pray.") Come now witness your judgment Run, come, see Jerusalem. [Lyrics to Songs by Blind Blake and His Royal Victoria Calypsos, ART Records, Album – 3, Production No.1, Copyright 1951 by Songs of the Islands Productions, Nassau, Bahamas] Five additional verses. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 26 Apr 16 - 07:01 PM This is a pretty good Blake channel. The "original": YT: Blind Blake & Calypsonians RUN COME SEE JERUSALEM The Pretoria was a wood-hulled 43' Bahamian schooner built for the local sponger/mailboat trade by Jeremiah Duncan Lowe, Sr. of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. The eye of the storm passed just south of Fresh (French) Creek (24°43′15″N 77°47′20″W, or modern day Andros Town) and Staniard Creek. [Neely, Wayne, The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1929, (Nassau, Media Pub., 2013)] Wiki: 1929 Bahamas hurricane |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Janie Date: 15 Mar 17 - 01:28 AM Here is a recording by Jon Roberts, et. al. Made in 1959, and fairly recently available on youtube. Jon Roberts, H. Brown and Charles Wallace, Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2: full album name, which won't fit in the linkmaker, is "Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2: Anthem, Work Songs and Ballads. Pytoria (Run, Come See Jerusalem) · John Roberts, H. Brown, and Charles Wallace Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2: Anthems, Work Songs and Ballads ℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1959 Folkways Records Released on: 1959-01-01 |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Dave Hanson Date: 15 Mar 17 - 03:54 AM I get ' video not available ' Dave H |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Janie Date: 15 Mar 17 - 08:06 AM Sorry about that. Link works for me. Are you in the USA? If not, it may not be available in your country. |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 17 - 05:07 AM The only thing I know about this song is from Ethel Raim and the Pennywhistlers which I heard in 1972: Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8420cDV1Gwc |
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Subject: RE: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 17 - 05:09 AM Pennywhistlers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8420cDV1Gwc |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,GUEST Date: 06 Mar 20 - 11:50 AM The Raunch Hands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7X6sbhtR14 |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Joe Offer Date: 11 Jul 20 - 11:15 PM Charlie Baum says: Song also called “Pytoria”, Smithsonian Folkways has a different version, with more history. Any more info? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Charlie Baum Date: 14 Jul 20 - 08:34 PM Link to the recording of Pytoria (Run, Come See Jerusalem): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owh_OLGbEjg PERFORMER CREDITS John Roberts - Lead vocal H. Brown - Bass vocal Charles Wallace - Vocal Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2: Anthems, Work Songs and Ballads (c) 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1959 Folkways Records Released on: 1959-01-01 Liner notes available at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW03845.pdf See also my notes above from 4 March 2004 --Charlie Baum |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jul 20 - 09:12 PM Oh, you gotta hear this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlhkKaOoVWU "Run Come See Jerusalem" by Mr. Ackerbilk and the Paramount Jazzband. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Charlie Baum Date: 14 Jul 20 - 09:23 PM From the liner notes: SIDE II, Band 3: PYTORIA (RUN COME SEE JERUSALEM) 4'40" John Roberts, lead voice; H. Brown, bass; C. Wallace, treble. Recorded at Fresh Creek Settlement, Andros, Bahamas Islands, August 10, 1958. In nineteen hundred and twenty-nine (REFRAIN) Run come seek, Run come seek, In nineteen hundred and twenty-nine (REFRAIN) Run come seek it, Jerusalem. There was three sails leaving out the harbor, Etc. I want you to tell me 'bout the three sails, Etc. Will you name those three sails for me, Etc. The Result, The Myrtle, the Pytoria Etc. Now they're leaving out Nassau Harbor, Etc. Now God send the Myrtle into Blanket Sound, Etc. But God send Result into Staniard Creek, Etc. Now we leave the Pytoria on the ocean, Etc. There's a dark cloud build up in the north-east, Etc. Now the wind and wave keep rolling down, Etc. Pytoria couldn't hold up for the channel, (REFRAIN) Now she's cut off for Standard Rock channel (REFRAIN) , When she get opposite the channel (REFRAIN) , Oh Lord, Captain George vas the captain (REFRAIN) , He spoke to the people on board her, (REFRAIN) Said people, people what must we do? (REFRAIN) Now everybody get confused in his mind (REFRAIN) , Now everybody get confused in his mind. Oh he said, I cannot find the channel, (REFRAIN) Oh Lord, I got to go in the channel now, (REFRAIN) Nov the first sea hit the Pytoria, (REFRAIN) Thank God everybody get confused, (REFRAIN) The second sea hit the Pytoria., (REFRAIN) Now she knock little Era to Glory, (REFRAIN) Now she bad thirty-four souls board her, Etc. Nov the next sea hit the Pytoria, (REFRAIN) She leaved the people on the water, (REFRAIN) Redacted from the liner notes below: John Roberts composed PYTORIA. John remembered that the Pytoria sank on Wednesday, and on Sunday morning ". . . I had my song ready." John Roberts had been a crew member of the Pytoria until a week before it was destroyed on the rocks at Fresh Creek. Since the 1920's the great Andros singers have composed ballads about their lives and experiences, and there has been a flowering of the ballad style. There are now five major ballads sung along the coast of Andros. McQueen composed CURRY CAMP BURNED DOWN and with John Roberts - who is mentioned in CURRY CAMP BURNED DOWN - composed PYTORIA. They are both from the settlement at Blanket Sound and John remembered that the Pytoria sank on Wednesday, and on Sunday morning ". . . I had my song ready." McQueen has certainly developed the magnificent CECIL GONE IN THE TIME OF STORM to its present form, but it was probably created by the entire community at Blanket Sound within a few weeks after Cecil's drowning. John Robert's singing of the ballad added a few details, but it was very similar to McQueen's. The other two ballads are from southern Andros and seem to have been composed by a singer from Long Bay Cay, Willie Bullard. They are HARCOURT DROWNED and CEDRIC. McQueen recorded HARCOURT DROWNED, but noone could be found in the Mangrove Cay area who could sing more than a few lines of CEDRIC. Bullard may have taken part in the development of CECIL GONE IN THE TIME OF STORM, since there is evidence that he sang the ballad in the 1930's. With the exception of CEDRIC and CURRY CAMP BURNED DOWN - which is regarded as McQueen's special song - the ballads all widely sung on Andros and are thought of as traditional. The ballads of Andros are superb examples of a mature ballad style, and they have been collected at an early point, so that there is still a richness of detail and an intensity of mood. McQueen was on the beach at Blanket Sound when Eudie Newton was told that her son, Cecil, was drowned, and John Roberts had been a crew member of the Pytoria until a week before it was destroyed on the rocks at Fresh Creek. In their singing is the vividness with which they recall the scene. CURRY CAMP BURNED DOWN is a delightful example of that rare form, the comic ballad. Curry Camp was the ill-fated pineapple farm near Fresh Creek, run by a government official named Erwin McFee. McQueen paints a colorful picture of the confusion and excitement of the fire, and then solemnly recounts how the employees - including himself - cheated poor McFee when he was trying to make good their losses. McQueen sings the ballads with a moving sensitivity and expressiveness. Recording by S. B. Charters, with the technical assistance of A. R. Danberg. Much of the recording was done under difficult conditions, and there is background noise from gasoline driven generators on at least two of the selections. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Charlie Baum Date: 14 Jul 20 - 09:57 PM One more link (because the Hurricane tracking map I referenced in 2009 has since disappeared from the Web): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Bahamas_hurricane --Charlie Baum |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Jim Troy Date: 17 Jul 20 - 06:39 PM Origin of the song, I do not have, but here's a version. Run Come See Jerusalem Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band '60's this one stuck in my head ever since that, and Willie The Weeper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyms6hm5XAc |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Jim Troy Date: 18 Jul 20 - 08:15 PM Thanks to whoever made a clicky of my link. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 01 Jan 21 - 05:25 PM When Gordon Bok rolls this out...it is unforgettable. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Greg Stephens Date: 03 Jan 21 - 02:52 AM A reminder of singing in bars. Hopefully covid will soon let us do this again. Here's a session in the Lazy Turtle on Carriacou (Caribbean island) Run Come See at the Lazy Turtle |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 27 Jan 21 - 03:32 PM A Bahamian song written by Blind Blake. My favourite version is by the X Seamans Institue from Smithsonian Folk Ways. It's on YouTube. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 23 Mar 21 - 03:55 AM I first heard this song performed by Ethel Raim and the Pennywhistlers of Philadelphia...back in the day. 70s... |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,JeffB Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:14 PM Guest - See Charlie Baum's posts above of 14 July 2020. The song was written by John Roberts and Frederick McQueen a few days after the tragedy. Roberts had been a crewman on the Pytoria (which seems to be the schooner's correct name) only a week before. The format of their song was as a usual Bahamian rhyming ballad, a term coined by the researcher Peter Siegel. Blind Blake later re-worked it as a calypso for performing at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Nassau, where he was bandleader. He recorded the song in 1934. The musicologist Samuel Barclay Charters visited the Bahamas in 1958 and luckily was able to make a recording of the original arrangement sung by John Roberts, H. Brown, and Charles Wallace. As Charlie Baum says, you can hear this track on "Vol. 2, Music of the Bahamas" by Folkways Records. It's well worth getting hold of. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,# Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:41 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqyHdsFcpwY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqyHdsFcpwY A link to Johnny Carroll's version mentioned previously. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 24 Mar 21 - 05:03 AM Guest Jeff: The song was written by John Roberts and Frederick McQueen a few days after the tragedy. Roberts had been a crewman on the Pytoria (which seems to be the schooner's correct name) only a week before. Have you located any pre-Blake sources for the song? Or any source at all for the spelling? We know she was registered as the Pretoria. "Pytoria" reads more like what a Yank trying to sound out "Pretoria" in Bahamian English would come up with. Just guessing. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 26 Mar 21 - 10:59 AM Hi Phil - I didn't know that the schooner was registered as 'Pretoria', but it seems that 'Pytoria' was the way her name was pronounced locally, certainly in 'Pytoria' (sub-titled 'Run Come See') as transcribed by S. B. Charters from his recording of the song which he had from its authors, John Roberts and Frederick McQueen. The spelling and conformation of authorship I quoted was from p. 6 - 8 of the notes to the Folkways 'Music of the Bahamas, Vol. 2' by Charters. These notes happen to be on-line at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW03845.pdf Incidentally, Mr McQueen (among others) was also recorded some seven years later by Jodi Stecher and Peter Siegel of Princeton University. Their field recordings were issued on the LP (now available as CD) 'The Real Bahamas'. Again, well worth getting hold of. I believe it was this LP which brought the singer and guitarist (and sponge fisher) Joseph Spence to the attention of American audiences. A fine player and bass singer, he enjoyed a well-deserved period of fame and respect and was influential to a number of musicians. There's a little Wiki article about him. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,JeffB Date: 26 Mar 21 - 11:05 AM Sorry - above post is mine |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST Date: 01 Aug 21 - 11:17 PM New release from Smithsonian Folkways, in which Peter Siegel makes available previously unreleased recordings he made in 1965 of Joseph Spence. The notes here suggest it was first recorded in 1958 by Sam Charteris, but that Joseph Spence took it to heart since the succour he had provided trying to save the mariners and retrieving the dead had made such an impression on him in 1929. His version on the album has very few lyrics but that doesn't reduce its power. https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/joseph-spence-encore-story |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Mysha Date: 21 Sep 21 - 07:29 AM Thanks. I have no idea how the instructions are supposed to match my browser, but the obvious September song is Run come see, Jerusalem. Don't know what data we have about it, sorry. Bye, Mysha |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: Mysha Date: 21 Sep 21 - 07:38 AM Oops. Is there an elf nearby who can remove the circular reference above (and this one)? Sorry, Mysha |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GeoffLawes Date: 22 Sep 21 - 05:38 PM Google Books , Info about the song https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0dlUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=A+Great+Storm+Pass+Over,+written+by+a+Bahamian+sponge+fis |
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Subject: RE: Origins: History of 'Run, Come See Jerusalem' From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 27 Sep 21 - 03:23 PM FYI that's: Neely, Wayne, The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1929, (Nassau, Media Pub., 2013) Bahamiana sorta getting lost in the merged threads: One (1) storm; two (2) songs (this thread only) like the Ballad Index note says: NOTES [17 words]: While the storm described is the same one described in "Run Come See," this is an independent song. - PJS The September Songs thread might/would/should list both song titles. FYI the previous ('28) September: Lyr Add: Somebody Got Drowned (Palm Beach 1928) is one storm with a half dozen or so songs (minimum.) Also, Bahamians don't spell like they speak any more than Texans or Londoners. The vessel was real. Her name was the Pretoria (see Neely, above.) If one is writing about the real world that's how to spell it. |
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