Lyr Add: Down in de Lonesome Valley

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN IN DE LONESOME VALLEY
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 09:31 PM

Not often is some information found that is supplemental to the spirituals in Allen's "Slave Songs of the United States."

The spiritual has verses added "for those who would like other than the 'contraband' words to sing to this really good and plaintive tune." These seem to be from the original hymn. Anyone recognize it?

Lyrics from sheet music published in 1864 by Ditson, found in American Memory. The shout is somewhat expanded from the version in Allen 1867.

Lyr. Add: DOWN IN DE LONESOME VALLEY
("A shout song of the Freedmen of Port Royal")

O brudder William, you want to get religion
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
Down in de lonesome valley
Go down in de lonesome valley, my Lord
You meet my Jesus dere.

O brudder Joseph, you want to get religion
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
You find my milk and honey
You find my milk and honey, my Lord
You feed on milk and honey
And meet my Jesus dere.

O brudder Samuel, you want to get religion
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
When John he brought a letter
When John he brought a letter, my Lord
He met my Jesus dere.

O sister Mary you want to get religion
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
Mary and Marta read 'em,
An' Mary and Marta read 'em, my Lord
Dey met my Jesus dere.

Added verses other than 'contraband.'

Souls that are weary, and heavy with your sorrow,
Go down in the lonely valley
Go down in the olive garden at eve,
Go down in the lonely valley,
You'll meet with Jesus there.

Ye that are wounded, and fleeing from temptation
Go down. etc.

He'll kindly greet you, and banish all your sorrow,
Go down, etc.

Ye that are seeking , and cannot find the Saviour,
Go down, etc.

The sheet music text is hard to read, but the music is clear enough.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Down In De Lonesome Valley
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 09:48 PM

Line missing from verses 1, 3 and 4, but the repetition should be obvious from verse 2.

1. O brudder William, you ant to get religion,
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
Down in de lonesome valley,
Go down in de lonesome valley, my Lord
Ri' down in de lonesome valley
You meet my Jesus there.

3. When John he brought a letter

4. Mary and Marta read 'em

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Down In De Lonesome Valley
From: GUEST,john
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 11:04 PM

are there any recordings of this tune?

Subject: Lyr Add: LONESOME VALLEY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 08:22 PM

From an article "Under the Palmetto," in The Continental Monthly, Volume 4, No 2, (New York: John F. Trow, August, 1863), page 199, which also contains musical notation for one voice.


LONESOME VALLEY

[CHORUS] O brudder William, you want to get religion.
Ri' down in de lonesome valley,

1. Down in de lonesome valley,
Go down in de lonesome valley, my Lord
Ri' down in de lonesome valley,
You meet my Jesus dere.

2. You feed on milk and honey,
You feed on milk and honey, my Lord,
You feed on milk and honey,
And meet my Jesus dere.

3. When Johnny brought a letter,
When Johnny brought a letter, my Lord,
When Johnny brought a letter,
he meet my Jesus dere.

4. An' Mary and Marta read 'em,
An' Mary and Marta read 'em, my Lord,
An' Mary and marta read 'em,
Dey meet my Jesus dere.