Lyr Add: Babylon's Fallin' (spiritual)

Subject: Lyr Add: BABYLON'S FALLIN' (spiritual)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 08:16 PM

Thomas P. Fenner, 1874, in Cabin and Plantation Songs, had this song which has not yet been added to the spirituals in the Forum (or listed in the Spirituals Permathread). It probably stems from Henry Clay Work's "Babylon Is Falling," 1863 (in Digitrad). The version here was used at the Hampton Institute as a "marching song" and may have been brought there by the Contrabands.

Babylon's Fallin'

Pure city, Babylon's fallin', to rise no more,
Pure city, Babylon's fallin', to rise no more.
Oh, Babylon's fallin, fallin', fallin',
Babylon's fallin', to rise no more,
Oh, Babylon's fallin', fallin', fallin',
Babylon's fallin' to rise no more.

Oh, Jesus tell you once before
Babylon's fallin' to rise no more;
To go in peace an' sin no more;
Babylon's fallin' to rise no more.
If you get dere before I do,
Babylon's fallin' to rise no more;
Tell all my friends I'm comin' too;
Babylon, etc.

The lines "If you get there before I do" appear in other spirituals, esp. "Nobody Knows the Trouble..."

pp. 248-249, with music, Armstrong and Ludlow, 1874, Hampton and its Students. Reproduced online: Armstrong Fenner
Reprinted in Dett, R. N. 1927, "Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro as Sung at Hampton Institute," Hampton Institute Press, 1972 reprint, AMS Press, pp. 2-3 with music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BABYLON'S FALLIN' (spiritual)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 08:50 PM

What a totally different take on it-- Babylon Is Falling ("now") instead of how I always think of it, Babylon Is Fallen (a done deal). Thanks!

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: BABYLON'S FALLIN' (spiritual)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 09:01 PM

The Golden Gate Quartet (on The Spirituals & Gospels) and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (on Beyond the Shadows) sang the spiritual version.