Lyr Req: I Don't Intend to Die in Egypt Land

Subject: Lyr Req: Don't intend to die in Egypt land
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 06 - 08:58 AM

Looking for the words -- any help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't intend to die in Egypt land
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 06 - 10:12 AM

Sound bite here and some of the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't intend to die in Egypt land
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 May 06 - 02:32 PM

Apparently, it's an early Josh White song, perhaps traditional. The fragment from the site Peace linked to is this: I don't intend to stop till I reach the promise land/ I don't intend to die in Egypt land.

Subject: Lyr Add: I DON'T INTEND TO DIE IN EGYPT LAND
From: Padre
Date: 23 May 06 - 09:26 PM

Rock Creek used to sing this - Wally Macnow taught it to Bill and I.

Pilate's wife she had a dream
I don't intend to die in Egypt Land
A fair and honest man she seen
I don't intend to die in Egypt Land

CHORUS: Lord I can't stay away(x 3)
I don't intend to die in Egypt Land

I don't intend to stop
I don't intend to stand
I don't intend to die in Egypt Land
I don't intend to stop till I reach the promised land
I don't intend to die in Egypt Land

Look at them chldren dressed in red
I don't ..
Must be the children that Moses led
I don't...

Chorus

Look at the children dressed in black
I don't...
Must be the hypocrites turning back
I don't....

Chorus


And so on, with different colors -
blue - children coming through
white - children of the Israelites


Padre

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't intend to die in Egypt land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 May 06 - 10:51 PM

This is an often reworked spiritual, discussed with some lyrics in thread 41654: I Can't Stay Away
Title- "I Wish I Had Died in Egypt Land." The version in Work, "American Negro Songs and Spirituals," p. 157 is reproduced in the above thread.
The most complete version is given in the thread by Masato, from "Calhoun Plantation Songs," "I Never Intend to Die in Egypt Land."

According to McIlhenny, in "Befo' de War Spirituals," p. 120, this is one of the old spirituals from before the Civil War.

The 'color' verses given by Padre are floaters that appear in several spirituals and gospel songs, and were added by some of the later groups and do not appear in the collections by Work and McIlhenny.

Subject: Lyr Add: I DON'T INTEND TO DIE IN EGYPTLAND (White
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 May 06 - 11:07 PM

Here are some of the words that Josh White sings, gleaned from sound samples.

I DON'T INTEND TO DIE IN EGYPTLAND

Lord, I can't stay away.
Lord, I can't stay away.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
Pilate's wife she had a dream
I don't intend to die in Egyptland
That an honest man she seen.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
Go bring me some water; let me wash my hands.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
I sha'n't be guilty of an innocent man.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland....

Lord, I can't stay away.
Lord, I can't stay away.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
The tallest in paradise.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
People down there call it the tree of life.
I don't intend to die in Egyptland.
Lord, I can't....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't intend to die in Egypt land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 May 06 - 03:47 PM

Those lyrics seem to be Josh White's own take on the song, since this version has not been found elsewhere. At least three biblical stories are mixed up in it.