Lyr Req: I'll Be Ready When the Great Day Comes

Subject: Lyric Request: Spiritual?
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 10:20 AM

I'm looking for the complete lyrics to a song I remember from many years ago. The lyrics I remember go:
    Oh, the Good Book said that Cain killed Able.
    Cho: Yes, Good Lord
    Hit him on the head with the leg of the table
    Cho: Yes, Good Lord
    Daniel said in the lion's den,
    Come to me all you married men.
    With your long white gowns, and your starry crowns
    Be ready when the great day comes.
    Cho: Oh, Lord I'm ready!
         Yes, Lord I'm ready.
         I'll be ready when the great day comes.

I know there's more, but I've searched, and can't find it.
Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Spiritual?-ready when the great day comes
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 01:26 PM

See thread 4038: Source
The lyrics are posted there.

An old minstrel "Jubilee" song by J. A. Pitman, 1882, which was revised later by several performers.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Spiritual?-ready when the great day comes
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 01:33 PM

The sheet music is at American Memory.

Although the song contains some lines that appear in old spirituals and imitates spiritual form, it was written in blackface minstrel idiom.

The lyrics you quote come from one of the later minstrel revisions. I have heard it, but I don't have the text. I will try to find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Spiritual?-ready when the great day comes
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 02:10 PM

Found the recording!

A 'gospel'? version was sung by the Forbes Randolph's Kentucky Jubilee Choir (Qt.) on Brunswick 4063, 1928-1929. "Deep River" on the flip side. Document has included it on one of their discs.
This is the version you are looking for- with the lines about Cain and Abel ant the leg of a table.
I have only heard the short sound clip from Document "Church Choirs, Gospel Singers and Preachers, vol. 2," 1925-1955. DOCD 5089.

Spirits of Rhythm released their version on Brunswick 6728, 1932-1934.
Dorothy Dandridge sang it in 1941 in a film "Soundie. "Yes, Indeed."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Be Ready When the Great Day Comes
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 17 - 09:57 AM

Polk Miller and his Old South Quartette sing it as “Jerusalem Mournin'” on Edison Standard Record 10334, issued in 1910.