Negro Spiritual

Subject: Negro Spiritual
From: Megan Hawken
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 04:20 PM

My mother is terminally ill and is planning her own funeral. She has requested three unusual songs that I am having trouble finding. The first one is an old spritual called "Goin' Home". I can kind of hear the tune in my head, but I don't know anymore words. The second song, I believe is from the 20s or 30s called "Hello Central, give me heaven" and the third has the words, "shuffle off to Buffalo" in it. I know these are not very great clues, and probably not considered "folk songs", but I'm having a heck of a time finding anything on the internet. If someone could just give me an idea as to where to look I would be very appreciative. Thanks

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 09:32 PM

Megan,

I am sorry about your mom's illness. Mine just passed on this January.

I did a little bit of a search for you, but had trouble with my computer, so here's what you can do:

go to the top of this page and look in the right hand corner. You will see, in red letters, "search the digitrad database". enter your song titles or phrases in the search box and see what comes up. If you type in going home there are many with that phrase that come up. I got as far as #43, which might be the one you are looking for, entitled, "Feel Like Going Home", and also, #28, "Christ Was a Traveler". They are in alphabetical order and for some reason my computer couldn't connect any more pages. I will try again later.

Also, if you do not find them there, go to the main page of the Mudcat and click on "links" which is in kind of the middle, towards the left of the page, listed with a bunch of other things. That has many places to look, including the Lester B. Levy Collection at Johns Hopkins U. Their database consists of popular American sheet music from 17something to the 1960's.

Sorry you didn't have any luck on your other postings. The Mudcateers are great people and really helped me through a really tough time. I am sure between all of us we can help you and if not, it won't be for lack of trying.

Fare well and blessed be,

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 09:38 PM

Ross, Steve and Gene:

If you read this...sorry. I just assumed Megan had posted this because she hadn't gotten anything ont he other threads, than I read thema nd find you guys are way ahead of me!

Megan: see what I mean? They are a helpful lot!

kat

Subject: Lyr Add: GOING HOME
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:39 PM

I did a little easier check of the database using brackets around the two words which narrowed the field a bit. However, I didn't find the song I think Megan's mother might be wanting. Oddly enough, I learned quite a few spirituals from a Gogi Grant record I had for many years. On it she had a song called

"GOING HOME"

Going home. Going home.
I'm just going home.

Morning star leads the way
At the break of day
Quiet light in the night
There I'll always stay.

Going home. Going home.
I'm just going home.
All my friends are gathered there.
Never will I roam.
I'm just going home!

Now, Gogi Grant, or her arrangers, might have "tweaked" the song a bit. So accuracy in content may have been compromised. But be that as it may, the above is what I recall from the recording. It is, indeed, a beautiful song for a funeral. If nobody can come up with a MIDI or something, Megan, I would be glad to send you a tape. You can reach me at:
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 04:28 PM

Okay, I now see that you guys are so far past me that I never even saw the cloud of dust! There is a separate thread - as there should be - for "Going Home"

Possibly the same should be done for "Hello Central, Give Me Heaven" but, since I won't be posting the lyrics here, I guess this will do.

HELLO CENTRAL, GIVE ME HEAVEN at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: Dani
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 04:38 PM

Haven't heard back from you Megan - is Going Home the one you wanted? There's a spiritual,The Troubles of The World, that includes the words, "Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world, I'm going home to live with God." It's one of my favorite songs in the whole entire world. Can give you more info if it helps.

Your mother must be very brave and wonderful. I'm all for planning one's own funeral. I know a woman who had terminal cancer and held her own wake so she could be there to hear what they would say about her :)

Take comfort from her courage.

Dani

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From:
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 09:00 PM

Going home

Unsure wich song? ?

Won't you tell my mother " " " " " " " " " " I'm going home

Won't you tell the Preacher " " " " " " " " " " I'm going home

Won't you tell my fam'ly etc

I'm gonna see lord Jesus etc

He'll be seated by the father etc

Won't you tell my mother etc

this song I learned from a man who claimed to have been singing it for 35 yrs He led a Negro choir in Balham U.K.

I wish you peace and understanding

Graeme

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: mm
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 06:42 PM

Not a lot of help, but "Shuffle off to Buffalo" is an old burlesque song. You might get it from one of the screenwriting or film lists, where old hoofers can hang out.

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: Gene
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 10:21 PM

Request now exists as 3 separate threads...

1. Shuffle Off To Buffalo - *CLICK HERE*

2. Hello Central Give Me Heaven - *CLICK HERE*

3. Going Home - *CLICK HERE*

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 04:25 PM

Anyone have more info on the one in the above post from [e-mail] 09:00 PM???

~Susan

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 05:14 PM

Susan, I believe Graemeknights has a real spiritual there. It belongs to the group that may be called "Tell the News," "Tell them I'm Gone," etc.
I am going to start a new thread devoted to these songs, since I have run across several on that theme. There are still others listed in the Cleveland Index but I don't have the books.
I accidentally ran across a thread with a listing of Louvin-Acuff songs; many gospel; a few posted. Here it is (27083) before I lose it: Here

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: 53
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 10:55 PM

Sorry to hear your mom's sick.

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 11:14 PM

Bob, that post was in 1999.

Dicho, let's e-mail Graemeknight. I have mailed some pretty old addresses around here and gotten answers. You want to or shall I?

~S~

Subject: RE: Negro Spiritual
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 11:19 PM

Grame Knight's Going Home has parallels with the spiritual I'm Gonna Walk Around In Jordan (Tell the News) Here
Substitute If my mother asks for me, tell her the news, for Won't you tell my mother, I'm going home. A different song, but similar idea.