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27 Sep 13 - 03:33 PM (#3561976) Subject: Lyr Add: Massa's In De Cold Ground (Foster) From: Q (Frank Staplin) MASSA'S IN DE COLD GROUND (Stephen Collins Foster, 1852) 1 Round de meadows am a ringing De darkeys' mournful song, While de mocking-bird am singing Happy as de day is long. Where de ivy am a-creeping, O'er de grassy mound, Dare old massa am a-sleeping, Sleeping in de cold, cold ground. CHORUS Down in de cornfield Hear dat mournful sound; All de darkeys am a weeping Massa's in de cold, cold ground. 2 When de autumn leaves were falling, When de days were cold, 'Twas hard to hear old massa calling, Cayse he was so weak and old. Now de orange tree am blooming On de sandy shore, Now de summer days am coming, Massa nebber calls no more. 3 Massa make the darkeys love him, Cayse he was so kind, Now dey sadly weep above him, Mourning cayse he leave dem behind. I cannot work before tomorrow, Cayse de teardrops flow, I try to drive away my sorrow Pickin' on de old banjo. One of the best Foster melodies. Sung by Tom Roush on his cd, Down Among the Cane Brakes. http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/foster015.htm Midi and mp3 at this fine website. |
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27 Sep 13 - 03:36 PM (#3561978) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Massa's In De Cold Ground (Foster) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Correction: Chorus line 2 Hear dat mournful sound. |
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27 Sep 13 - 07:20 PM (#3562039) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Massa's In De Cold Ground (Foster) From: Paul Burke My mother sang this, beautifully and ironically. Beautifully: she always sang that way, day in, day out, promiscuous singing to accompany her drudgery, and I wish I had recorded her songs, because there was a lot of local tradition and music hall mixed in with the pops of 1025 onwards. Ironically, because she could see it was racist crap, and occasionally slipped in variations such as "all de darkies am a weepin', wishin' dat dere skins was white". RIP Peggy (1927-2000). |
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27 Sep 13 - 08:26 PM (#3562060) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Massa's In De Cold Ground (Foster) From: dick greenhaus Back in the 40's , I heard: Fix me a julep and kick me a hound, And we'll all shout " Yassah, Yassah Yassah!" Gonna dig us a hole in the cold, cold ground For Mistah an Missus Massa. |
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27 Sep 13 - 08:49 PM (#3562071) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Massa's In De Cold Ground (Foster) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Stephen Foster often had a melancholy turn of mind. Imagine him composing these songs about himself, as I think he might. It does not take much imagination to change a word here and there. Old Folks At Home All the world is sad and dreary Everywhere I roam Oh! mother, how my heart grows weary Far from the old folks at home All round the little farm I wandered When I was young Then many happy days I squandered Many the songs I sung When I was playing with my brother Happy was I Oh! take me to my kind old mother There let me live and die. His lyrics call up images with a simplicity that few have equaled. |