To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=51161
6 messages

I saw the light come down

06 Sep 02 - 02:18 AM (#777942)
Subject: I saw the light come down
From: mack/misophist

Within the last 2 years I followed a link from here to a .ram file of "I Saw The Light Come Down" aka "Dry Bones" by Bascom Lunsford. The performance was a capella choral with one lead singer, not quite 'lining it out' but similar. The lead was an older sounding woman said to be an established singer in the Washington DC area. Now that I've dithered so long, I'd like to get the cd if there is one. But I can't track her down. Does any one remember?

06 Sep 02 - 07:21 PM (#778351)
Subject: RE: I saw the light come down
From: Mark Clark

According to this PDF document at Judy Cook's Web site, it's on Smithsonian Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music. I imagine you can order the recording from Smithsonian Folkways or, better yet, from Dick Greenhaus or Sandy Paton.

      - Mark

06 Sep 02 - 09:58 PM (#778415)
Subject: RE: I saw the light come down
From: Stewie

Mark, the anthology one is Lunsford, but it is not the recording misophist is after. Going back a step from your link, you find Cook's album with it on - it may be what is wanted:

Click Here

--Stewie.

06 Sep 02 - 10:14 PM (#778421)
Subject: RE: I saw the light come down
From: Stewie

The folk index gives a reference to a recording of 'Dry Bones' by Jean Redpath and Lisa Neustadt which may also be a possibility. Here is a link - you may have to scroll down the page:

Click Here

--Stewie.

06 Sep 02 - 11:20 PM (#778445)
Subject: RE: I saw the light come down
From: masato sakurai

From Judy Cook's notes [pdf]:

DRY BONES (traditional North Carolina)

In addition to a great chorus, this song gives you five different Bible stories in very condensed form. I'm joined on the choruses by Dennis Cook, Mary LaMarca, Lisa Null, & George Stephens.

Enoch lived to be three-hundred and sixty-five
And then the Lord came down and took him up to heaven alive.

Chorus:
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
Come shining all around.
I saw the light come shining.
I saw the light come down.

Paul bound in prison, and the prison walls fell down
And then the prison keeper shouted, "Redeeming Love I've found."

When Moses saw the burning bush he walked it round and round.
And then the Lord said, "Moses, you're treading on holy ground.

Dry bones in the valley got up and took a little walk.
And then the deaf could hear, and the dumb in the valley could talk.

Adam and Eve in the garden underneath a sycamore tree.
And then Eve said, "Adam, Old Satan is a-tempting me."

I learned this song from Lisa Neustadt and the singing of Bascom Lamar Lunsford on Smithsonian Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music. Mr. Lunsford recorded the song in 1928 and said he first heard "Dry Bones" from a traveling Black preacher named Romney who came through western NC.
........................................................

From Folk Music Index:

Dry Bones

1. Cook, Judy. Far from the Lowlands, Cook CEI-JC02-0005, CD (2000), 19
2. Hayes, Roland. My Songs, Vanguard VRS- 494, LP (1956), cut#A.05
3. Lunsford, Bascam Lamar. Anthology of American Folk Music, Smithsonian/Folkways SFW 40090, CD( (1997), cut# 51
4. Redpath, Jean; and Lisa Neustadt. Angels Hovering Round, Fretless FR 138, LP (1978), cut#A.04
5. Rustical Quality String Band. Rustical Quality String Band, Red Dog RD 8312, LP (1983), cut#B.07

I Saw the Light (Come Down)

1. Aaron, Tossi. Tossi Sings Folk Songs and Ballads, Prestige International INT 13027, LP (196?), cut#A.03
2. Cephas, John; and Phil Wiggins. Dog Days of August, Flying Fish FF 394, LP (1986), cut#B.03
........................................................

Lunsford's "Dry Bones" is also on Bascom Lamar Lunsford: Ballads, Banjo Tunes, and Sacred Songs of Western North Carolina (Smithsonian Folkways 40082). Roland Hayes' "Dry Bones" (sheet music is in Rolad Hayes, My Favorite Spirituals, Dover, 2001) may as well be classified as a different song.

~Masato

06 Sep 02 - 11:21 PM (#778446)
Subject: Lyr Add: DRY BONES
From: masato sakurai