Visions of the dusk / Fenton Johnson [electronic text]

NEGRO SPIRITUALS. * 1.1

JUBAL'S FREE.

1.

Sound the trumpet, honey, Jubal's free, Sound the ram horn, honey, Jubal's free; Devil goes a-quaking, Mighty Hell is shaking, All the stars are tumbling, Heaven's thunder rumbling, Jubal's free.

2..

Dance the Gospel, honey, Jubal's free, Set your feet a-swinging Jubal's free; Night has changed to morning, In her breast the warning Of the God of sorrow, "They must go to-morrow", Jubal's free.

3.

Ring the church bells, honey, Jubal's free; Set the chimes a-pealing, Jubal's free; God above is shouting, Devil goes a-pouting, Earth and sky is meeting, Freedom is their greeting, Jubal's free.

4.

Shake the hand, my brother. Jubal's free, Sing your loudest, brother, Jubal's free; Toss your head to Heaven, Living's like the leaven, Earth is rich with sunlight, Night is rich with moonlight, Jubal's free.

SONG OF THE WHIRLWIND.

1.

Oh, my God is in the whirlwind, I am walking in the valley; Lift me up, O Shining Father, To the glory of the heavens, I have seen a thousand troubles

On the journey men call living, I have drunk a thousand goblets From misfortune's bitter winepress, But to Thee I cling forever, God of Jacob, God of Rachel.

2.

Oh, my soul is in the whirlwind, I am dying in the valley, Oh, my soul is in the whirlwind And my bones are in the valley; At her spinning wheel is Mary Spinning raiment of the lillies, On her knees is Martha honey Shining bright the golden pavement, All the ninety nine is waiting For my coming, for my coming.

MY GOD IN HEAVEN SAID TO ME.

1.

My God in Heaven said to me, "Your mansion's ready in the sky, Come home, my weary wanderer, And eat with Me the bread of life, For I have slain the fatted calf, For I have filled the honey bowl And thou shalt always dwell with me. Come home, my weary wanderer," My God in Heaven said to me.

2.

And now I board the Gospel train, For I am going home to-night To meet my God on Jordan's coast. My burdens to the wind I toss, To-morrow freedom shall be mine; — A golden crown with burning stars, And harp of David in my hand That I may chant the Gospel tunes.

3.

On God's plantation I shall dwell, The overseer of happiness, And dance with Israel the dance Of holiness and righteousness, A thousand years with God to dwell Is like a holiday below; And Oh, my heart was glad to hear My God in Heaven say to me, "Your mansion's ready in the sky."

THE HYPOCRITE DEVIL.

1.

The Devil is a mighty hypocrite, He steals away your heart, he steals your soul, He rides you straight to Hell with honey words, Oh, yes! That Devil's mighty hypocrite.

2.

Last night he said to me, "My daughter, dance! Go shuffle on the old barn floor your feet, Nobody looking but the moon and stars. Go shuffle on the old barn floor your feet."

3.

I looked me straight to East and straight to West, And from my trunk I took my yellow dress, That I might dance once more the sinner's dance Before my bones grew old and cold and stiff.

4.

But ere I reached the barnyard gate I saw My God of Jacob shining in the sky "Go back, my daughter, to your pots and pans! Dance not the sinner's dance lest ye should die."

5.

He dipped my soul in water pure with love, And led me homeward by the magic star, "Beware!" He said. "The Devil's conjure man; A mighty conjure man and hypocrite."

6.

O children of the King, give heed to me Go not with Beezlebub and all his ways, Stay home and work your patch before you die, The Devil's hypocrite and conjure man.

LOVE ME.

1.

Love me, love me evermore, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! Love me till the Judgment Day, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! When the angel sounds the call Hold my hand and hold it long I will guide thee o'er the tide To the Throne of God Himself, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey!

2.

Love me, love me evermore, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! Love me through the ages long, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! Kiss my brow when life is cold And a-down the stream I float, Lift me from the ways of earth To the warmth of God Himself, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! 8. Love me, love me evermore, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey! Love me till the stream runs dry, Oh, my honey! Oh, my hone!

Thrice a thousand times to die Would be like a day with God If that dying would bring thee To my heart a single hour, Oh, my honey! Oh, my honey!

THE PRODIGAL SON.

1.

Snow is on the earth, Sunshine in the heaven, Snow is on the earth And my soul a-stumbling, Night is calling soft, "Bring me home the weary", God commands the host, "Kill the fatted heifer, For my son is coming home."

2.

Peter holds the key, David's voice is golden, Simeon is praying; In my chariot I am drawing nigher To the Mercy Seat Of the shining Father In the Land of Golden Hours.

3.

Rachel cooks the Lamb, Mary weaves me raiment, Moses writes my name, Joshua is shouting, All the host rejoice For my late returning; Jesus takes my hand, Calling me his brother From the Land of Golden pain.

4.

Dark my home on earth, Bright the Glory cabin, Dark my home on earth, Bright the streets of Heaven, Never whip nor lash, Never bread and water, Parted on the cruel block Waits the sainted mother For the coming of her son.

5.

Speed thy lissome oar, Oh, my valiant boatman, Speed o'er Jordan's stream, To the Land of Shining Glory.

THE SONG OF BEULAHLAND.

1.

Oh, I know a river where your troubles flow, Down by Beulahland; There the children of the King shall meet their Lord, Down by Beulahland; Oh, I know the weapon that those children wield, 'Tis the Cross of Jesus pierced on Calvary, And my weary soul is clinging to the beams Down by Beulahland.

2.

Let me not go there by fiddle tune or harp, Down by Beulahland, Play no banjo on my journey to the King, Down by Beulahland, Let me fight my battles in the way I choose I alone must win the crown of Righteousness, Let me be a soldier with my armor on, Down by Beulahland.

DE BAN'.

Don't you heah de ban', Miss Mandy Lee? Don't you see de leadah wave to me? How dose da'kies ma'ck if to wo', Fo'teen strong, all bright wid music's glow;

Daih is Eph un Jackson, drummah boy, Wid dose sticks he's beatin' scrumptious joy, Daih is Trombone Pete in suit o' raid, Holdin' high wid pride his wooly haid, (Hum! Ti! Turn! Turn! Boom! Ti-Boom! Boom! Boom! Git away an' gib dose anguls room!)

Lawdy! but dat music' stirs mah soul, Mak' me think Ah see de streets ob gol'; Now Ah feel a-ticklin' in mah feet Dat will set me danein' on de street; Glohry! Hallelujia! Heish yo' mouf! Dat ban' sholy owns de livin' Souf. Hooray! Keep it up, ol' Trombone Pete, You hab won mah hea't an' won mah feet.

PLANTATION SERMON.

1.

Doan' you hyeah me preachin', Chillun in de valley? Doan' you hyeah me 'spoundin', Chillun in de valley? Freedom sh's a comin' In de Savior's keeridge, Ah kin hyeah it shoutin' F'um de mouf ob cannons; Oh, de robes am whituh

Dan de light ob mawnin' Oh, de songs am sweetuh Dan de banjo's tummin', Mighty am de gethrin' Ob de wounded chillun, Mighty am de buhstin' F'um de th'oats ob singuhs. Git yo' clo's a-ready, Cleah yo' cotton patches, Set yo' feet a-dancing' In de Gospel mannah, Ah kin hyeah de blowin' Ob de golden trumpets. Freedom's hitched huh hosses An' she's drawin' nighuh. Bury all yo' troubles, Bury all yo' grievin's, God hab hyeahed yo' prayin' — Freedom's in de whirlwind, An' we's in de valley.

THE PHANTOM RABBIT.

1.

Look, my weary brother, ere you die; Night is here, and phantom nigh; Soul of rabbit with the magic breath, Soul of Life and foe of living Death. Ere we die, my brother, ere we die.

2.

Look, my weary sister, ere we die; O'er the hills the phantom shadows lie; Rabbit ghostly soothes your aching fears, Rabbit ghostly dries your endless tears, Ere we die, my sister, ere we die.

Notes

• * 1.1

  (These songs we offer, not as genuine Negro spirituals, but as imitations. We attempt to preserve the rhythm and the spirit of the slaves, and to give a literary form and interpretation to their poetic endeavour. Here and there we have caught a phrase the unlettered minstrels used; here and there we have borrowed of that exquisite Oriental imagery the Africans brought with them.