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Transcripts and Notes
TROUBLE SO HARD
CHORUS:
O Lord, trouble so hard. (2)
Yes, indeed, my trouble is hard (2)
O, Lord, trouble so hard. (2)
Don’t nobody know my troubles but God. (2)
Yes, indeed, my trouble’s so hard. (2)
O Lord, trouble so hard. (2)
1. Wait and let me tell you what the sister will do:
’Fo’ your face, she have a love for you,
’Hind your back, scandalize your name,
Jest the same you have to bear the blame.
CHORUS
2. Wait and let me tell you what your brother will do:
’Fo’ your face, have a love for you,
’Hind your back, scandalize your name,
Jest the same you have to bear the blame.
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ARWHOOLIE (CORNFIELD HOLLER)
Oh, etc.
I won’t be here long.
Oh, etc.
Oh, dark gonna catch me here,
Dark gonna catch me here.
Oh, etc.
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QUITTIN’ TIME SONGS
Ooooh, the sun going down,
And I won’t be here long,
Ooooh, the sun going down,
And I won’t be here long,
Ooooh, then I be going home.
Ooooh, I can’t let this dark cloud catch me here.
Ooooh, I can’t stay here long,
Ooooooooooh, I be at home.
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MEALTIME CALL
Oh, Miss Wright
Why don’t you ring that bell?
Oh, Miss Wright
Why don’t you ring that bell?
I can tell
The way those greens smell.
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I’M A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD
1. Army of the Lord,
In the army, in the army,
Just a soldier, just a soldier,
In the army of the Lord.
Just a soldier,
In the army,
Just a soldier,
In the army of the Lord,
Just a soldier,
In the army.
2. I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army of the Lord.
I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army.
I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army of the Lord.
I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army.
I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army of the Lord.
I’m gonna keep on the top
in the army.
3. In the army, army of the Lord,
In the army,
Just a soldier,
Just a soldier,
In the army of the Lord,
Just a soldier,
In the army.
[Instrumental with Vocal Interjections.
Verse 2 repeats, in part.
Verse 1 repeats, in part.]
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AIN’T NO GRAVE CAN HOLD MY BODY DOWN
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down, my body down.
When the first trumpet sound,
I’ll be gettin’ up, walkin’ round.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down, my body down.
Now when that first trumpet sound,
I’ll be gettin’ up, walkin’ round.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
When I heard of a beautiful city,
The street was paved with gold.
Then I had not been to Heaven.
Oh, Lord, I’ve been told.
Then I found this throne of grace.
It’s gonna ’point my soul a place.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
When that first trumpet sound,
I’ll be gettin’ up, walkin’ round.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
When Jesus was hangin’ on the cross,
It made poor Mary moan.
He looked down on His disciples.
“They’ve taken my mother home.”
Ain’t that a pity and dark shame,
How they crucified the Name!
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
When the first trumpet sound,
I’ll be gettin’ up, walkin’ round.
Ain’t no grave can hold my body down.
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MISSISSIPPI BLUES
1. Goin’ down to the Delta.
Where I can have my fun.
Goin’ down to the Delta.
Where I can have my fun.
Where I can drink my white lightnin’, gamble. . .
I can bring my baby home.
2. Don’t the Delta look lonesome
When that evening sun go down?
[Spoken]: Just ’bout good an’ dark.
Don’t this Delta look lonesome
When that evenin’ sun goes down?
Well, you been lookin’ for your baby
Don’t know where she could be found.
[Spoken]: Boy, I was lookin’ all over town for her,
you know dat?
3. Goin’ back to my use-to-be,
Although that she have done me wrong.
Goin’ back to my use-to-be,
Although that she have done me wrong.
Well, I think I’ll have to forgive her
’Cause I’m tired o’ driftin’ through this world alone.
[Spoken]: Ain’t that a cryin’ shame? ’Cause I started
to think about her a whole lot o’ times. And she
way down Mississippi, and here I am up here!
4. She treats me dirty,
But I love her just the same.
Well, she treats me dirty,
But I love her just the same.
Well, it just breaks my heart to hear. . .
Lord, some other men call her name.
[Spoken with instrumental]: They better not do that!
5. Now goodbye, I’m gon’ leave you,
An’ I won’t be back no more.
[Spoken]: I ain’t gon’ be gone that long, you
know—
Now goodbye, I’m gon’ leave you,
An’ I won’t be back no mo’.
Man, my mind gets to ramblin’—
See you in Nineteen and Forty-fo’.
These selections were obtained from the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress
American Folklife Center.
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