It is a favorite theme of the negroes to sing much of their “Lord” and “God”. Much has been noted of the names and attributes which Deity holds in the negro’s songs. As his friend the negro believes that God is always true; consequently he sings his loyalty to Him. The old plantation song “Tell Jesus” had as its chorus: “Tell Jesus done done all I can, Tell Jesus done done all I can, Tell Jesus done done all I can, I can’t do no more”. Very much like it is the song “For my Lord” that is much in demand among the present-day negroes.
I goin’ to do all I can fer my Lord,
I goin’ to do all I can fer my Lord,
I goin’ to do all I can fer my Lord,
I goin’ to do all I can fer my Lord,
I do all I can till I can’t do no more,
I goin’ do all I can fer my Lord.
In the same way he sings “I goin’ weep all I can till I can’t weep no more”, “I goin’ pray all I can till I can’t pray no more”, and “sing” and “mourn” and “work” for his Lord. The phrases “till I can’t do no mo’”, and the others are characteristic of the negro’s prayers. He usually closes his church prayers, “Now Lord, when we’s done prayin’ an’ can’t pray no mo’; when we’s done meetin’ an’ can’t meet no mo’”, etc. The closing scene, the final act of life, seems to appeal to the negro with wonderful dramatic power. It is in the end that he himself will be great; it is then that God and Jesus and the angels will be made manifest, and it is there in the new home that his condition will be one of ease and rest, at the same time that it is one of prominence. He sings “Gwi’ lay down my life fer my Lord”.
De Lord giv’ me mer trumpet an’ tole me ter blow,
He giv’ me mer cummission an’ tole me ter go.
Fer my Lord, fer my Lord,
Fer my Lord, gwi’ lay down my life fer my Lord.
You can hinder me here but you can’t hinder me dere,
For de Lord in Heaven gwi’ hear my prayer.
De enemy’s great but my Cap’n is strong,
U’m fightin’ fer de city an’ de time ain’t long.
When I git dar I’ll be able fer to tell,
How I whipped ole Satan at de door ob hell.
Mer head got wet wid de midnight dew,
Dat mornin’ star was shinin’ too.
So again the negro magnifies his Lord in “a weary Lan’” and makes both a striking picture and a pleasing song. His Lord is not only “a walkin’ in a weary lan’”, but he is also a “doctor”, a “preacher” and a “shelter”. Thus he pictures him “walkin’” “talkin’” “preachin’”, and “healin’” in the weary land.
My Lord’s a walkin’ in the weary lan’,
In a weary lan’, in a weary lan’,
Yes, my Lord walkin’ in weary lan’,
He’s a shelter in a mighty storm.
Likewise he is a healer in a mighty storm or in the time of storm. It is but natural that the negro should call upon the Lord to remember him. The old plantation song “Do Lord remember me” was apparently based upon the idea of being remembered at Christmas times; indeed the negroes always ask to be remembered at such a time by the “whitefolks”. They were always remembered and often their homes were made happy. The song asked: “O do Lord remember me, O do Lord remember me, O do remember me until de year roll round, Do Lord remember me.” The song now current is most likely not the same song but an entirely different one.
Do my Lord remember me,
Do my Lord remember me,
Do my Lord remember me,
Do Lord remember me.
Upon de housetop an’ can’t come down,
Do Lord remember me.
Upon de house an’ can’t come down.
Do Lord remember me.
When I am hungry do feed me Lord,
Do Lord remember me.
When I am thirsty do give me drink,
Do Lord remember me.
The negroes sometimes call the following song the “riddle song”, asking “who is the Rock”, while the answer comes back, like the Psalmist, “King Jesus is the Rock”.
Lead me to the Rock, lead me to the Rock,
Lead me to the Rock that is higher an’ higher.
O, Lead me to the Rock,
Yes, lead me to the Rock that is higher an’ higher.
King Jesus is the Rock, yes, King Jesus is the Rock,
King Jesus is the Rock that is higher an’ higher,
O King Jesus is the Rock,
Yes, King Jesus is the Rock that is higher an’ higher.
Standing on the Rock, yes standing on the Rock,
Standing on the Rock that is higher an’ higher.
O, standing on the Rock,
Yes, standing on the Rock that is higher an’ higher.