The “little” in the chorus is preferred to the “dere’s” as a rule, apparently serving to describe the angels. The stanzas of the song are equally as unlimited and as simple as the chorus. “Sunday morning” is the common factor to all of the verses; sometimes it is omitted.
Jesus rose on Sunday mornin’,
Jesus rose on Sunday mornin’,
Jesus rose on Sunday mornin’,
On Sunday mornin’ so soon.
He rose an’ flew away on Sunday mornin’.
My mother died on Sunday mornin’.
Oh wasn’t that sad on Sunday mornin’?
Dere’s goin’ to be a big camp meetin’ on Sunday mornin’.
Dere’s goin’ to be a mournin’ on Sunday mornin’.
Mourners got to shoutin’ on Sunday mornin’.
I’m goin’ away to leave you on Sunday mornin’.
Well, my sister’s goin’ to heaven on Sunday mornin’.
While this form of the song may be continued indefinitely, other verses may also be inserted. Instead of the “On Sunday mornin’” is often substituted “Fer to see my Lord”.
Well, my sister’s goin’ to heaven fer to see my Lord,
To see my Lord, to see my Lord;
Well, my sister’s goin’ to heaven fer to see my Lord,
What’s de onbelievin’ soul?
And so he continues with preacher, brother, mother, auntie and any others that he wishes to enumerate. As a shouting song or as a “collection” song, it is not surpassed.
The negro’s fancies of the “Heaven’s bright home” are not exceeded by the world’s fairy tales. There are silver and golden slippers; there are crowns of stars and jewels and belts of gold. There are robes of spotless white and wings all bejewelled with heavenly gems. Beyond the jasper seas he will outshine the sun; the golden streets and the fruit of the tree of life are far superior to any golden apples or silver pears of a Mother Goose. In fact the negro’s fairy stories centre on heaven; the children’s definitions of heaven consisted entirely of pictures of splendor and glory. To this place the negro imagines he will go and who knows but that he may fly there?
Some o’ dese mornin’s bright an’ fair,
Way in de middle of de air;
Gwi’ hitch on my wings an’ try de air,
Way in de middle of de air.
Come over, den, John saw de holy number,
Way in de middle of de air;
John saw de holy number,
Way in de middle of de air;
If yer wanter dream dem heavenly dreams,
Way in de middle of de air;
Lay yo’ head on Jord’n’s stream,
Way in de middle of de air.
I got a book goin’ read it thru’,
Way in de middle of de air,
I got my Jesus well as you,
Way in de middle of de air.
With a golden “band all round his waist, An’ de palms ob victory in a-his hands”, the negro sings in reality: “Pray come an’ go wid me”, for so vivid is his picture that he has been known to start up a post or pillar in the church, saying, “Good bye brothers, I’m gone”. His songs make much of flying; different from that just quoted he repeats:
One mornin’ soon,
One mornin’ soon, my Lord,
One mornin’ soon,
I goin’ try the air,
I goin’ try the air,
Pray come an’ go wid me.
Well I got on my travellin’ shoes,
Well I got on my travellin’ shoes,
Well I got on my travellin’ shoes,
Pray come an’ go wid me.
He sings, too, “I goin’ to put on my long white robe”, “We’ll try on de slippah shoe an’ wear de golden belt”. Again he sings of his doings in the morning, noontime, and midnight.