While the negro sings, he sees the ship reelin’ an’ rockin’, and repeats these phrases enough and in a rhythmic manner, so that he imitates the imagined motion of the ship. The other stanzas of the song are practically the same as those of the earlier days.
O my Lord, shall I be the one?
O my Lord, shall I be the one?
O my Lord, shall I be the one?
Makin’ for the promise lan’?
Yes, ’tis that good ole ship of Zion, of Zion,
Yes, ’tis that good ole ship of Zion, of Zion,
Yes, ’tis that good ole ship of Zion,
Makin’ for the promise lan’.
O the ship is heavy loaded, loaded, loaded,
Makin’ for the promise lan’.
It’s loaded with many er thousand, thousand, thousand,
Makin’ fer the promise lan’.
“This ole worl’s a rollin’” is most likely a figure of the ship and modelled on the same song. However, it conveys a different idea, one of judgment and the end of the world. The negro sings:
Well the ole worl’ is a rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
Yes, the ole worl’ is rollin’, rollin’ away.
Well ain’t you goin’ to get ready?
Yes, ain’t you goin’ to get ready? for it’s rollin’ away.
Well get on board little children, children, children,
Well get on board, for this ole worl’s rollin’ away.
He sings for the sinner, mourner, and all his friends and relatives to get on board the world as she rolls away. It reminds one somewhat of the song once current among the negroes: “O de ole ferry boat stan’ a-waitin’ at de landin’, Chilluns we’se all gwine home”. The same feeling of motion and the end of the world as is indicated in the moving of the train, ship, and the world itself is also reflected in the opening of the graveyards and the rolling of the hearse wheel. The same rhythmic effect of motion and words give a strikingly appropriate attitude to the singer.
O the lightening flashin’ an’ the thunder rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
O the lightening flashin’ an’ thunder rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
O the light’ning flashin’ an’ thunder rollin’,
Lawd, I know my time ain’t long; Lawd, I know my time ain’t long.
The hearse wheel rollin’ an’ graveyard openin’, openin’, openin’,
The hearse wheel rollin’ an’ graveyard openin’, openin’, openin’,
The hearse wheel rollin’ an’ the graveyard openin’,
Lawd, I know my time ain’t long, my time ain’t long.
And very much like the above song is “Every Day”. However, it is so similar to other songs that one concludes that it is only a putting together of what the singer already knew. The Bahama negroes have a song, “If hev’ry day was judgment day”, that is almost exactly the same in meaning as this one. The song, however, is a powerful one and seems to be gaining in popularity.
Well the hearse wheel rollin’,
Every day, every day,
Carryin’ yo’ brother to the graveyard,
Every day, every day—move, Zion, move.
Well ain’t it a pity, pity?
Every day, every day,
Well ain’t it a pity, ain’t it a pity?
Every day, every day, move, Zion, move.
Well they’re carryin’ a sinner, sinner,
Every day, every day,
Yes, they’re carryin’ a sinner,
Every day, every day, move, Zion, move.
Move, Zion, move, for you got to go to judgment,
Every day, every day,
Move, Zion, move, for you got to go to judgment,
Every day, every day, move, Zion, move.
The getting of mail, and especially of letters, usually means much to the negroes; perhaps simply because they receive little mail. To have a letter from a distinguished person is superlative honor and the recipient usually makes the fact known generally. Just how the negro conceived of receiving letters from God, or why he imagined the angels and apostles as writing letters does not appear clear. One gets a letter, another reads it; one writes a letter and all know its contents. Such a reference is found in a number of songs, that serve as a warning or admonition.
Well my mother got a letter, O yes,
Well she could not read it, O yes,
What you reckon that letter said?
That she didn’t have long to stay here.
Won’t you come, won’t you come?
Won’t you come an’ get ready to die?
Won’t you come, for my Lord is callin’ you?
How do you know that my Lord is callin’, O yes?
If you look at this letter, O yes,
You see it come from the Hebrews, O yes,
Won’t you come, for my Lord is callin’ you.