Source: Sylvia Cannon, ex-slave, age 85, Florence. S. C.
Personal interview by H. Grady Davis and Mrs.
Lucile Young, and written up in question and
answer form. Rewritten in story form by Annie Ruth
Davis.
FUNERAL SONG
Star in de east en star in de west,
I wish de star was in my breast.
Mother is home, sweet home,
Mother is home, sweet home,
Want to join de angel here.
What a blessed home, sweet home,
What a blessed home, sweet home,
Want to join de angel here.
(You can sing bout father, brother, sister en all.)
Sylvia Cannon,
Ex-Slave, age 85,
May 21, 1937,
Florence, S. C.
FUNERAL SONG
Come ye dat love de Lord,
En let your joys be known.
Hark from de tomb,
En hear my tender voice.
By de grace of God I'll meet you
On Canaan Happy Shore.
Oh, mother, where will I meet you on Canaan Happy Shore?
En by de grace of God I'll meet you on Canaan Happy Shore.
(Shaking hands, marching around grave. White en Colored marched from church to graveyard. Old people in de ox cart en young people walking. Didn' have coffins like dey do now. Build de coffin en black it wid smut. Blacksmith make de nails. Could see in de box.)
Sylvia Cannon,
Ex-Slave, age 85,
May 21, 1937,
Florence, S. C.