The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-05-02

Some Typical Religious AIRS sung at the
Atlanta E1position-"Rise and Shine"
.swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and All the
Old FavorItes Given by Negro Chorus.
The recent congress on Africa at the
Atlanta exposition presented some new
and unusual aspects. 1t also presented
some things which to the people who
know the negro in the south are not
new. and among these things was the
music. While the proceedings Of the
gathering were strongly characterized
Nv a riDeness of thought and culture
creditable 10 the race, the musical fea-.
ture was made up of those primitive ne
GRO melodies which bear the stamp of
the negro imagination and which are
peculiarly suited to the expression Of the
religious feelings Of the race.
These songs are African in their orr.
gin and mold. They were written by ne
proes and are strong types Of the music
al literature Of the people. AS such it is
encouraging to note that the intelligent
minds which directed the congress fully
appreciated them. The singing Of the
songs was feature of the congress.
They were sung by an appreciative choir
of energetic students of one Of the pro-
pressive colored schools.
The airs are the popular church airs
of the negroes-the race generally. OF
course the city churches do not use
them so much, but throughout the south
they are sung by the colored people.
The more polished and ambitious efforts
of the negroes are far less popular with
the race The songs Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot" "Steal Way" Rise and
Shine, Brother, " "I'm A-rolling, ""He
Rose From the Dead" and othens are ia
miliar to nearly every grown up member
of the race. The rendition Of these songs
proved to be a striking feature of the
congress-
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is
one of the most popular of all the songs.
Follow the drift:
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
l looked over Jordan and what did see,
Coming for to carry me homer
A band Of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.
If YOU get there before do,
Coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I'm coming too.
Coming for to carry me home.
I'm sometimes up and sometimes down.
Coming for to carry me home,
But still my soul feels heavenly bound,
Comiag for to carry me home.
"Steal Away" is scarcely less popu-
lar. A few sample verses;
Steal away, steal away,
Steal away to Jesrsl
Steal away, steal away home
hahn got long to stay here.
Ny Lord calls me,
He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds it in my soul
hain't got long TO stay here.
Green trees are bending,
Poor sinners stand trembling:
The trumpet sounds it in my soul
hain't got long to stay here.
Tombstones are bursting
Poor sinners are trcmbling
The trumpet sounds it in my soul
haint got long to stay here.
IN A ROLLING Is another VI tne
typical melodies, running:
I'm a-rolling. Tn a-rolling,
I'm n-rollinR thro' un unfriendly world.
I'm a-rolling, I'm a-rolling,
I'm arolling thro' an unfriendly world.
brothers, won't you help me,
sisters. won't you help me to pray,
o preachers. won't you help me TO fight,
Won't you help me in the service Of the
Lord?
The song that stirs up the religious
activities of the race more than any 9TH
err perhaps is Rise and Shine. IL Is
sung universally. 1t runs:
o brethren rise and shine and give God the
glory, glory;
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory;
Rise and shine and give God the glory for the
year of jubilee.
Don't you want TO lie soldier, soldier, sol
der, soldierf
Don't you want to be soldier soldier sol
der?
Don't you want TO be a soldier, soldier for th'
year of jubilee?
Do You think will make u soldier
For the year of jubileef
Yes, think you will make soldier
sor the year OF jubilee.
Atlanta Constitution.