St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-03-02
Something To
Think About
By Maurice F. White

moving song.
Steal Away, Steal away,
Steal away to Jesus;
Steal away, Steal away home
I amt got long to stay here.
1. My Lord calls me, He calls
me by the thunder; The trumpet
sounds with in-a-my soul, I amt
got long to stay here.
2. Green trees are bending, poor
sinner stands a trembling etc.
3. My Lord calls me, He calls
me by the lightnin; etc.
AS I stated last week, all the
evidence points to Nat Turner, the
Negro insurrectionist, as being the
author of STEAL Away.
Also, pointed out that contrary
to popular opinion not all spirituals
were created for religious music
although religious Technology was
used. I wrote that while some
spirituals were originated by lay
preachers for their congregations,
many were created for a specific
purpose. "Steal Away" is one of
those special purpose songs.
Since Nat Turner was a hay
preacher, it is conceivable that he
wrote STEAL Away" primarily as
worship song. However, when
one compares the thoughts en-
bodied in STEAL Away" to Nat
Turner's life and environment one
can not help but see that he had
another purpose in mind.
The times were hard for the
slaves. They were being beaten
and lynched to pacify the whims of
the Shareholders. They had to be
terrorized to keep them from seek
ing escape. The slaves had to live in
dark dirty huts and had to scratch
for their food. While up at the
big house, the master and his
family were eating fried chicken,
sweet yams, greens and corn bread
Although they were slaves, the
men still wanted their sons and
daughters to have pretty clothes,
shoes and a clean place to live
like the masters children. These
were the things Nat Turner saw
and wanted to change.
Not only that but, many of the
customs and traditions that those
proud black people had brought
with them from their home in
Africa were outlawed. Nothing that
smacked of Africa was allowed.
Such things as being able to dress
up in bright pretty clothes on Sun
day for worship and gathering to-
gether in their secret meetings or
camp meetings as they were later
called was labeled taboo by their
masters.
Nat Turner felt he had to do
something. In "Steal Away" he
tells why he had to lead that slave
revolt in Southampton County,
Virginia Nat Turner q. was in
quandary how else to act when
his personal Lord was calling him
like a patrol officer with a trum-
pet by the thunder by the light
ening, by green trees, bending
at will, and by signs of the judge
ment."
When it was necessary to call
his followers together, Nat Turner
would begin singing his song.
Steal Away, Steal away
Steal away, to Jesus
Steal away, Steal Away home
amt got long to stay here.
Wherever he was - in the field
or passing by a shack where one
of his followers lived, the song
would be picked up and relayed
from plantation to plantation.
The Shareholders would hear the
song but none knew its meaning.
To them the "Niggers" were just
singing again.
In the song Nat Turner told his
followers to steal away or a better
Interpretation might be slip away.
Slip away from the fields, from
the dirty shacks, from the sight of
the master and meet with me
your benefactor. (In spirituals
Jesus referred not to the "Son of
God" but anyone whom the slaves
considered their benefactor) Since
secret meetings of this sort were
illegal, Nat Turner knew that If
he was caught being the leader,
death was his fate. II amt got
long to stay here"
Listening to spirituals with a
religious ear they have meaning,
but listening to spirituals with a
historical ear they have far more
meaning.
I want to thank all of those who
have expressed their delight with
having a gospel music broadcast
originating from the Twin Cities.
However, this is only an expert
ment and the continuation of such
a program is highly dependent
upon some ascertainable audience
response.
That is, it will help a great deal
if you would place your comments
on a post card or in a letter and
send them to Radio Station KEVE.
If this is not possible, telephone
call to the radio station (LI. g.
56O1) or especially to the sponsors