NEGRO SPIRITUAL, RAG, ... TO JAZZ

A definitive look at the progression from the Spiritual singing in the fields of cotton, to rag, improvizational of both, into JAZZ, ... one of the greatest forms of purely American music to come out of "The South," in and around New Orleans.

Show me a song with "Dem" in it, and I will show you a Spiritual song. There are lots of examples of "Negro Spirituals," and when you look them up using google, be sure and add the word "Negro." Here is one that is long, and I have it memorized. Sisters and brothers, this "ain't" no "White Mens song. How can you tell?

(Picture is Randy Matthews, doing his thing with Christian music, and he's songs are Spiritually inspired.)
Dem Bones

Chorus:
I know it brother brother,
Indeed I know it brother, I know it HEY!
Dem bones gonna rise again

The lord he thought he'd make a man.
DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN!
So he made Adam cordin' to a plan.
DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN!

Repeat chorus:

Thought he'd make a woman too.
The Lord didn't know just what to do.
Took a rib from Adam's side.
For to make Miss Eve, his bride.

Repeat chorus

Put 'em in a garden wide and fair.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Told 'em to eat what they found there.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Peaches, pears, plums and such.
Dem bones gonna rise again
But the apple tree you better not touch.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

One day Miss Eve was walking around
Dem bones gonna rise again
.Spied that tree all loaded down.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Serpent crawling around that trunk.
Dem bones gonna rise again
At miss Eve, his eye he wunk.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Eve, she just took a little pull.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Then she filled her fig leaf full.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Adam, he just took a little bite.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Said um'um woman that sure am nice.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

One day the Lord was walking around.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Spied them peels all over the ground.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

The Lord cried out in his mighty voice.
Dem bones gonna rise again
That shook the heavens to the joists.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Cried, Adam, Adam, Where art though?
Dem bones gonna rise again
Here I is Lord, I's comin' now.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Adam, Adam, did you eat these?
Dem bones gonna rise again
No massa Lord, I 'spect it was Eve.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Then the Lord rose up in his might wrath,
Dem bones gonna rise again
Said ya'll just beat it down the path.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Put an angel at the door.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Said ya'll don't come 'round here no more.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

Eve took the needle, Adam took the plow.
Dem bones gonna rise again
That's why we're all working now.
Dem bones gonna rise again

Repeat chorus

To this tale there ain't no more.
Dem bones gonna rise again
Eve got the Apple, and Adam got the core.
Dem bones gonna rise again

I have been singing this song for ever. It's not easy to memorize, since it is very long. The Boy Scouts think this song is written for them.

SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT

Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: If you get there before I do
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: Tell all my friends, I’m coming too
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home

WADE IN THE WATER (This one is on order. Staple Family)

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water
God's a-going to trouble the water

See that host all dressed in white
God's a-going to trouble the water
The leader looks like the Israelite
God's a-going to trouble the water

See that band all dressed in red
God's a-going to trouble the water
Looks like the band that Moses led
God's a-going to trouble the water

Look over yonder, what do you see?
God's a-going to trouble the water
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me
God's a-going to trouble the water

If you don't believe I've been redeemed
God's a-going to trouble the water
Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream
God's a-going to trouble the water

Yet another.

Lyrics for Song: God's Gonna Cut You Down
Lyrics for Album: American V: A Hundred Highways
You can run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.

Go and tell that long tongue liar,
Go and tell that midnight rider,
Tell the rambiler, the gambler, the back biter,
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down.

Well my goodness gracious,
Let me tell you the news.
My heads been wet with the midnight dew.
I've been down on bended knee,
Talkin to the man from Galiee.
He spoke to me in a voice so sweet,
I thought I heard the shuffle of angels feet.
He called my name and my heart stood still,
When He said "John go do my will"

Go and tell that long tongue liar,
Go and tell that midnight rider,
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter,
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down.

You can run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.

You can throw your rock, hide your hand,
Workin in the dark against your fellow man.
But as sure as God made black and white,
What's done in the dark,
Will be brought to the light.

You can run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.
Sooner, or later, God'll cut you down.

Go and tell that long tongue liar,
Go and tell that midnight rider,
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter,
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down.

Please notice the repetition in all of the above. These are definitely Spirituals, and definitely were written to be sung in parts. In our choir, we practice on these kinds of songs. I have sung many of them.

I shall, I shall, I shall not be moved.
I shall, I shall, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree standing near the water.
I shall not be moved.

It's a short jump from these improvised songs, to music, which starts with a musical theme and explores it by each member of the band. A good jazz song could last for 15 or 20 minutes.