If you want to be an angel in the sky, in Sheffer & Blakely’s “New Coon Done Gone” Songster (New York: Popular Publishing Co., n.d. [ca. 1886]), p. 20, HTC, songsters
Notes: “Sung by Beach and Bowers’s Minstrels.” Copyright line of 1886, though I cannot locate sheet music. Note the topical references in last verse, which is unusual for commercial spirituals. Lyrics:
Now, the parson says you’ll have to change your ways,
If you want to be an angel in the sky,
You must never take a drink, or go to a skating rink
If you want to be an angel in the sky.
If you wish to blow on your trumpet all the day,
And ride in a chariot along the milky way,
Just send for your ticket and don’t forget to pay,
If you want to be an angel in the sky.
Chorus:
Then put on your good behavior niggers,
It’s easy if you try;
Never look back when you get on the track,
If you want to be an angel in the sky,
Halleluyah, if you want to be an angel in the sky.
Now, all your life, love the mother of your wife,
If you want to be an angel in the sky,
If she talks you till you’re sick, never club her with a stick,
If you want to be an angel in the sky.
If she grabs your hair and bangs you over the floor,
Say that you like it let her do it more and more,
For she never will meet you on the golden shore,
If you want to be an angel in the sky.
Chorus
The democrats say that republicans must pray,
Or they never will be angels in the sky,
For they know they’ve lost their grip, and the democrats will stick,
And prove Cleveland an angel in the sky.
The presidential chair is filled they do declare,
With a good solid man who is brave, staunch and fair,
Jim Blaine was so “cut,” that he’s now a bad “chestnut,”
And he cannot be an angel in the sky.
John’s gone down on the island, in Callender’s Georgia Minstrels Songster (San Francisco: printed at the office of Francis & Valentine, 1878), p. 47, HTC, songsters
Notes: “Sung with rapturous applause by Billy Kersands.” Lyrics:
Lamb of goodness, shot [sic; shout] and sing,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
Children cut the pigeon wing,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
I thought I heard those children chime,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
Bless my soul, I’m just in time,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning.
Chorus: In the morning, [2x]
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
I’ve been to east, I’ve been to west,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
There goes the gal that I love best,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
Drink my coffee, drink my tea,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning;
See that yaller gal winking at me,
John’s gone down on the island in the morning.
Johnson, J. Carroll (white). Hark! Don’t you hear dem bells a ringing; or Creeping up de hill to Zion (Boston: Chas. D. Blake, 1885) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1885.14496
Notes: Words by Charlie Reed. Lyrics index spirituals, music does not in any way. One of two titles by Carroll on deposit at LC.
Anthologies (lyrics only): Hilda Thomas’ Favorite Songs (New York: Variety Publishing Co., n.d. [ca. 1885]), HTC.
Jones, George Washington. Ring dem charmin’ bells (N.p.: W. F. Shaw, 1882) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1882.08735
Notes: Jubilee song and chorus. The harmony is very unusual for a song of this type; the verse is in melodic minor but the chorus begins in relative major, cadences on III (or V of i if you relate it to the verse), then moves to VI.
Anthologies (lyrics only): Gems of Minstrel Songs, no. 1 (n.p.: W. F. Shaw, 1882), HTC, songsters; Popular Songs and Ballads, no. 1 (n.p.: W. F. Shaw, 1882), HTC, songsters.
Jones, Giveadam (pseudonym). Boost me up to glory (New York: C. H. Ditson & Co., 1887) http://jhir.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/12480
Jordan, John H. (black) Ride on, Moses (Boston: John F. Perry & Co., 1882) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1882.02782
Notes: “To James O. Crosswhite.” Plantation song & chorus. Uses internal refrain, indexes spirituals. “Ride on, Moses” probably comes from “Ride on, King Jesus.” One of 2 titles on deposit at LC.
Just like John, in Haverly’s United Mastodon Minstrels Song Book (Chicago: National Printing Co., 1880), p. 27; HTC, songsters
Notes: “Sung by Tom Sadler, with Haverly’s Mastodon Minstrels.” This seems to be a parody of the spiritual I want to be ready; or, Walk in Jerusalem just like John, which can be found in the Fisk anthologies. Lyrics:
Dey had a camp-meeting down in de swamp, / Going to Jerusalem just like John!
It was so dark dey had to light a lamp, / Going . . .
De preacher preached long, den he preached loud. / Going . . .
He preached so he scared do whole crowd, / Going . . .
Chorus:
When I die I want to be ready,
When I die I want to be ready,
When I die I want to be ready,
Going to Jerusalem just like John!
Oh, sisters, what makes you so cranky, / Going . . .
You got as much chance as Moody and Sankey. / Going . . .
When de horn blows we’ll be dar, / Going . . .
To climb upon de golded stair, / Going . . .
Kelly, Ed. Meet me at de cross roads, Hannah (New York: T.B. Harms & Co., 1887) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.award/rpbaasm.0704
Notes: Cover: “The popular end song.” Moderato. Verse in g-minor; chorus in relative major. A “crossing-over” theme. Verse structure is AABA with internal refrain, chorus uses some prosodic syncopation. The fourth verse is footnoted as an “encore verse, ad lib.”; it is about a bug and a bull frog, and the religious imagery that pervades the other verses is absent here. The piano accompaniment in the A sections of the verse consists of octaves that double the melody; this similar to many of the unharmonized calls in the Fisk Jubilee spirituals, which are sung as a solo or in unison.
Kelly, T. B. Keep dem lamps a burnin (Jersey City Heights: T. B. Kelly, 1880) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1880.03203
Notes: Jubilee song & chorus. “Respectfully dedicated to Mr. Billy Birch, of the San Francisco Minstrels N.Y.” Lyrics index spirituals. Verse begins and cadences in major; refrain begins/cadences in relative minor. Only commercial spiritual among 35 titles deposited at LC.
Kent, Frank Addis (white). Climb up, ye chillun, climb! (London: Chas. Sheard & Co., [189-?]) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.award/rpbaasm.0708
Notes: Cover: “Words by Reginald P. Forrester. Jubilee song and chorus.” Allegro. G-major. Theme is climbing a ladder to heaven. Verse form is A[abab']A, total of 16 mm, plus refrain of 16 mm (repeated). Internal refrains.
Recordings: Harry C. Browne, recorded New York, April 1917, reissued on Early Minntrel Songs Recorded 1916–1923 (British Archive of Country Music, BACM CD D 076).
Shout breddern, sisters sing! (Boston: White-Smith Music Pub. Co., 1890) http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.award/rpbaasm.1217
Notes: Words by Reginald P. Forrester. Cover: Ethiopian song and chorus. Lively tempo. F major. Internal refrain, 16-mm verse + 16-mm chorus. Despite some melodic repetition, this more closely resembles Tin Pan Alley songs in its modulation to relative minor in the middle of the verse and its more modern harmonies (use of diminished chord). Heaven portrayed as land of whiteness: “no more black folks on dat shore.”
Kernell, Harry (white). I am so glad, in The “Old Man’s Drunk Again” Songster (New York: Robert M. De Witt, 1873), p. 36, HTC, songsters.
Notes: Lyrics only. Labeled “a burlesque camp-meeting song” sung by Harry Kernell, the title may have been inspired by the spiritual I’m so glad, which was one of the earliest performed by the Fisk Jubilee Singers and appeared in the second edition of their 1872 anthology (Seward 1872b). However, the two songs differ in textual form. It is also not possible to determine whether Kernell wrote the burlesque. Although Kernell ended his career doing Irish songs and comedy in variety, he began as a blackface bones endman and specialized in plantation material, making a specialty of burlesquing spirituals (he was a Hamtown Student). He died in March 1893. Lyrics:
I am so glad, I am so glad,
When the old ship Zion was passing by.
I am so glad, oh, you will land on de Canaan shore!
You rise up in de morning,
And you look up yonder in de sky;
And dere you see the eagle’s nest,
And yar de young ones cry;
I am so glad you git to glory by-and-by.
If you get over to Jordan,
And you don’t see me over dar;
Send me a ring for a token of your love,
Likewise a lock of your hair.
I look way over yonder,
And what you ’spect I see?
A great big angel on de boom of a ship,
A beckoning along to me.
I am so glad, you get to Jordan by-and-by!
Anthologies (lyrics only): Harry Kernell’s “Eccentric Irish” Songster (New York: Robert M. De Witt, Publisher, 1875), p. 10, HTC, songsters; 3 Comets’ Songster, Casket of Gems series no. 157 (New York: New York Popular Publishing Co., n.d. [1888 or later]), p. 51, HTC, songsters
Stars in de sky, in Harry Kernell’s “Eccentric Irish” Songster (New York: Robert M. De Witt, Publisher, 1875), p. 5, HTC, songsters
Notes: “Burlesque Camp Meeting Song. – Written and sung by Harry Kernell.” Lyrics:
Gabriel, blow dat silver horn, / Oh, my hallaleuah!
We beat the debbil, sure as you’re born; / Oh, my hallaleuah!
We are going to glory by-and-by/ Oh, my hallaleuah!
We will meet de angels near the sky, / Oh, my hallaleuah!
Chorus:
De railroad train am passing through, / De world am getting out of view;
The sisters dey am going, too! / I will meet you by-and-by – by-and-by.
Every star in de sky had a number, / Number one, number two, number three;
Good Lord, by-and-by – by-and-by. / Good Lord, by-and-by.
What makes de debbil hate me so? / Oh, my hallaleuah!
He had a hold on me, but he let me go, / Oh, my hallaleuah!
So look out, sisters, and bar in mind, / Oh, my hallaleuah!
If he does catch you, he won’t treat you kind, / Oh, my hallaleuah!
Anthologies (lyrics only): The Four Eccentrics’ Songster (New York: New York Popular Publishing Co., n.d. [1881 or later]), p. 43, HTC, songsters; J. H. Haverly’s Genuine Unique Refined Minstrel Songster, Casket of Gems, no. 12 (New York: New York Popular Publishing Co., n.d. [ca. 1883], p. 29, HTC, songsters; Miss Clara Moore’s “Shamrocks, Thistle and Stars” Songster (Pittsburgh: American Publishing Co., n.d.), p. 24, HTC, songsters
Knewles, A. G. If an angel you’d become, in Sheffer & Blakely’s “New Coon Done Gone” Songster (New York: Popular Publishing Co., n.d. [ca. 1886]), p. 19, HTC, songsters
Notes: “Sung with great applause by Bill Barlow. Of Barlow Bros. and Frost’s Minstrels. Written and composed by A. G. Knewles, to be had at all music stores.” Lyrics:
Now sinners you must mind your P’s and Q’s / If an angel you’d become.
And don’t spend your money on oyster stews, / If an angel you’d become.
When the grim angel death comes a riding through the town,
You want to be ready with your bonnet and your gown,
To sneak right up when the trumpet sounds, / If an angel you’d become.
Chorus:
Everybody wants to be one,
It’s better to work than lay in wait,
For the angel to come out of the golden gate,
It might not open till it was too late.
For you an angel to become, an angel to become.
Now sinners you mustn’t get desperate, / If an angel you’d become.
Remember it is never too late, / If an angel you’d become.
But it don’t do to change every quarter like the moon,
And curse like a trooper every time you miss a coon,
For that ain’t religion you can’t shake it too soon, / If an angel you’d become.