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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Camp Song, Girl Scouts
This song is used as a grace
before each meal at camp.
Hark to the chimes
Come bow your heads
We thank the Lord
For this good bread.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Holly ; Holly
Date learned: 07-00-1983
Camp Songs, Girl Scouts
This song is used internationally
to proclaim the ending of an activity, day, or at a funeral
Day is done, gone the sun,
from the lakes, from the hills, from the skies,
all is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Innisfree ; Howell
Date learned: 08-00-1990
THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"SOMEWHERE IN THE FORMATION OF MY DAD'S FAMILY TRADITIONS,
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN AUGUST BECAME FAMILY REUNION DAY. ALL THE
KINFOLK WOULD GATHER AT THE ANCESTRAL FARM ON STATION CAMP CREEK
SOUTH OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY FROM ALL POINTS OF THE COUNTRY.
EVERYONE WOULD ARRIVE LADEN WITH BASKETS OF FRIED CHICKEN, POTATO
SALAD, GREEN BEANS, CORN BREAD, APPLE, BLUEBERRY, BLACKBERRY,
POTATO, AND CHERRY PIES, JUGS OF ICED TEA, AND COOLERS OF POP.
BUT BEFORE ANY OF THIS BANQUET WAS SET OUT, WE HAD TO HAVE
SERVICE. THE OLD TOBACCO DRYING BARN BECAME OUR TABERNACLE. ANY
OF THE MINISTERS AMONG US, AND THERE WERE USUALLY THREE OR FOUR,
WERE CALLED UPON TO HANDLE PRAYIN' AND PREACHIN'; AND EACH FAMILY
WAS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE WITH A "SPECIAL NUMBER." BY MY TIME,
THESE "SPECIAL NUMBERS" HAD BECOME STANDARD HYMNS HEARD ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTRY. BUT MY UNCLE TAUGHT ME ONE WHICH HAD BEEN A
FAVORITE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG-UN:
"IN A LONELY CHURCHYARD MANY MILES AWAY
LIES A DEAR OLD MOTHER NEATH THE COLD, COLD CLAY.
MEM'RIES OFT RETURNING OF HER TEARS AND SIGHS
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES.
LISTEN TO HER PLEADING, "WANDERIN' ONE COME HOME,"
EARNESTLY ENTREATING, "DO NO LONGER ROAM."
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE WAKEN, HEAVENWARD LIFT YOUR EYES.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES."
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE
Date learned: 00001940S
THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"IN MY MID-TEENS, I WAS FINAGLED INTO TEACHING VACATION BIBLE
SCHOOL. WE THEN LIVED IN A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY EAST OF
CINCINNATI, OHIO. ONE OF THE RETIRED GENTLEMEN FROM OUR CHURCH
PICKED UP MY MOM, MY SIBLINGS, A COUPLE OF OTHER KIDS FROM DOWN
THE ROAD AND ME EVERY MORNING IN HIS OVERTURNED BATHTUB--THAT'S
WHAT HIS HUDSON MOTOR CAR LOOKED LIKE TO US.
ONCE AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, WE HAD OUR LITTLE LESSONS AND
CRAFTS FOR THE DAY; AND OF COURSE SONGS--MOST OF WHICH HAD
ACCOMPANYING HAND MOTIONS. THE ONLY ONE I REMEMBER IN ITS
ENTIRETY WAS THIS ONE--YOU'LL HAVE TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION SUPPLY
THE HAND MOTIONS:
"ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A LITTLE SLING
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT HE COULD PRAY AND SING.
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, ONLY A RIPPLING BROOK
ONLY A BOY NAMED DAVID, BUT FIVE LITTLE STONES HE TOOK.
AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE SLING
AND THE SLING WENT ROUND AND ROUND
AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND AND
ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND
AND ONE LITTLE STONE WENT INTO THE AIR AND THE GIANT CAME
TUMBLING DOWN."
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER SOME THE HAND MOTIONS FROM WHEN MY MOM SANG THIS TO
ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. THEY ARE PANTOMIMES OF DAVID, THE SLING,
AND THE ACTION OF PICKING UP THE STONES IN THE FIRST STANZA. THE
SECOND STANZA FEATURES THE SWINGING ACTION OF THE SLING AND THE
MOTION OF FALLING LIKE THE GIANT.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): FINAGLE FENAGLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 00001950S
THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"IN MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, THE GIRLS GLEE CLUB
PERFORMED THREE FRENCH CAROLS AT OUR CHRISTMAS CONCERT. I HAVE
NOT HEARD ANY OF THE CAROLS SINCE, BUT I LIKED ONE SO WELL THAT I
MADE AN EFFORT TO REMEMBER IT, AND I SANG IT TO MY DAUGHTERS WHEN
THEY WERE SMALL:
"ONCE UPON A WINTER'S NIGHT MANY YEARS AGO IT'S TOLD
WHEN THE WIND WAS AT ITS HEIGHT
AND THE SNOW WAS DEEP AND COLD,
INTO BETHLEHEM DID RIDE GENTLE MARY ON A BEAST WITH JOSEPH
WALKING BY HER SIDE
SEEKING SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT.
COLD AND WEARY FROM THEIR FLIGHT, AT AN INN THEY SOUGHT A
BED
BUT THE KEEPER SCORNED THEIR PLIGHT
`THERE'S NO ROOM TONIGHT,' HE SAID,
`FOR POOR FOLK WHO CANNOT PAY
FOR THE KING OF ALL THE LAND WILL SOON PASS THIS WAY.'
SO THEY TURNED BACK TO THE NIGHT.
HAVE YOU NOT BEEN TOLD THE NEWS
THAT TONIGHT WILL PASS THIS WAY
THE MESSIAH OF THE JEWS--HE WILL COME IN FULL ARRAY
SING HOSANNAH, HOSANNAH, HOSANNAH IN EXCELSIS--OH SING
HOSANNAH TO HIS NAME.
BUT THEY SOON DID COME IN SIGHT OF A LOWLY HOUSE AHEAD
AND WERE WELCOMED BY THE LIGHT OF THEIR HUMBLE HOST WHO
SAID,
`ENTER IN AND SHARE MY ROOF. I CAN OFFER YOU THE STABLE
THERE WITH STRAW AND HAY ENOUGH. FIND YE COMFORT FOR
THE NIGHT.'
IN THAT STABLE WARM AND BRIGHT, WITH THE OXEN STANDING BY
CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT
AND THE ANGELS IN THE SKY
SANG THEIR SONG WITH GLADSOME VOICE
`HALLELUJAH! PEACE ON EARTH! NOEL! LET EVERYONE REJOICE!
SING WE ALL THIS CHRISTMAS NIGHT!"
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Festival CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Songs, caroling |
On Christmas Eve, we sing Menybol az Angyal, a Hungarian
religious song that announces the arrival of the Christmas Tree
brought by the angels.
Submitter comment: My mother learned this from her mother in the 1940's
Where learned: HUNGARY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree BELIEF -- Angel |
Date learned: 00001940S
A Negro Spiritual: "I Need Thee Every Hour"
I need thee every hour most gracious Lord;
No ten-der voice like thine can peace af-ford:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee!
I need thee ev-ery hour, stay thou near by;
Temp-ta-tions lose their power when thou art nigh:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.
I need thee ev-ery hour, in joy or pain;
Come quick-ly and abide, or life is vain:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.
I need thee ev-ery hour most Ho-ly One;
O make me thine indeed, thou bless-ed son:
I need thee, O I need thee.
O bless me now my Sav-ior.
I come to thee.
Submitter comment:
This is a very special song. My mother would sing it in the
kitchen and I would find myself humming it in the other room.
Now I sing it in the kitchen and I've heard my daughter humming
it in the other room.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
SONG:RELIGIOS, NEGRO
(1) LORD, HE THOUGHT HE'D MAKE HIM A MAN.
DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN.
TOOK A LITTLE WATER AND TOOK A LITTLE SAND.
DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN.
I KNOWED IT, KNOWED IT
INDEED, I KNOWED IT BROTHER.
I KNOWED IT, WELL
DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN.
(2) THOUGHT HE'D MAKE HIM A WOMAN TOO.
(REPEAT DEM BONES...., AS IN FIRST VERSE)
DIDN'T KNOW 'ZACTLY WHAT TO DO.
(3) TOOK A RIB FROM ADAM'S SIDE.
MADE MISS EVE FOR TO BE HIS BRIDE.
(4) PUT THEM IN A GARDEN FAIR.
THOUGHT THEY'D BE CONTENTED THERE.
(5) APPLED, PEACHES, PEARS, AND SUCH.
BUT THIS TREE YOU MUST NOT TOUCH.
(6) ROUND THAT TREE OLD SATAN SLUNK.
AT MISS EVE HIS EYES HE WUNK.
(7) FIRST HE TOOK THE ONE HE PULL.
THEN SHE FILLED HER APRON FULL.
(8) NEXT DAY WHEN THE LORD CAME 'ROUND.
SAW 'DEM CORES ALL OVER THE GROUND.
(9) ADAM, ADAM, WHERE ART THOU?
RIGHT HERE, LORD, I'M COMIN NOW.
(10) ADAM, WHO THEM CORES DID LEAVE...
T'WEREN'T ME, LORD, MUST A BEEN EVE.
(11) ADAM YOU MUST LEAVE THIS PLACE.
WAT YOU'VE DONES' A TERRIBLE DISGRACE.
(12) HE GAVE 'EM A HOE, AND HE GAVE 'EM A PLOW.
AND DAT'S DE REASON WE'S A WORKIN' NOW.
(13) TO THIS STORY THERE AIN'T NO MORE.
EVE GOT THE APPLE, BUT ADAM GOT THE CORE.
Submitter comment: DEM BONES: SUNG AT GIRLS' SCOUT CAMP IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Where learned: PEABODY COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Date learned: 06-19-1972
Now lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Submitter comment:
Told by mother.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
What a Friend
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear all because we did not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptationi? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious savior still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In his arms he'll take and shield thee, thou will find a solace there.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Religious Custom
This man's mother (a Lithuanian) had a large book which had belonged to the family for generations. Originally, he first missionaries had made books for the new Christian people. These books contained many hymns and songs, through which the missionaries taught the central mysteries of the Christian faith. Before going to bed, the mother of the family would always sing the song of the Seven Sorrows and the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Down at the Cross
Down at the cross where my savior died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried, there to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to his name.
I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so quietly abides within, there at the cross where he took in; Glory to his name.
O precious fountain that saves from sin, I am so glad I have entered in, there Jesus saves me and keeps me clean; Glory to his name.
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet, cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet, plunge in today and be made complete; Glory to his name.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Silent Night, Holy Night
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at they birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name?
Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God?
Sure I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy word.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Religious Song
A certain religious sect chant "Jesus" over and over until they felt they have made connection with him.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
All Night, All Day
Chorus:
All night, all day, angels watching over me, My Lord.
All night, all day, angels watching over me.
Now I lay me down to sleep, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
If I should die before I wake, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord.
I pray the Lord my soul to take,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John, Oh, Lordy,
Angels watching over me, My Lord.
Bless this bed that I lay on,
Angels watching over me.
Chorus
Submitter comment:
Learned in Girl Scouts and from friends who attended CYO camps.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are likely the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; Girl Scouts
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Here We Are
Here we are, all together as we sing our song, joyfully.
Here we are, joined together as we pray we'll always be.
(Learned at St. Theresa Grade School. It is often sung at Bible School gatherings, at Young Christian Students meetings, etc.)
Data entry tech comment:
Informants and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: informant's home ; St. Theresa Grade School
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
God Is Love
God is Love. And he who abides in love, abides in God; and God in him.
Submitter comment:
I remember this song from Bible School at St. Theresa.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL 319
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Jesus Is All
Jesus is all this world to me
My life, my strength, my all
He gives me strength from day to day
Without him I would fall
When I am sad to him I go
No other one can cheer me so
When I am sad
He makes me glad
He's my friend.
Submitter comment:
Spiritual song.
This song is sung very slow and with great feeling. Many times it is sung when one is sad or depressed. It is sung at church too in the same slow way.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 5235 25TH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
I Made a Vow
I made a vow to the Lord
and I won't take it back
I made a vow to the Lord
and I won't take it back
I made a vow to the Lord
and I won't take it back
I made a vow, made a vow
and I won't take it back.
Submitter comment:
Spritual song.
This song is usually led by one person; then everyone else follows in by saying "I won't take it back." Many times the leader changes words around or places different words in the song.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 5235 25TH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |