Religious Folk-Songs of the Southern Negroes Part 2

When I got dere Cap'n satan wus dere.

Sayin' "Young man, dere's no use to pray, For Jesus is daid an' G.o.d gone away."

An' I made 'im out a liar an' went on my way.

With these pictures and warnings the negro song gives a final bit of advice. "If you ain't got de grace ob G.o.d in yo' heart, den de debbil will git you sho'", then the singer rests securely in the knowledge that _he_ is filled with the grace that holds against the devil.

"King Jesus" was the original name most commonly given to Christ in the spirituals. Besides this He was the bosom friend of the negro. He comes in to intercept satan and to save the individual from h.e.l.l. He is very real and no one is more vividly described than He. He bears many relations to his people.

Now my Jesus bein' so good an' kind, My Jesus lowered his mercy down, An' s.n.a.t.c.h me from de doors of h.e.l.l, An' took me in with him to dwell.

Oh, Jesus tole you once befo'

To go in peace and sin no mo'.

I heard o' my Jesus many one say, Could move po' sinner's sins away.

Den Jesus he come ridin' by, Gib me wings to ride an' fly.

Jesus Christ the first and las', _No man wuks lak him_; He built a platform in de air, He meets de saints from eve'where.

Virgin Mary had one son, The cruel Jews had him hung.

Me an' my Jesus goin' live at ease, Me an' my Jesus goin' do as we please.

If you want er die like Jesus died, Fold yo' arms an' clasp yo' eyes.

I tell you breth'ren an' I tell you twist, My soul done anch.o.r.ed in Jesus Christ.

Up on de hillside King Jesus spoke, Out of his mouth come fire an' smoke.

Yer say yo' Jesus set you free; Why don't you let yo' neighbors be?

Other shorter lines give equally concrete pictures and mention equally definite attributes.

You'll see my Jesus come to wake up de nations underground.

King Jesus died for every man.

An' de son He set me free.

I got my Jesus as well as you.

If you want to see Jesus go in de wilderness.

Gwine serve my Jesus till I die.

I call my Jesus king Emanuel.

He pluck my feet out'n de miry clay.

He sot dem on de firm rock of age.

Christ hab bought yo' liberty.

King Jesus' settin' in de kingdom.

De win' blow eas' an' de win' blow wes' from Jesus.

Oh yonder comes my Jesus, I know him by his s.h.i.+nin'.

Hear my Jesus when he call you? Hear my Jesus callin'?

I'm goin' to hebben where my Jesus dwell.

O I walk and talk with Jesus.

Jesus loosen de man frum under de groun'.

Jesus ain't comin' here to die no mo'.

The son of man he dunno where to lay his weary head.

See what wonder Jesus done: Jesus make dumb to speak.

Jesus make de cripple walk.

Jesus gib de blin' deir sight.

Jesus do mos' anything.

I want to do (or die) like Jesus.

Jesus stan' on de udder side Jordan.

Jesus settin' on de water side.

Jesus is our captain, Jesus got de h.e.l.lum.

Jesus mount (ride) a milk-white hoss.

You had better follow Jesus.

Daddy Peter set out for Jesus.

Jesus will bring you milk an' honey.

Mas' Jesus is my bosom friend.

Gwine follow King Jesus, I really do believe.

King Jesus he was so strong, my Lord, till he jar down de walls ob h.e.l.l.

Gwine to write to my Jesus.

King Jesus settin' in de heaven.

King Jesus on de mountain top.

O Jesus is a mighty man. Ride in kind Jesus, who set po' sinner free.

For Jesus came an' lock de do'.

De Jews kill po' Jesus.

Jesus call you--Jesus waitin'.

I wus los' in de wilderness; Jesus hand me de candle down.

Mas' Jesus gib me little broom fer to sweep my heart clean.

Jesus fed me when I was hungry, he clothed me when I was naked, he gave me drink when I was dry.

Jesus rose an' flew away on Sunday morning.

Christ was there four thousand years ago, drinking of the wine.

Jesus he wore the starry crown. Did you see Jesus when he wore the starry crown?

Jesus he wore long white robe.

King Jesus speaks an' de chariot stops.

King Jesus is the Rock.

Well did you say you love Jesus?

Jesus done bless my soul an' gone to glory.

Won't you ride on Jesus? O yes.

I look fer Jesus all o' my days.

Jesus is a listening all the day long.

The scenes of the crucifixion seem to impress the negroes very forcibly and their songs abound in references to His suffering. Some of these expressions are full of feeling, and are touching in their sentiment.

They nail my Jesus down They put him on the crown of thorn (th.o.r.n.y crown).

O see my Jesus hangin' high!

He look so pale an' bleed so free: O don't you think it was a shame, He hung three hours in dreadful pain?

Next to Jesus and often synonymous with Him is G.o.d. He is "My Lord", "My G.o.d", "Lord G.o.d-er-mighty", and "king Jehobah", and represents the personal G.o.d and the ruler of the world.

Upon de mountain Jehobah spoke, Out o' his mouth come fire an' smoke.