mp3 file of a piano version
Down in Alabam’
(Aint I Glad I Got Out de Wilderness)
Words & music: J. Warner (?)
(published by Wm. Hall & Son, N. Y., 1858)
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/down-in-alabam-original-minstrel-lyrics-.aspx
Down in Alabam ( Ain’t I glad I Got Out de Wilderness)
Old-Time, Breakdown. USA Words & music: J. Warner published by Wm. Hall & Son, N. Y.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes DATE: 1858.
RECORDING INFO: See: "Old Grey Mare, The”
OTHER NAMES: "Out of the Wilderness," "The White Horse." The original melody of the tune now better known as "The Old Grey Mare (Came Out of the Wilderness)," which begins: The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be- "Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness," "Johnny Stole a Ham," "Old Yeller Dog," "Old Blind Dog."
SOURCES: "The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. A related tune is "Old Blind Dog." Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner remembered the tune as a hoedown in the Southwest, c. 1900." (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
NOTES: "G Major. Standard. AABB The original minstrel version of "The Old Grey Mare (Came Out of the Wilderness)." It is likely that the tune is older than the 1858 date since it closely resembles a contemporary revivalist hymn--they may have had a common folk ancestor. Bayard (1981) calls it a good example of a popular tune which became traditional (or, if it was a traditional tune reworked by Warner, then a folk tune which became a popular one, which again reverted to folk form). Mark Wilson relates that a parody figured prominently in the famous Lincoln-Douglas campaign of 1860, probably the "Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness" version popular in Civil War times." (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc).
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=11138
Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN IN ALABAM
From: Q
Date: 28 May 05 - 12:30 AM
Lyr. Add: Down in Alabam
(or: Ain't I Glad I Got Out de Wilderness)
Melody by J. Warner, 1858
Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN IN ALABAM
From: Q
Date: 28 May 05 - 12:30 AM
Lyr. Add: Down in Alabam
(or: Ain't I Glad I Got Out de Wilderness)
Melody by J. Warner, 1858
Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
My old massa he's got the dropser, um,
he's got the dropser, um,
he's got the dropser, um,
He am sure to die 'kase he's got no doctor, um,
Down in Alabam'.
Chorus:
Ain't I glad I got out de wilderness,
Got out de wilderness,
Got out de wilderness,
Ain't I glad I got out de wilderness
Down in Alabam'.
Old blind horse come from Jerusalem,
Come from Jerusalem,
Come from Jerusalem
He kicks so high dey put him in de museum,
Down in Alabam'.
Dis am a holiday, we hab assembled, um,
We hab assembled, um,
We hab assembled, um
To dance and sing for de ladies and gentleum,
Down in Alabam'.
Far you well to de wild goose nation,
Wild goose nation,
Wild goose nation,
I neber will leab de old plantation,
Down in Alabam'.
"Ethiopian Refrain as sung by Bryant's Minstrels. Melody by J. Warner
harmonized and arranged by Walter Meadows."
Published by Wm. Hall & Son, New York. 1858.
This seems to be the original that spawned many parodies and folk variants, both black and white.
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=31024 Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brave boys died, down in Alabam...
Subject: Lyr Add: GO IN THE WILDERNESS
From: raredance
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 11:09 PM
This song is from "Slave songs of the United States" by Allen, Ware and Garrison first published in 1867 (reprinted once in 1929 and again in the 1960's by Oak Publications, the latter with upgraded musical arrangements) Essentially the same song was printed more recently in "Slave Songs" compiled by Jerry Silverman (Chelsea House 1994)
GO IN THE WILDERNESS
If you want to find Jesus, go in the wilderness,
Go in the wilderness, go in the wilderness,
Mournin' brudder, go in de wilderness,
I wait upon de Lord.
CH:
I wait upon de Lord, I wait upon de Lord,
I wait upon de Lord, my God, who take away de sin of the world.
You want to be a Christian, go in the wilderness,
Go in the wilderness, go in the wilderness,
Mournin' brudder, go in de wilderness,
I wait upon de Lord.
similarly:
You want to get religion....
If you spec' to be converted (connected)...
O weepin' Mary...
"Flicted sister...
Say, ain't you a member...
Half-done Christian....
Come backslider...
Baptist member....
O seek, brudder Bristol...
Jesus a waitin to meet you in de wilderness...
rich r
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=38269
Subject: Afro-American Hymnal
American Negro Songs, 230 Folk Songs and Spirituals, Religious and Secular. John W. Work, Dover Publications, Mineola, NY 1998. Orig. pub. Crown Publishers, NY, 1940. ISBN 0-486-40271-1.
INDEX OF SONG TITLES
Ain't I Glad I've Got Out of the Wilderness * * *
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