CBA Ode to Joy

Program Notes Spirituals

Ev’ry Time I Feel The Spirit Deep River Soon I Will Be Done

African-American, or Negro, Spirituals are songs created by slaves in the American south to teach Christian values, to describe the hardships of slavery and aspirations for freedom, to reflect resistance, and, sometimes, to signal paths to freedom to parts of the country where slaves could live as free citizens. In the 1870s, the songs became popular in concerts by The Jubilee Singers of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., and have continued to be popular. Spirituals feature “microtonally flattened” notes, syncopation and counter rhythms. Spirituals morphed into the current era to support civil rights in the United States and struggles for democracy in other countries. The Library of Congress, describes spirituals as “one of the largest and most significant forms of American folksong.” https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/ Lyrics and music by William L. Dawson (1899 - 1990)

Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit (1946 composition) Chorus Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

Soon I will be don’ A-wid de troubles ob de worl’, Troubles ob de worl’, De troubles ob de worl’. Soon I will be don’ A-wid de troubles ob de worl’, Goin’ home t’live wid God. Soon I will be don’ A-wid de troubles ob de worl’, Troubles ob de worl’, De troubles ob de worl’. Soon I will be don’ A-wid de troubles ob de worl’, Goin’ home t’live wid God. I wan’ t’meet my mother, I wan’ t’meet my mother, I wan’ t’meet my mother, I’m goin’ t’live wid God.

Upon the mountain my Lord spoke Out of His mouth came fire and smoke Looked all around me, it looked so fine Till I asked my Lord if all was mine. Jordan river, is chilly an’ cold It chills the body, but not the soul There ain’t but one train upon this track It runs to heaven, an’ right back.

Soon I Will Be Done (1934 composition)

32 ODE TO JOY