Left picture above: "Plantation Slaves." Plantation Slaves. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2014.
Center picture above: "Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central." Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.
Right picture above:"New York History Walks." New York History Walks. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014
Center picture above: "Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central." Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.
Right picture above:"New York History Walks." New York History Walks. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014
Henry Clay Work was an abolitionist and supporter of the Union during the Civil War. During the war, he produced some of his best known pieces, including "Kingdom Coming" in 1862. The lyrics to this song sound as if they were written by a slave, and as Work's house was part of the "Underground Railroad" network for escaped slaves, he likely acquired some of the slang he used while working to reduce slavery.
Above video:
The Song Kingdom Coming is played by the 97 Regimental String Band
"Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 24 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYHxsMTOJ0>.
The Song Kingdom Coming is played by the 97 Regimental String Band
"Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 24 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYHxsMTOJ0>.
This is a version of Kingdom Coming recorded by the 97th Regimental String Band. The main instrument seems to be a banjo, but it sounds as if it has steel strings, which did not exist at the time the song was written. This band tries to harmonize the vocals. This is not quite what the song would have sounded like in the nineteenth century.
Above video:
This version of the song is played by the 2nd South Carolina String Band
"2nd South Carolina String Band - Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12r_7-voZc>.
This version of the song is played by the 2nd South Carolina String Band
"2nd South Carolina String Band - Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12r_7-voZc>.
This is a fairly authentic version of the song. It was purposefully recorded using nineteenth century style instruments, for the purpose of mimicking what the song would have sounded like to soldiers during the Civil War. The instruments used in the recording include fifes, bones, rope tension drums, mandolins, and banjos strung with sheep intestines. Of course there is also a vocal accompaniment Listening to this song will help us to improve the way in which we play The Blue and the Grey, as it provides us with a better understanding of how Civil War period music is meant to sound.
Lyrics
(In Slang)
Say, darkies, hab you seen de massa, wid de muffstash on his face, Go long de road some time dis mornin', like he gwine to leab de place? He seen a smoke way up de ribber, whar de Linkum gunboats lay; He took his hat, and lef' berry sudden, and I spec' he's run away! De massa run, ha, ha! De darkey stay, ho, ho! It mus' be now de kindom coming, an' de year ob Jubilo! He six foot one way, two foot tudder, and he weigh tree hundred pound, His coat so big, he couldn't pay the tailor, an' it won't go halfway round. He drill so much dey call him Cap'n, an' he got so drefful tanned, I spec' he try an' fool dem Yankees for to tink he's contraband. De darkeys feel so lonesome libbing in de loghouse on de lawn, Dey move dar tings into massa's parlor for to keep it while he's gone. Dar's wine an' cider in de kitchen, an' de darkeys dey'll have some; I s'pose dey'll all be cornfiscated when de Linkum sojers come. De obserseer he make us trouble, an' he dribe us round a spell; We lock him up in de smokehouse cellar, wid de key trown in de well. De whip is lost, de han'cuff broken, but de massa'll hab his pay; He's ole enough, big enough, ought to known better dan to went an' run away.
The lyrics, if listened to closely, tell a story. Here is my interpretation;
There is a slave owner somewhere in the south who abandons his slaves and plantation as the Union army nears his plantation. He saw them coming, and to avoid being killed began to get a tan. He thought that by tannning, he would be able to trick the Yankees that he was just contraband, aka a slave, and be spared. When he abandons his home, the slaves take over his house and are abruptly free, as they no longer have a master. The overseer is causing trouble for the slaves, from whose perspective this is written. Because of this trouble, the slaves long him in the smokehouse cellar, and say he deserved it for trying to run away.
The purpose of this song, with its upbeat rhythm, catchy tune, and humorous lyrics was likely to boost morale of Union soldiers.
We should echo certain aspects of the song and its lyrics in order to improve the way in which we, as a band, play the song The Blue and The Grey, which is also about the Civil War. The master found within the lyrics was attempting to disguise himself, and we should do the same. By playing the Blue and the Grey with intent to sound as if we were playing during the civil war, that mindset will in reality change our sound as a group, and we will sound more authentic.
(In Slang)
Say, darkies, hab you seen de massa, wid de muffstash on his face, Go long de road some time dis mornin', like he gwine to leab de place? He seen a smoke way up de ribber, whar de Linkum gunboats lay; He took his hat, and lef' berry sudden, and I spec' he's run away! De massa run, ha, ha! De darkey stay, ho, ho! It mus' be now de kindom coming, an' de year ob Jubilo! He six foot one way, two foot tudder, and he weigh tree hundred pound, His coat so big, he couldn't pay the tailor, an' it won't go halfway round. He drill so much dey call him Cap'n, an' he got so drefful tanned, I spec' he try an' fool dem Yankees for to tink he's contraband. De darkeys feel so lonesome libbing in de loghouse on de lawn, Dey move dar tings into massa's parlor for to keep it while he's gone. Dar's wine an' cider in de kitchen, an' de darkeys dey'll have some; I s'pose dey'll all be cornfiscated when de Linkum sojers come. De obserseer he make us trouble, an' he dribe us round a spell; We lock him up in de smokehouse cellar, wid de key trown in de well. De whip is lost, de han'cuff broken, but de massa'll hab his pay; He's ole enough, big enough, ought to known better dan to went an' run away.
The lyrics, if listened to closely, tell a story. Here is my interpretation;
There is a slave owner somewhere in the south who abandons his slaves and plantation as the Union army nears his plantation. He saw them coming, and to avoid being killed began to get a tan. He thought that by tannning, he would be able to trick the Yankees that he was just contraband, aka a slave, and be spared. When he abandons his home, the slaves take over his house and are abruptly free, as they no longer have a master. The overseer is causing trouble for the slaves, from whose perspective this is written. Because of this trouble, the slaves long him in the smokehouse cellar, and say he deserved it for trying to run away.
The purpose of this song, with its upbeat rhythm, catchy tune, and humorous lyrics was likely to boost morale of Union soldiers.
We should echo certain aspects of the song and its lyrics in order to improve the way in which we, as a band, play the song The Blue and The Grey, which is also about the Civil War. The master found within the lyrics was attempting to disguise himself, and we should do the same. By playing the Blue and the Grey with intent to sound as if we were playing during the civil war, that mindset will in reality change our sound as a group, and we will sound more authentic.
Weaver, Mark. American Civil War Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/confederate-battle-flag.html>.
"Kingdom Coming Lyrics and Tune." Kingdom Coming Lyrics and Tune. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://freepages.music.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~edgmon/cwkingdom.htm>.
"Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 24 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYHxsMTOJ0>.
"Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central." Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.
"Plantation Slaves." Plantation Slaves. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2014.
"New York History Walks." New York History Walks. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014
"2nd South Carolina String Band - Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12r_7-voZc>.
"Kingdom Coming Lyrics and Tune." Kingdom Coming Lyrics and Tune. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://freepages.music.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~edgmon/cwkingdom.htm>.
"Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 24 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYHxsMTOJ0>.
"Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central." Runaway Slaves - Ohio History Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.
"Plantation Slaves." Plantation Slaves. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2014.
"New York History Walks." New York History Walks. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014
"2nd South Carolina String Band - Kingdom Coming." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12r_7-voZc>.
Harris W.