Family Songs

do re mi

'Tis Me



Dett Religious Folk Songs: 183
also in Work, J. W. 1940: 70)

do re mi so
  • Bringing in that New Jerusalem (Joyner: 79; Jackson 1975: 160)
  • I've a father in heaven (Rodeheaver 1918: 27; Jackson 1952: 4-5)
  • This old time religion (Marsh: 158)
Roll the Old Chariot Along

Dett Religious Folk Songs: 192-193, Johnson & Johnson 1925: 110-111, Wyzga 1976, vol 2, n. p., Hallowell 1901: 22, Bradford 1978: 17

do re mi so la
  • Away over Jordan (Jackson WNS: 189)
  • Throw me anywhere (call and response song)
    (Parrish 1942: #20)
In the Kingdom


Fenner 108-109
also in Dett Religious Folk Songs: 92-93

do re mi so la do
  • In that bright, shining world (National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 103)
  • Lay down the Bible (Jackson: 7)
  • My father's gone (Jackson 1937: 189)
  • Safe in the promised land (Richardson: 67)
Save Me, Lord, Save Me


National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 71
also in Rodeheaver: 15

In That Bright, Shining World


National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 103

do re mi so la do mi

I Aint Gwine er Trus' Nobody


McIlhenny 1933: 118-119

la do re mi so la
  • Oh ma Lord what shall I do? (McIlhenny: 187-188)
  • Soon one mornin' (Lomax USA: 358-359)
I've been trying to live humble


Diton 1930: #31

also in Bradford 1978: 64

Same Train


Diton 1930: #35

la do re mi so la do
  • I'm so glad I got my religion in time (National Baptist Jubilee Melodies c1923: 25)
You Better Mind


variant of You'd better min' under Heaven

National Baptist Jubilee Melodies c1923: 29

I'm Gwine Up to Heav'n Anyhow


Johnson & Johnson 1926: 126-127

so la do
  • 'Round the wall (Arnold: 117)
so la do mi
  • Tall angel at the bar (Arnold 1950: 165
From Every Graveyard



Marsh: 129)

so la do re mi
  • This the old ship of Zion
    (variant of Old ship of Zion listed under Heaven)
    (Cleveland & Nix 1981: #131)
  • Bright morning stars are rising (Seeger, R. C. 1953: 15)
  • For the day is a-breakin' in my soul (Shellans: 89-90)
  • Give me that old time religion
    (Lynn 1963: 308, Chappell: 159, Spir, F. S.: 218, Randolph 1982 vol. 4: 66-67)
  • Story of twelve
    (A "cumulative song in reverse," meaning that it begins with the longest stanza
    and ends with the shortest stanza) (Landeck: 62-64)
  • What shall I do? (John Work: 162)
I've Got a Mother in de Heaven



A variant of Do, Lord, remember me under Heaven
Dett 1927: 123

so la do re mi so
  • Beautiful home sweet home (Spiritual Folk songs: 220-221)
  • Lookin' over Jordan (Randolph 1982 vol. 2: 340-341)
  • Want to go to heaven when I die
    (Dett Religious Folk Songs: 53, John Work, J. W. 1940: 140; Fenner 170)
  • Lord, I know my time ain't long (National Baptist Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 28)
The Good Old Way


Work, Fred: 28

also in Work, J. W. 1940, Allen, Ware, & Garrison 1867: 84, White 1965: 406

I Hope I'll Join the Band


National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 102-103

so la do re mi so la
  • A long white robe (Richardson: 67)
  • I belong to this band (Jackson 1937: 219)
  • I do love de lamb (Logan: 15)
  • I'm alone in this world (Jackson 1937; 219)
  • I'm trav'lling to my grave (SH: 37)
  • Oh, brothers now our meeting's broke (Boette ?????)
  • There's a man goin' round takin' names (Lomax ABFS: 591, Freedman, G. 1962: 21)
  • Walk along, John (Botkin 1937: 342)
  • We have fathers in the promis'd land (SH: 29)
  • Where the sun will never go down (Burton & Manning: 96-97)
  • I will trust in the Lord
    (variant of I'm goin' t' stay in de battle field under Sacred zipper songs)
    (Cleveland & Nix 1981: #14)
On Heaven's Bright Shore


Perrow 1913

so la do re mi so la do

You Got to Die



National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 119
also in Rodeheaver: 21

I Got Ma 'ligion on de Way


I dun foun' de light an' goin' to hebben, etc.
Mo'ner took de light an' gone to hebben, etc.
Ma mother got de light an' gone to hebben, etc.
Ma father got de light an' gone to hebben, etc.

McIlhenny 1933: 149-150

Ride On, Conquering King


Diton 1930: #27

so do re mi so la
  • Christmas bells are ringing (Sur et al 1967: 142)
  • Oh, brother, will you meet me? (Ballad Thos: 217-218)
mi so la do re mi
  • Bright morning stars are rising (Saletan: 38)

We have fathers over yonder


Other relatives can be used in place of "fathers."

Meyer 1942, learned from Samuel Asbury of College Sation, TX.

so la do mi so do
  • Hallelujah (Jackson WNS: 191)
  • I have a mother over yonder (Jackson WNS: 189)
la do re mi
  • Death come to my house he didn't stay long (Johnson & Johnson 1926: 108-109)
  • Hallelu (version of Death come to my house he didn't stay long) (Nat: 26)
  • When I'm dead (Work, J. W. 1940: 119)
la do re mi so
  • Ship that's sailing (Agery: 249-250)
la do re mi so la
  • I have a father (Meyer 1942)
  • I wanna die easy when I die (Silber: 56-57)
Who Dat a-Comin' Ovah Yondah?


Johnson & Johnson 1925: 104

la do re mi so la do
  • I ain't going to die no more (Marsh: 171)
  • Somebody's knockin' (Hallowell 1901: 72, Bradford 1978: 108)
Sun Don't Set in de Mornin'


Fenner & Rathbun 1901: 130
also in Bradford 1978: 109

Gwine to Ride Up in the Chariot


Marsh: 138-139)

la do mi so la do
  • Ride on, Jesus (variant of Ride on, King)
    (Dett Religious Folk Songs: 148-149)
la do re mi so la do mi
  • Ride on, King (variant of Ride on, Jesus)
    (National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 19)
I'm Mos' Dun Travelin'


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