Sacred Pattern Songs

• Hew 'round the tree (Dett 1936, vol. 4: 5)

• Over my head (Singing in the living tradition 1993: #30)

My God's a Ball of Fire


learned from a church group at Fred Miller Park, Morriston, TN on August 16, 1985
I feel it in my soul, etc.
I prayed it down from Heaven, etc.
It's the Holy Ghost on fire, etc.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, etc.
It'll consume away your ev'ry sin, etc.

do re mi so

This Old Time Religion


Marsh 1903: #36

do mi so do

Although this is the only stanza given in the source, the stanzas beginning "Love Him," "Serve Him," and "Thank Him" can be borrowed from the better-known tune.

Ripley & Heartz 1908: 14


do re mi so la

• Praise the Lord (Cleveland & Nix 1981: #234)
• The old ship of Zion (Barton 1899b: 23, Bradford 1978: 31)
• Twelve commandments, The (or The twelve apostles) (Thomas & Leeder 1933: 44-47)
  cumulative song

do mi so do

Praise Him

do re mi so la do

• Certainly, Lord (Dett 1936, vol. 3: 15, Cleveland & Nix 1981: #161)

You Goin' to Reap Jus' What You Sow



Dett 1927: 28-29.

Sen' er One Angel Down



Oh-o Lord dis is de needed time, etc.
Oh-o Lord I'm in trubble now, etc.
Oh-o Lord I need lil' mo' faither, etc.

McIlhenny 1933: 207-208.

do re mi so la do re

• I have decided to follow Jesus (Yoder: #70)

so do re mi

• Inching along (variant of entry under do re mi)
  (Jackson & Jackson 1925: 134-135)

so do re mi so la

• Twelve apostles, The (variant of entry under do re mi so la)
  (Cox 1942)

so do mi so do

• Who is on the Lord's side (Allen, Ware, & Garrison 1867: 56)

so la do re mi

• Do, Lord, remember me (Grissom 1969: 68, Bradford 1978: 42)
• Ef ye want to see Jesus (Fenner & Rathbun 1901: 12-13)
• He's a mighty good leader (Work, J. W. 1940: 231)
• I've got peace like a river (Yoder: #106)
• Ten commandments, The (variant of entry under do re mi so la)
  (Sharp 1932, vol. 2: 283-284)

Satan, Your Kingdom's Coming Down


learned from a church group at Fred Miller Park, Morriston, TN on August 16, 1985

I'm gonna fast till I fast your kingdom down, etc.
I'm gonna pray, etc.
I'm gonna believe, etc.
I'm gonna sing, etc.
Band of Angels



Diton 1930: #17.
also Landeck 1950: 54-55)

la do re mi

• There's something on my mind (Work, J. W. 1940: 222)

so la do re mi so

Singing on the old camp ground


One can add other verbs in place of "singing."

Hallowell: 1901: 19, Bradford 1978: 80

The Blood Done Signed My Name


Diton 1930: 20-21

Who Love Ma Lord



Sinners all here who love ma Jesus,
Sinners all here who love ma Lord.
Sinners all her who love ma Jesus,
Sinners all here who love ma Lord.

De preachers here who love ma Jesus,
De preachers here who love ma Lord.
De preachers here who love ma Jesus,
De preachers here who love ma Lord.

Anybody here like doubtin' Thomas?
Anybody here who love ma Lord?
Anybody here like doubtin' Thomas?
Anybody here who love ma Lord?

McIlhenny 1933: 247-248.

Before I'd Be a Slave


Barton 1899a
also in Jackson, WNS: 147

Praise Him


Love him, etc.
Thank him, etc.
Serve him, etc.

as sung by the Amish and Mennonite children in Grades 4-8 during music class at the Penn-Grant Alternative School in Lancaster County, PA on March 15, 1978, recorded in American folk songs for teaching.

la do mi so la

• You gotta sing (Raffi & Yamamoto 1987: 100)

I'm a Solger in de Army ob de Lord



McIlhenny 1933: 6-7
I won't 'treat back in de army ob de Lord
I won't 'treat back in de army.
I'm a solger in de army ob de army ob de Lord
I'm a solger in de army.

I'm a mo'ner in de army ob de Lord, etc.
Goin' t' fight agains' Satan in de army ob de Lord, etc.
I'm a worrier, etc.
I wouldn't tell a lie, etc.
Brother Stephen died, etc.
Old doctor what died, etc.

McIlhenny 1933: 6-7

la do re mi so

• Angel band (Ginglend: 26-27)
  
• Shout for joy (Work, J. W. 1940: 173)

so la do re mi so la

• Glory, glory, hallelujah (Cleveland & Nix 1981: #98)
• God's goin' to straighten them (Work, J. W. 1940: 230)
• Hide-a-me (Grissom 1969: 66-67)
• I found Jesus over in Zion (Grissom 1969: 88-89)
• Judgment Day is rolling round
  (Marsh 1903:140, Rodeheaver 1936: #32, Randolph 1982, vol. 4: 22)
• Lonesome valley (Zanzig 1940: #17, Lynn 1963: 327)
• That lonesome valley (Grissom 1969: 2-3, Bradford 1978: 77)
• Oh, freedom! (Scott: 239-240, Songs of Zion 1981: #102)
  variant of Before I'd be a Slave under so la do re mi so
• You gotta sing when the spirit says sing (Raffi [1984] 1993)

I'm Gon' t' Stay in de Battle Fiel'



I'm goin' t' watch, fight an' pray, etc.
I'm goin' t' treat everybody right, etc.
I'm goin' t' march dat hebbenly road, etc.

McIlhenny 1933: 122-123
variant of I will trust in the Lord under Family Songs

la do re mi so la

• I'm a soldier of de cross (Kennedy 1925: 146-147)

I Am Gon' to Join in This Army


Dett 1927: 120
also in Fenner 1874: 128

la do re mi so la do

• Little wheel a-turning in my heart (Nichols 1983, vol. 1: 28-29)

Fisher 1924: 104-106

so la do re mi so la do

• At the bar of God (Work, J. W. 1940: 134)
• Oh yes, yonder comes my Lord (Fenner 1874: 112, Dett 1927: 219)

I've Just Come from the Fountain


Marsh 1903: 107
also in Work, J. W. 1940: 174

la do re mi so la do

• A little talk with Jesus (Work, J. W. 1940: 79)
• Angel at the door (variant of Tall angel at the bar)
  (Kennedy 1925: 7-9, Bradford 1978: 106)
• Run, mourner, run (Work, J. W. 1940: 213)
• Somebody's knocking at your door
  (Rodeheaver 1918: 3; Fisher 1924: 164-165, Cleveland & Nix 1981: #154)
  
• Lord, I want to be a Christian (Rodeheaver 1918: 2; Songs of Zion, 1981: #76)
• I want to be a Christian in my heart (same song as above) (Chambers: 49)

Religion So Sweet


Allen, Ware & Garrison 1867 1867: 13

Rise, Mourners



Marsh 1903: 136

There's Preaching Here



Work, F. J. 1902: 39

so la do re mi so la do mi

Oh, Yes, Yonder Comes My Lord


Dett 1927: 219
also in Fenner 1874

Christians, Hold Up Your Heads



National Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 121
also in Work, F. J. 1902: 29

mi so la do re mi

• Come to Bible School
  (to the tune of "Bringing in the Sheaves") (Yoder: #133)
• Holy Bible (National Baptist Jubilee Melodies c 1923: 118)
  variant of Before I'd be a Slave under so la do re mi so

No I Aint Ashame


McIlhenny 1933: 191-192

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