Teacher’s Guide to
“I Just Gotta Sing” by Tom Width Terms: Djembe – drum carved from a single piece of wood with goat or antelope skin across its mouth Sangban – the middle-sized drum of the dundun family: dundunba, sangban, and kenkenyi Krinyi – a hollowed-log drum with slits carved along its sides – its voice changing as it is struck in different places Balafone – ancestor of the modern xylophone, its bars of wood tuned by their length and thickness, with hollow gourds hanging beneath to help the sound resonate Kenken – a dundun bell forged of metal and struck with a metal rod or bolt Caxixi– a leather and fiber sack filled with seeds for rhythmic accents Call and response – songs in which the leader sings a musical phrase, and the group sings that line – or sometimes a different line – back to the leader Slave trade – practice of selling people to be used as laborers (workers) Spiritual – religious songs composed by African-American slaves and often passed on by oral tradition (also known as “sorrow songs”)
Underground Railroad – group of people from all walks of life who created a network of secret routes and safe houses to help slaves escape to freedom Blues – “… songs whose verses lament injustice or express longing for a better life and lost loves, jobs, and money. But blues is also a raucous dance music that celebrates pleasure and success. Central to the idea of blues performance is the concept that, by performing or listening to the blues, one is able to overcome sadness and lose the blues.” (excerpted from mojohand.com) Jazz – music that evolved from ragtime and blues which often includes the key element of improvisation and strong rhythms that can be intimate, lively or both
Is it theater or theatre
?
Either! ‘Theatre’ was the universal spelling for the art form until the late 1900’s, when ‘theater’ became more common in America. In other English-speaking countries, ‘theatre’ is used. Swift Creek Mill Theatre uses ‘theatre’ in our writing, because it’s in our name, of course!
What we learn in this play: African-American music has evolved over hundreds of years from dramatic human events that tell the story of a proud people’s history and culture. Beginning with African music rich with drums and complex rhythms, the call-and-response form still exists today in blues and jazz. spirituals were a way for slaves to express their deep emotions and faith, even when the circumstances in their lives were unspeakable. Spirituals continued to act as a
powerful voice of the people throughout the days of the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. When slavery ended, the struggles of black Americans were far from over. John Henry was a hero for the working black man. He competed with two hammers against a steam powered drill and won! Although the competition took his life, he will always be remembered as the greatest driller in the history of the C & O Railroad. Working hard for uncertain pay in often repetitive jobs kept musical traditions alive. In the early 1900’s, blues music was inspired by these struggles, the changing times and the unending hope that they could be overcome. “the Mother of the Blues” was Gertrude Pridgett, AKA “Ma Rainey,” who collected and sang this new music and named it “the blues.” Blues lyrics were worldly and about everyday life. Gospel music was also on the rise in the early 1900’s and is influenced by the musical styles of jazz and blues. Thomas Dorsey is known as “the Father of Gospel Music.” He enjoyed blues and jazz, and he played and recorded hundreds of these songs as a young man. When he lost his wife and newborn son, he wrote “Precious Lord,” his most famous song, that solidified his career in gospel music. Jazz music was also becoming popular around the turn of the 20th century, although the term “jazz” was not used until 1913. Popular jazz musicians included Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, and even Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis! Coming full circle, it would seem, the spiritual songs from the early days of America were revived during the Civil Rights Movement, capturing the feelings of a new generation for a
new type of freedom. African-American music was, and continues to be, a vivid part of American history and culture and a form of expression that continues to shape our world.
The Music: Below are lyrics to the traditional songs from I Just Gotta Sing:
“Kye, Kye Kule” (Ghanaian folk song, pronounced "Chay Chay Coolay") KYE KYE KULE KYE KYE KOFINSA KOFINSA LANGA KAKA SHI LANGA KUM ADENDE KUM ADENDE, KUM ADENDE, HEY!! Now I call and you respond: KYE KYE KULE KYE KYE KULE KYE KYE KOFINSA KYE KYE KOFINSA KOFINSA LANGA KOFINSA LANGA KAKA SHI LANGA KAKA SHI LANGA KUM ADENDE KUM ADENDE KUM ADENDE HEY!!
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (spiritual) SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. I LOOKED OVER JORDAN, AND WHAT DID I SEE COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME? A BAND OF ANGELS COMING AFTER ME, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. IF YOU GET THERE BEFORE I DO, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. TELL ALL MY FRIENDS I’M COMING, TOO, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMING FOR TO CARRY ME HOME. “Deep River” (spiritual) DEEP RIVER, MY HOME IS OVER JORDAN. DEEP RIVER, LORD, I WANT TO CROSS OVER INTO CAMPGROUND. DEEP RIVER, MY HOME IS OVER JORDAN.
DEEP RIVER, LORD, I WANT TO CROSS OVER INTO CAMPGROUND.
OH, DON’T YOU WANT TO GO TO THAT GOSPEL FEAST? THAT PROMISED LAND WHERE ALL IS PEACE. OH DEEP RIVER, MY HOME IS OVER JORDAN. DEEP RIVER, LORD, I WANT TO CROSS OVER INTO CAMPGROUND. “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” (spiritual) JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, JERICHO, JERICHO, LORD, JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, AND THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN. YOU MAY TALK ABOUT YO’ KING OF GIDEON, YOU MAY TALK ABOUT YO’ KING OF SAUL, THERE’S NONE LIKE GOOD OLD JOSHUA AT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO. JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, JERICHO, JERICHO, LORD, JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, AND THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN. UP TO THE WALLS OF JERICHO, HE MARCHED WITH SPEAR IN HAND, “GO BLOW DEM RAM-HORNS”, JOSHUA CRIED, “CUZ THE BATTLE AM IN MY HAND.” JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, JERICHO, JERICHO,
JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, AND THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN. DEN THE LAM’ RAM SHEEPHORNS BEGIN TO BLOW, THE TRUMPETS BEGIN FOR TO SOUND, LORD, OLD JOSHUA COMMANDED THE CHILLUN TO SHOUT, AN’ THE WALL COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN (DAT MORNIN’)
JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, JERICHO, JERICHO, LORD, JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, AN’ THE WALLS COME TUMBLIN’ DOWN. GOOD LORD! “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (spiritual) HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE LITTLE TINY BABY IN HIS HANDS HE’S GOT THE LITTLE TINY BABY IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE LITTLE TINY BABY IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT YOU AND ME, BROTHER, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT YOU AND ME, BROTHER, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT YOU AND ME, BROTHER, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.
HE’S GOT EVERYBODY HERE, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT EVERYBODY HERE, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT EVERYBODY HERE, IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IN HIS HANDS HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” (spiritual) EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. UP ON THE MOUNTAIN MY LORD SPOKE OUT OF HIS MOUTH CAME FIRE AND SMOKE. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. ALL AROUND ME LOOKS SO FINE, ASK THE LORD IF ALL WAS MINE. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY.
JORDAN RIVER, CHILLY AND COLD, CHILLS THE BODY, NOT THE SOUL. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT MOVING IN MY HEART, I WILL PRAY. “Great Day” (spiritual) GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHIN’ GREAT DAY...GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHIN’ GREAT DAY...GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! THE CHARIOT RODE TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! THE LORD HE SPOKE AND THE CHARIOT STOPPED GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHIN’ GREAT DAY...GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! THIS IS THE DAY OF JUBILEE GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! THE LORD HAS SET HIS PEOPLE FREE GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS!
GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHIN! GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHIN! GREAT DAY...GREAT DAY, GOD’S GONNA BUILD UP ZION’S WALLS! “No More Auction Block for Me” (African-American folk song) NO MORE AUCTION BLOCK FOR ME, NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE AUCTION BLOCK FOR ME, MANY THOUSAND GONE. NO MORE SLAVERY CHAINS FOR ME NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE SLAVERY CHAINS FOR ME, MANY THOUSAND GONE. NO MORE CAPTAIN’S WHIP FOR ME, NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE CAPTAIN’S WHIP FOR ME, MANY, MANY THOUSAND GONE. “John Henry” (African-American folk song) JOHN HENRY HAD A LITTLE BABY, AN’ HE HELD HIM IN THE PALM OF HIS HAN’. AN’ THE LAST WORD I HEART HIM SAY, “SON, BE A STEEL-DRIVIN’ MAN, LAWD, SON, BE A STEEL-DRIVIN’ MAN.
JOHN HENRY WAS A STEEL DRIVER, CA’IED HIS HAMMER ALL THE TIME. ‘FO’ HE LET THAT STEAM DRILL BEAT HIM DOWN, DIE WITH HIS HAMMER IN HIS HAN’, LAWD, DIE WITH HIS HAMMER IN HIS HAN’.
JOHN HENRY WALKED IN THE TUNNEL, AN’ HIS CAPTAIN BY HIS SIDE, THE ROCK WAS SO TALL, JOHN HENRY SO SMALL, HE LAID DOWN HIS HAMMER AN’ HE DIED, LAWD, DIE WITH HIS HAMMER IN HIS HAN’!
JOHN HENRY TOL’ HIS SHAKER, “SHAKER, YOU HAD BETTER PRAY, IF I MISS THIS LITTLE PIECE O’ STEEL, TOMORROW’LL BE YO’ BURYIN’ DAY, LAWD, TOMORROW’LL BE YO’ BURYIN’ DAY.
JOHN HENRY SAID TO HIS CAPTAIN, “A MAN AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A MAN, ‘FO I’LL LET THIS STEAM DRILL BEAT ME DOWN, I’LL DIE WITH MY HAMMER IN MY HAN’, LAWD, DIE WITH MY HAMMER IN MY HAN’”.
THAT MAN THAT HOL’ THAT STEAM DRILL THOUGHT HE WAS MIGHT FINE, JOHN HENRY HAMMERED STEEL, DROVE TEN FEET, WHILE THE STEAM DRILL ONLY MADE IT NINE, LAWD! WHILE THE STEAM DRILL ONLY MADE IT NINE.
“This Old Hammer” (African-American folk song) THIS IS THE HAMMER KILLED JOHN HENRY. THIS IS THE HAMMER KILLED JOHN HENRY. THIS IS THE HAMMER KILLED JOHN HENRY. WON’T KILL ME, BABY, BABY, WON’T KILL ME. TAKE THIS HAMMER, CARRY IT TO THE CAPTAIN. TAKE THIS HAMMER, CARRY IT TO THE CAPTAIN. TAKE THIS HAMMER, CARRY IT TO THE CAPTAIN. TELL HIM I’M GONE, BABY, BABY, TELL HIM I’M GONE! IF THE CAPTAIN ASK YOU WAS I RUNNIN’, IF THE CAPTAIN ASK YOU WAS I RUNNIN’, TELL HIM I WAS FLYIN’, TELL HIM I WAS FLYIN’, TELL HIM I WAS FLYIN’. IF THE CAPTAIN ASK YOU WAS I LAUGHING, IF THE CAPTIAN ASK YOU WAS I LAUGHING, TELL HIM ALL THE TIME, TELL HIM ALL THE TIME! TELL HIM ALL THE TIME. IF HE SHOULD ASK YOU ANY MORE QUESTIONS, IF HE SHOULD ASK YOU ANY MORE QUESTIONS, IF HE SHOULD ASK YOU ANY MORE QUESTIONS, TELL HIM YOU DON’T KNOW, TELL HIM YOU DON’T KNOW, TELL HIM YOU DON’T KNOW. TAKE THIS HAMMER, CARRY IT TO THE CAPTAIN, TAKE THIS HAMMER, GIVE IT TO THE CAPTAIN. TAKE THIS HAMMER, GIVE IT TO THE MEAN OL’
CAPTAIN! TELL HIM I’M GONE BABY, BABY, TELL HIM I’M GONE. TELL HIM I’M GONE BABY, BABY, TELL HIM I’M GONE. MEAN OL’ CAPTAIN, TELL HIM I’M GONE. “Countin’ the Blues” by Ma Rainey (Blues) LAYIN’ IN THE BED THIS MORNIN’ WITH MY FACE TURNED TO THE WALL. LAYIN’ IN THE BED THIS MORNIN’ WITH MY FACE TURNED TO THE WALL. TRYIN’ TO COUNT THESE BLUES SO I CAN SING ‘EM ALL. MEMPHIS RAMPORT BEALE STREET SET ‘EM FREE. MEMPHIS RAMPORT BEALE STREET SET ‘EM FREE. GRAVEYARD ‘BAMA BOUND LORD, LORD, COME FROM STINGAREE LORD SITTIN’ ON THE SOUTHERN GONNA RIDE ALL NIGHT LONG. LORD SITTIN’ ON THE SOUTHERN GONNA RIDE ALL NIGHT LONG. DOWNHEARTED
GULF COAST THEY WAS ALL GOOD SONGS. LORD, ‘RESTED AT MIDNIGHT JAILHOUSE MADE ME LOSE MY MIND LORD, ‘RESTED AT MIDNIGHT JAILHOUSE MADE ME LOSE MY MIND. BAD LUCK ‘N’ BOLL-WEEVIL, MADE ME THINK OF OLD MOONSHINE LORD, GOIN’ TO SLEEP NOW FOR MAMA JUST GOT BAD NEWS. LORD, GOIN’ TO SLEEP NOW FOR MAMA JUST GOT BAD NEWS. TO TRY TO DREAM AWAY MY TROUBLES, COUNTIN’ THESE BLUES. “Precious Lord” by Thomas Dorsey (gospel) PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND, LEAD ME ON, HELP ME STAND, I AM TIRED, I AM WEAK, I AM WORN; THROUGH THE STORM, THROUGH THE NIGHT, LEAD ME ON TO THE LIGHT. TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD, LEAD ME HOME. WHEN MY WAY GROWS DREAR, PRECIOUS LORD, LINGER NEAR, WHEN MY LIFE IS ALMOST GONE. HEAR MY CRY, HEAR MY CALL, HOLD MY HAND, LEST I FALL. TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD, LEAD ME HOME. WHEN THE DARKNESS APPEARS AND THE NIGHT DRAWS NEAR
AND THE DAY IS PAST AND GONE, AT THE RIVER I STAND, GUIDE MY FEET, HOLD MY HAND, TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD, LEAD ME HOME. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” by Irvin Berlin (ragtime/jazz) COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND. COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR IT’S THE BEST BAND IN THE LAND. THEY CAN PLAY A BUGLE CALL LIKE YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE, SO NATURAL THAT YOU’LL WANT TO GO TO WAR. THAT’S JUST THE BESTEST BAND WHAT AM, OH, MY HONEY LAMB. COME ON ALONG! COME ON ALONG! LET ME TAKE YOU BY THE HAND. UP TO THE MAN, UP TO THE MAN WHO’S THE LEADER OF THE BAND. AND IF YOU CARE TO HEAR THE SWANEE RIVER PLAYED IN RAGTIME, COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND. OH, MA HONEY, OH, MA HONEY, BETTER HURRY AND LET’S MEANDER. AIN’T YOU GOIN’? AIN’T YOU GOIN’? TO THE LEADER MAN, RAGGED METER MAN? OH, MAN HONEY, OH, MA HONEY, LET ME TAKE YOU TO ALEXANDER’S
GRAND STAND BRASS BAND. AIN’T YOU COMIN’ ALONG?
COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND. COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR IT’S THE BEST BAND IN THE LAND.
THEY CAN PLAY A BUGLE CALL LIKE YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE. SO NATURAL THAT YOU’LL WANT TO GO TO WAR. THAT’S JUST THE BESTEST BAND WHAT AM, OH, MY HONEY LAMB.
COME ON ALONG! COME ON ALONG! LET ME TAKE YOU BY THE HAND. UP TO THE MAN, UP TO THE MAN WHO’S THE LEADER OF THE BAND.
AND IF YOU CARE TO HEAR THE SWANEE RIVER PLAYED IN RAGTIME, COME ON AND HEAR! COME ON AND HEAR ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND. “We Shall Not Be Moved” (spiritual turned folk song) WE SHALL NOT, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. WE SHALL NOT, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. JUST LIKE A TREE THAT’S PLANTED BY THE WATER, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. GLORY HALLELUJAH, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. ANCHORED IN JEHOVAH, WE SHALL NOT
BE MOVED. JUST LIKE A TREE THAT’S PLANTED BY THE WATER, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. THOUGH THE TEMPEST RAGES, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. ON THE ROCK OF AGES, WE SHALL NOT BE BE MOVED. JUST LIKE A TREE THAT’S PLANTED BY THE WATER, “Free at Last” (spiritual turned folk song) FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. SURELY BEEN ‘BUKED, AND SURELY BEEN SCORNED. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. BUT STILL MY SOUL IS A-HEAVEN BORN, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. IF YOU DON’T KNOW THAT I BEEN REDEEMED, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. JUST FOLLOW ME DOWN TO JORDAN’S STREAM, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST.
FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST.
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I’M FREE AT LAST.
FREE AT LAST!