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Negro Spirituals: Were You There

This guide was originally created to provide additional notes for a prelude series for Black History Month, 2020.

Fisk Jubilee Singers

Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Were You There ·

Fisk Jubilee Singers Fisk Jubilee Singers

℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1955 Folkways Records

Were You There

Prelude #1: Were You There 


Notes: An African American spiritual that probably predates the Civil War, "Were You There" was first published in William Barton's Old Plantation Hymns (1899) although there is some question of who actually composed it. The Hymnary.org web site says, “Just as modern Jews identify with the Hebrew slaves in Egypt at their Passover Seder ("When I was in Egypt"), we are encouraged in this text to identify with the witnesses to Christ's death and resurrection. With distances of geography and time removed, we become part of that great body of people who come trembling to the cross of Christ for salvation. ('Tree" in stanza 2 refers, of course, to the cross, but it was undoubtedly significant to black slaves who witnessed lynchings.)” (cited from https://hymnary.org/hymn/LUYH2013/166). The sufferings of Christ were something slaves with which slaves could readily identify. Diana Leagh Matthews says that Were You There was first published in more widespread denominational hymnals beginning in 1940 with its publication in the Episcopal Hymnal. 

 

LYRICS


1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
3 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
4 Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
5 Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
 

Historical Performances - Paul Robeson

Audio rendition from baritone, Paul Robeson.

Subjects: Music