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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BLACK SPIRITUAL: IN DAT GREAT GETTIN'-UP MORNIN', by                    
First Line: I'm a gwine to tell you bout de comin' ob de saviour
Last Line: "fare you well, fare you well"


IN DAT GREAT GITTIN'-UP MORNIN'
I'M a gwine to tell you bout de comin' ob de Saviour, --
Fare you well, Fare you well,
Dere's a better day a-comin',
When my Lord speaks to his Fader,
Says, Fader, I'm tired o' bearin',
Tired o' bearin' for poor sinners:
O preachers, fold your Bibles;
Prayer-makers, pray no more,
For de last soul's converted.
In dat great gittin'-up Mornin',
Fare you well, Fare you well.

De Lord spoke to Gabriel:
Say, go look behind de altar,
Take down de silver trumpet,
Go down to de sea-side,
Place one foot on de dry land,
Place de oder on de sea,
Raise your hand to heaven,
Declare by your Maker,
Dat time shall be no longer,
In dat great gittin'-up Mornin', etc.

Blow your trumpet, Gabriel.
Lord, how loud shall I blow it?
Blow it right calm and easy,
Do not alarm my people,
Tell dem to come to judgment,
In dat great gittin'-up Mornin', etc.

Gabriel, blow your trumpet.
Lord, how loud shall I blow it?
loud as seven peals of thunder,
Wake de sleepin' nations.
Den you see poor sinner risin',
See de dry bones a creepin',
In dat great gittin'-up Mornin', etc.

Den you see de world on fire,
You see de moon a bleedin',
See de stars a fallin',
See de elements meltin',
See de forked lightnin',
Hear de rumblin' thunder.

Earth shall reel and totter,
Hell shall be uncapped,
De dragon shall be loosened.
Fare you well, poor sinner.
In dat great gittin'-up Mornin',
Fare you well, Fare you well.





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