Negro slave, and even while his moods were taking their hearts by storm, discounted the artistry of genius therein.
It was only as the musical appreciation of the Spirituals grew that this interest changed and deepened. Musically I think the Spirituals are as far in advance of their moods as their moods are in advance of their language. It is as poetry that they are least effective. Even as folk poetry, they cannot be highly rated. But they do have their quaint symbolisms, and flashes, sometimes sustained passages of fine imagery, as in the much quoted
I know moonlight, I know starlight
I lay dis body down
I walk in de graveyard, I walk troo de graveyard
To lay dis body down.
I lay in de grave an' stretch out my arms,
I lay dis body down.
I go to de judgment in de evenin' of de day
When I lay dis body down,
An' my soul an' yo' soul will meet de day
I lay dis body down.
or
Bright sparkles in de churchyard
Give light unto de tomb;
Bright summer, spring's over—
Sweet flowers in their bloom.
My mother once, my mother twice, my mother,
she'll rejoice,
In the Heaven once, in the Heaven twice,
she'll rejoice.
May the Lord, He will be glad of me
In the Heaven, He'll rejoice.
or again
My Lord is so high, you can't get over Him,
My Lord is so low, you can't get under Him,
You must come in and through de Lamb.
