No. 165 Great Day or Where Will You Stand, Osh 386
Pentachordal, cannot be classified (I II 3 IV V — —)
I’ve a long time heard that there will be a judgment
That there will be a judgment in that day.
O there will be a judgment in that day,
O sinner, where will you stand in that day?
I’ve a long time heard that the moon will be bleeding,
That the moon will be bleeding in that day.
I’ve a long time heard that the stars will be falling, etc.
I’ve a long time heard that the earth will be burning, etc.
This song bears the date 1859 and the composer’s name, John P. Rees. But beside the title we read: “As sung by Judge Falkerner of Ala.” We may therefore conclude that Rees recorded on that date this older tune from the singing of the Alabama magistrate. Melodic similarities are seen in ‘Trooper and the Maid’, Sharp, i., 305. A recent negro version from Beaufort, S. C., is in The Carolina Low-Country, p. 250.