Gullah Spirituals

Since 1922, the Society for the Preservation of Spirituals (or Spiritual Society) has been collecting, performing and preserving these profound expressions of Christian faith: Gullah poetry set to beautiful melodies accompanied by hands and feet.

A prime example is Silbuh Spade, (which was recorded in 1960 and is playing now in the background. In order to hear it, you might need to allow a Media Player add on.)

Silbuh Trumpet

Han' me down, han' me down,
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul
Han' ‘um down, t’row ‘um down,
Any way tuh git’um down
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.

Well duh Talles' tree een Paradise
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul,
Oh duh Christian call’um duh tree ob life
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.

Nebbuh bin tuh He(b)’m, but uh has bin tol',
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul,
Oh de street am silbuh en’ duh gate am gol'
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.

Nebbuh seen sech uh ting since I bin born
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul,
Duh people keep a’comin n duh train done gone
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.

Mary, Maata, Luke ‘n Jawn
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul,
Oh Stawp duh train ‘N lemme get on
Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.

Ef you git deh befo' I doHan' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Gay-brul,
Jes' tell Maas' Jedus I’se a’comin' too

Han' me down muh silbuh trumpit, Lawd.