Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/138

130 NEGRO SONGS FROM BARBADOS.

IN the last number of the Folk-Lore Journal (ante, pp. 5-10) there is an article on "Negro Songs from Barbados," by the Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco, in which the impression is conveyed that though the American negroes are losing their characteristic melody, in the Barbados "the African race has not lost its light-heartedness," as evidenced by the songs given in the text. Of the six songs so given, I think that there are but two which have the least resemblance to original negro songs. The others appear to be of that class which, written by various song-writers in a dialect more or less like that of the negroes, are sung at what are known here as "Negro Minstrel Entertainments," or "Variety Shows."In the former, white men dress as negroes, having blackened their faces and hands; and in the latter, character dances and songs are given, in which the peculiarities of various nations or races (German, French, Irish, Negro) are shown.

The song No. 4, "Angelina Baker," is probably of this type, while that numbered 3, and called "The Darkies' Song," I have been able to trace with absolute certainty. The words and music were written about the second year of our Civil War (1862), under the name of "Kingdom Coming," by Henry C. Work, who died about two years ago. I have a letter from Mr. Geo. F. Root, of Chicago, in which he says, "Nothing can be more certain than that Mr. Work wrote the words and music of 'Kingdom Coming.' I published all his songs of those years, and always went over them with him before publication." I send you the words of the song, which you will see corresponds with song No. 3 of the article referred to, though the latter omits several verses of the original. It may be of interest to know that