Contact
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Pete Seeger
Author: trad./Saletan
Label: Folkways
Year: 1956
Afro-American 19th century folksong from the south-eastern US. Various versions collected during field trips performed by William Allen, Charles Ware and Lucy McKim Garrison right after the Civil War and published in their songbook Slave Songs Of The United States (1867). Abolitionist Ware heard rowers sing it on St. Helena Island. First resurfaced with arranger Tony Saletan in 1954 while he was looking for good folksong material for a summer camp he was supposed to lead. Introduced at this Shaker Village Work Camp, New Lebanon, NY. Seeger learned it directly from him.
Covers:
Weavers [live]
Highwaymen [n°1 US]
Lonnie Donegan [top 10 UK]
Lou Reed [bonustrack on Light In The Attic release Words & Music May 1965 ('22)]
Rika Zaraï [hit Fr]
Jane Hunter & the Moving Star Hall Singers [field recording from John's Island, South Carolina by Guy Carawan on Folkways lp Been In The Storm So Long as Row Michael Row (spiritual)]
Diana Ross & The Supremes [in film Tarzan]
Les Humphries Singers [B-side of To My Father's House]
Richard John Smith [n°1 South-Africa]
Havenzangers [als Hallelujah]
Since '65 also sung as Wij zijn samen onderweg, alleluja in Dutch speaking countries.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)