Digital Tradition Mirror

Tone the Bell Easy

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Tone the Bell Easy

When you hear dat I's a-dyin',
I don' want nobody to mo'n.
All I want my frien's to do
Is give dat bell a tone.
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Jesus gonna make up my dyin'bed.

Mary was a-grievin';
Martha said :  He isn' los',
But late dat Friday evenin'
He was hangin' to de cross.
     Well, well, well, he was hangin' in mis'ry, etc.

Jesus said to his disciples:
I can see you are afraid;
But if you keep my commandments,
I'm gonna make up yo' dyin' bed.
     Well, well, well, He's my dyin'-bed maker, etc.

When you see me dyin',
I don't want you to make no alarms;
For I can see King Jesus comin'
To fol' my dy'in' arms.
     Well, well, well, he's my soul's 'mancipator, etc,

When you hear dat I'm a-dyin',
I don't want you to be afraid;
All I want my frien's to do
Is take de pillow from under my head.
     Well, well, well, so I can die easy, etc.

Mother on her dyin' bed,
Children roun' her bed, cryin'.
Go 'way children, don' worry my min',
'Cause you know I's born to die.
     Well, well, well, I don' min' dyin', etc.

When I had a mother,
I had somewhere to go;
But since my mother's been dead and gone,
I been wand'rin' from do' to do'.
     Well, well, well, I got good religion, etc.

We haven' been a minute apart;
He put the receiver in my han'
An' de Holy Ghos' in my heart.
     Well, well, well, so I kin call up Jesus, etc.

Oh, meet me, Jesus, meet me.
Meet me in de middle o' de air,
So's if my wings should fail me,
Please meet me wid another pair.
     Well, well, well, so I kin fly to Jesus, etc.

When you hear I'm dyin'
Some one'll say I'm los';
But jes' come down to de Jerdon
An' ask de ferryman did I cross.
     Well, well, well, I'll be done cross over, etc.

When you hear dat I's a-dyin',
I don' want nobody to mo'n.
All I want my frien's to do
Is give dat bell a tone.
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Well, well, well, tone de bell easy,
     Jesus gonna make up my dyin'bed.

From American Ballads and Folk Songs, Lomax
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!