Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 6: Ring Game Songs and Others

Various Artists

American folklorist Harold Courlander compiled this series (Negro Folk Music of Alabama) from recordings he made in rural Alabama in 1950. The album is an attempt to counter the stereotypes of black music that were popular in America during the middle of the 20th century. This sixth volume begins with ring and line games which were recorded at various rural Alabama schools. Ring games are played with children standing in a circle, often holding hands; the leader stands outside the circle performing some action. To get the idea, imagine “Duck, Duck, Goose.” (The identical ring game recordings are found on FW07004.) They are followed by miscellaneous children's songs, work songs, blues, hymns, and relatively modern gospel songs.

Liner notes written by Harold Courlander include directions on how to play various ring games.

Track Listing

101	Mary Mack	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	2:00
102	Bob a Needle	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	0:54
103	Watch That lady	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	1:20
104	Old Lady Sally Wants to Jump	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	0:51
105	Loop de Loop	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	1:47
106	Green Green Rocky Road	Lilly's Chapel School (Ala.)	1:29
107	Rosie Darling Rosie	Brown's Chapel School	1:37
108	I Must See	Brown's Chapel School	1:37
109	Bluebird Bluebird	Pilgrim Church School (Ala.)	1:13
110	May Go 'Round the Needle	East York School (Ala.)	2:35
111	Stooping on the Window	East York School (Ala.)	1:10
112	Charlie Over the Ocean	East York School (Ala.)	0:55
201	Session with Celina Lewis, (a)Catch That Squirrel, (b)Sangar ee, (c) Whoa Mule, Can't Get the Saddle On,...	Celina Lewis	5:14
202	Water on the Wheel	Annie Grace Horn Dodson	0:48
203	Go Pray Ye	Annie Grace Horn Dodson	2:37
204	Captain Holler Hurry	Willie Turner	1:27
205	John Henry	Willie Turner	2:16
206	Going to Have a Talk with the Chief of Police	Peelee Hatchee (Emanuel Jones)	1:48
207	Meet Me in the Bottoms	Davie Lee	1:36
208	When the Role is Called in Heaven	Joe Brown, Harrison Ross, and Willie John Strong	2:40
209	I Moaned and I Moaned	Joe Brown, Harrison Ross, and Willie John Strong	1:21
210	I'm Standing in a Safety Zone	Rosie N. Winston	2:53