Historic Sheet Music Collection
Title
Document Type
Score
Links to Recordings at the Internet Archive
https://archive.org/details/78_wake-nicodemus_burl-ives-h.-c.-work_gbia0003826h
https://archive.org/details/78_wake-nicodemus_frank-crumit-henry-c-work_gbia0016382b
Publication Date
1864
Lyrics
1st verse:
Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth,
And was bought for a bagful of gold;
He was reckon'd as part of the salt of the earth,
But he died years ago, very old.
'Twas his last sad request - so we laid him away
In the trunk of an old hollow tree.
"Wake my up!" was his charge,
at the first break of day-
Wake me up for the great Jubilee!
Chorus:
The "Good Coming" is almost here!
It was long, long, long on the way!
Now run and tell Elijah to hurry up, Pomp
And meet up at the gum tree down in the swamp,
To wake Nicodemus today.
2nd verse:
He was known as a prophet - at least was as wise
For he told of the battles to come:
And we trembled with dread when he roll'd up his eyes,
And we heeded the shake of his thumb.
Though he clothed us with fear, yet the garments he wore
Were in patches at elbow and knee:
And he still wears the suit that he used to of yore,
As he sleeps in the old hollow tree.
3rd verse:
Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash,
Though the bullet has oft cross'd his path:
There were non of his masters so brave or so rash
As to face such a man in his wrath.
Yet his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim -
He obeyed who was born to command:
But he long'd for the morning which then was so dim -
For the morning which now is at hand.
4th verse:
"Twas a long weary night - we were almost in fear
That the future was more than he knew;
'Twas a long weary night - but the morning is near,
And the words of our prophet are true.
There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone -
There are tokens in endless array;
While the storm which had seemingly banished the dawn,
Only hastens the advent of day.
Recommended Citation
Clay, Henry C., "Wake Nicodemus" (1864). Historic Sheet Music Collection. 1545.
https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/sheetmusic/1545
The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.
Comments
Wake Nicodemus
Song and Chorus:
Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth,
And was bought for a bagful of gold;
He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth,
But he died years ago, very old.
'Twas his last sad request - so we laid him away
In the trunk of an old hollow tree;
"Wake me up!" was his charge, "at the first break of day -
Wake me up for the great Jubilee!"
Words and music by Henry Clay Work
Chicago. Published by Root & Cady, 67 Washington St.
Eastern Agency - W.M. Bradbury, 425 Broome St., New York
Some of the resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the libraries or the institution.