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Go'n To Live Humble ~ Spiritual for SATB choir a cappella ~
African-American Spiritual
Arranged by Christopher J. Hoh
HohMade Music4619 Seventh Street South
Arlington, VA 22204U.S.A.
HMM 24C4072 www.HohMadeMusic.com
ii
Note: This simple spiritual deserves to be better known. I think of it as the African-American version of "Simple Gifts" from the Shaker tradition. It appeared in the venerable collection published by the Hampton Institute in 1901. (It was not in the 1874 first printing, however.) Although the editor at that time rendered "going to" in dialect as "gwine to," I felt "go'n to" is better suited to modern ears.
The full choir opens my arrangement singing the refrain together. In verse one the bass section (or soloist) tells the story of love raining down and other parts provide the response "go'n to live humble to the Lord." Verse two is similar but with the sopranos (or soloist) telling of earthly trials as others respond. The refrains present the tune in unison accompanied by a countermelody whose syncopations echo Afro-Cairbbean rhythms.
In the third verse the whole choir warns against missing out on heaven, with slower declamation and chromatic chords. Then the refrain returns at tempo with the tune and countermelody in both octaves. With the familiar idea "if you get there before I do," the choir sings verse four together, pausing to underscore "I'm comin' too." To end, the final refrain recalls the opening — simple, light and I hope humble.
Christopher J. Hoh Arlington, VA; October 2016
Cover image: uncredited photo of the Hampton Choir from "Negro Musicians and Their Music," by Maud Cuney-Hare, 1936.
HMM 24C4072 www.HohMadeMusic.com
Go'n To Live Humble
Refrain:
Humble, humble, humble yourselves, Go’n to live humble to the Lord. Humble, humble, humble yourselves, Go’n to live humble to the Lord.
One day as I was walkin’ along, The element' opened an’ the love came down.
Refrain
Although you see me goin’ ’long so, I have my trials here below.
Refrain
You say you’re aimin’ for the skies. Why don’t you stop that tellin’ lies?
Refrain
If you get there before I do, Look out for me, I’m comin’ too.
Refrain
African-American spiritual from "Cabin and Plantation Songs As Sung by the Hampton Students," 1901
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Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Rehearsal Accomp.
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œœ œ œœ
œ œœ œœ œœ
F
F
F
Simply, lightly
Simply, lightly
(q = c 64)
Fœ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
˙Lord.
˙Lord.
˙Lord.
˙Lord.
˙̇
˙̇
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HMM 24C4072 www.HohMadeMusic.com
African-American Spiritualarr. Christopher J. Hoh
Go'n To Live HumbleAnonymous Text
Arrangement copyright © 2016 by Christopher J. Hoh.Tune and text are public domain. All rights reserved.
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œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
5
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ
œœ
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œœ œœ œœ œœœœœœœœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œœ œœœœ
œœœœœœœœ
œ Œ
Lord.
œ ŒLord.
œ Œ
Lord.
œ ‰ Jœ
Lord. One
œ Œ
œœ ‰ J
œ
F
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∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ
day as I was
9
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ
walk in’ a long,
∑
œ œ œ œ
P
P
P
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
∑
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
˙Lord,
˙Lord,
˙
Lord,
Œ . Jœ
The
˙̇
.œJœ
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Go'n To Live Humble
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∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
el e ment' o pened an’ the
13
∑
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ
love came down.
∑
œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
∑
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
˙
Lord.
˙
Lord.
˙
Lord.
Œ œ> œ>
O live
˙
œ œ œ
F
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œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ> œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
17
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
F
F
F
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
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Go'n To Live Humble
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˙Lord.
˙Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
20
˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
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œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ
live hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
live hum ble
23
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ ‰ jœLord.
Al
œ ŒLord.
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œ
O to the Lord.
œ ‰ jœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
fœ œ œ œ
though you see me
∑
œ Œ
œ Œ
œ œ œ œ
œ
œ œ œ œ
go in’ ’long so,
∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
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Go'n To Live Humble
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∑
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
27
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
F
F
F
Œ. jœ
I
˙Lord,
˙
Lord,
˙
Lord,
˙Œ . jœ
˙
œ œ œ œ
have my tri als
∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
œ œ œ
here be low.
∑
∑
∑
œ œ œ
∑
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∑
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
31
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Œ œ>œ>
O live
˙Lord.
˙Lord.
˙
Lord.
˙Œ œ œ
˙
F
F
F
Fœ> œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
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Go'n To Live Humble
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œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble.
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
35
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
˙Lord.
˙
Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œ
˙
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;œ œ œ œ
hum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
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œ œ œ œ
live hum ble
œ œ œ œ
live hum ble
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
39
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œJœ ‰
to the Lord.
œ œjœ ‰
to the Lord.
˙Lord.
˙
Lord.
œœ œœ Jœœ ‰
˙
fœU
œU
You
ŒU ŒU
œU
ŒU
œU ŒU
œU
œU
œU ŒU
P
P
P
Freely, espressively but same tempo
Freely, espressively but same tempo
(q = c 64)
œ œsay you’re
˙Say
˙Say
˙
Say
œ̇ œ
˙
œ œaim in’
˙aim'n
˙aim'n
˙aim'n
œ̇ œ
˙̇
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Go'n To Live Humble
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œ œ
for the
œ œfor the
œ œ
for the
œ œ œ
for the
44
œœœœ
œœ œœ œ
Jœ .œ
skies;
˙skies;
œb œn
skies;
˙
skies;
jœ̇ .œ
œ̇b œn
F
F
F
˙
œ œ œGo’n to live
œ œ œ
Go’n to live
œ œ œ œGo’n to live
œ̇ œ œ
œœ
œœ
œœ œ
œ Œ
œ œ œhum ble...
œ œ
hum ble...
œ œhum ble...
œœ œ œ
Œ
œœ œœ
Œ œ œ
Why
˙
˙
˙
Œ˙ œ œ
˙̇
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œ œ
don’t you
˙Don’
˙
Don’
˙Don’
49
œ̇ œ
˙̇
P
P
P
œ œ
stop that
œb œyou
œn œbyou
˙you
œœb œœ
œn˙ œb
œ œ œ
tell in’
˙ntell
˙b
tell
˙tell
œ˙n œ œ
˙̇b
Jœ .œ
lies?
˙lies!
˙b
lies!
œ œlies!
jœ̇ .œ
œ˙b œ
(P)
(P)
(P)
œ Œ
œ œ...in
˙b
...in
œ œ...in
œœ œ
œ̇b œ
∑
œ œthe
˙the
˙
the
œ œ
˙̇
-
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Go'n To Live Humble
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ŒU Œ
œ œU Œ
Lord.
œU
Œ
Lord.
œU ŒLord.
55
œ œU Œ
œœU Œ
F
F
F
F
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
As At First
As At First
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
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œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
˙Lord.
˙Lord.
œ œ œ œ œ œO to the Lord.
59
œ œ œ œ œ œ
˙
œ œ œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œhum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œ œ œ
hum ble,hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
O to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ
O to the
œ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
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Go'n To Live Humble
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Jœ- ‰ œ
Lord. If
jœ-‰ œ
Lord. If
jœ- ‰ œ œ
Lord. If
Jœ- ‰ œ œ
Lord. If
63 jœœ- ‰ œ
Jœœ- ‰ œ œ
f
f
f
f
A bit slower, heavy
A bit slower, heavy
( q = c. 52)
œ œ œ œ
you get there be
œ œ œ œyou get there be
œ œ œ œ
you get there be
œ œ œ œ
you get there be
œ œ œ œœ
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œfore I do,
œ œ œfore I do,
œ œ œ
fore I do,
œ œ œfore I do,
œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œœ œœ œœœœ
œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ œœœœ
œœ
œœ
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.œ jœ
Lord. Look
œ œLord. Look
œ œ œ œ
Lord. Look
œ œ œLord. Look
67
œœ œ œ
œœ œ œ
œœœ
œ œ œ
out for me,
œ œ œout for me,
œ œ œ
out for me,
œ œ œout for me,
œ œœ œœ
œœ
œœ
œœ
œ œ œ œœb
I’m a com in’
œ œ œ œb
I’m a com in'
œ œ œœ œœb
I’m a com in'
œ œ œ œI’m a com in'
œœ œœ œœœœœbb
œœ
œœ
œœœœœœb
ritard.
ritard.
div.
div.
div.
˙̇N-
too.
˙̇-
too.
˙̇N-
too.
-̇too.
˙̇̇˙N-
˙̇˙
N -
unis.
unis.
unis.
œ œ œ
Go’n to live
œ œ œGo’n to live
œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live
œ œ œ œGo’n to live
œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ
œœ
a tempo
a tempo
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Go'n To Live Humble
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Jœ œ œ œ
hum ble to the
jœ œ œ œhum ble to the
jœ œ œ œ
hum ble to the
Jœ œ œ œ
hum ble to the
72 jœœ œœ œœ œ
Jœœ œœ œœ œ
jœ ‰ œ œ
Lord. Hum ble,
jœ ‰ œ œLord. Hum ble,
j̊œ ≈⋲ œ œ œ œ œ
Lord. Hum ble
JJœ ≈⋲ œ œ œ œ œ
Lord. Hum ble
jœ ‰ œ œœ
JJœ ≈⋲ œ œ œ œ œ
P
P
P
P
As At First
As At First
(q = c 64)
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves,
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves,
œ œ
your selves,
œ œ œ
your selves,
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈⋲
Go’n to live hum ble,
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
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76
œ œ œJœ ‰
hum ble.
œ ŒLord.
jœ ‰ œ œ
Lord. O
Jœ ‰ œ
Lord. O
76
œœ ‰ ‰œ œ jœ ‰
Jœœ ‰
œœ œ
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œHum ble, hum ble,
œ œ œ œ
Hum ble
œ œ œ œHum ble
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ œœ œœ
œœ
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ œhum ble your selves;
œ œ œ
your selves;
œ œ œ
your selves;
œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ
œœ œœ
(no ritard.)
(no ritard.)
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Go’n to live hum ble to the
œ œ œ œ œ œ œGo’n to live hum ble to the
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œœ œœœœ
œœœœœœœœ
œ Œ
Lord.
œ ŒLord.
œ Œ
Lord.
œ ŒLord.
œ Œ
œœ Œ
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HMM 24C4072 www.HohMadeMusic.com
Go'n To Live Humble