Ascending and descending melodically to the dominate, So, phrases ending with a rest on the fourth beat, and descending
arpeggios: Mi\Do\So, Mi\Do\La, La\Mi\Do.

 

Description

• Grade: Third
• Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
• Key: F Major
• Time: 4/4
• Form: AaBC
• Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti ti ta ta | ta/a ta (ta) |
  | ta ta ta (ta) | ta/a ta (ti) ti | syncopation,
  | ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti | ta ta ta/a |
• Pitches: intermediate: So Do Re Mi So La – pentatonic scale
• Intervals: intermediate: Mi\Do\So descending tonic arpeggio, Mi\Do\La descending arpeggio, Mi/La, So\Mi, Mi\So, La\Mi\Do descending arpeggio, Do/Mi
• Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; rests: quarter, eighth, syncopation, arpeggios; contrasting the second staff with third staff, each passing La to reach So (ascending and descending)
• Key Words: sacred, Christmas, spiritual, Mary, Jesus, manger, born, stable, shepherds, singing, birth of Jesus, holiday, Lord, African American history

 

1.Mary had a baby, Yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, Yes, my Lord,
Mary had a baby, Yes, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

3.She named him Jesus, Yes, Lord,
She named him Jesus, Yes, my Lord,
She named him Jesus, Yes, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

4.Oh, where was he born? Oh, Lord,
Oh, where was he born? Oh, my Lord,
Oh, where was he born? Oh, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

5.Born in a stable, Yes, Lord,
Born in a stable, Yes, my Lord,
Born in a stable, Yes, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

6.And where did she lay him? Oh, Lord,
And where did she lay him? Oh, my Lord,
And where did she lay him? Oh, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

7.She laid him in a manger, Yes, Lord,
She laid him in a manger, Yes, my Lord,
She laid him in a manger, Yes, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

8.Who heard him singing? Oh, Lord,
Who heard him singing? Oh, my Lord,
Who heard him singing? Oh, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.

9.Shepherds heard him singing, Yes, Lord,
Shepherds heard him singing, Yes, my Lord,
Shepherds heard him singing, Yes, Lord,
The people keep a-coming and the train has gone.