Sit Down, Sister

"Sit Down, Sister" is for singer, amplified piano, and percussion. It is the sixth song of George Crumb's A Journey Beyond Time: American Songbook II (2003).

The audio recording provided features Thomas Hampson, baritone, and members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The recording is from a live performance at Alice Tully Hall (New York City) on April 29, 2011 and has been used with permission.

Date: 2003Composer: George CrumbSong Collection: A Journey Beyond Time: American Songbook II

Print vitals & song text

Text

Sit Down, Sister
Traditional African-American Spiritual

Refrain:
Oh won’t you sit down! No, I can’t sit down!
Oh won’t you sit down! No, I can’t sit down!
Sit down, Sister! No, I can’t sit down,
‘Cause I just got to heaven–want to look around!

Who’s that yonder dressed in red?
Must be the children that Moses had.
Who’s that yonder dressed in white?
Must be the children of the Israelites.

Refrain

Who’s that yonder dressed in blue?
Must be the children that are comin’ through.
Who’s that yonder dressed in black?
Must be the hypocrites a turnin’ back.

Refrain

Audio

Track:

    Sheet Music

    A Journey Beyond Time

    Composer(s): George Crumb

    Song(s): 1. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
    2. "Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jericho"
    3. "Steal Away"
    4. "Oh, a-Rock-a My Soul"
    5. The Pregnant Earth: A Psalm for Noontide (Instrumental Interlude)
    6. "Sit Down, Sister"
    7. "Nobody Knows de Trouble I See"
    8. "Go Down, Moses"
    9. "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"

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