1946

Sit Down Servant

Composed by Margaret Bonds

Text by Spiritual

Five Creek-Freedman Spirituals Song Collection

"Sit Down Servant" is the first song in the cycle Five Creek-Freedman Spirituals, composed by Margaret Bonds.

Audio

“Sit Down Servant” (from “Fire Creek-Freedman Spirituals”)

Jayme Alilaw, soprano; Lorna Griffitt, piano2:34

Margaret Bonds

Composer

Spiritual

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

University of California, Irvine, Winifred Smith Hall

Location

This recording was part of a 5:30pm concert ("A Salute to Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)") on Saturday, October 15, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

Text

Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
My soul’s so happy Lord,
I can’t sit down.

That ain’t all you know
You promised me
Promise me a long white robe
And a pair of wings.

Go over yonder angel
Get my servant’s wings,
Place them on my servant’s frame,
Now servant do sit down.

Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
My soul’s so happy Lord,
I can’t sit down.

Go over yonder angel
Get my servant’s crown
Place them on my servant’s head,
Now servant do sit down.

Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
Sit down servant,
I can’t sit down
My soul’s so happy Lord,
I can’t sit down.

Related Information

African Diaspora Music Project

africandiasporamusicproject.org/song/margaret-bonds/sit-down-servant

Sheet Music

Rediscovering Margaret Bonds: Art Songs, Spirituals, Musical Theater and Popular Songs

Margaret Bonds

Buy via Classical Vocal Reprints