home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
ftp.ee.pdx.edu
/
2014.02.ftp.ee.pdx.edu.tar
/
ftp.ee.pdx.edu
/
pub
/
dylan
/
lyrics
/
little-moses
< prev
next >
Wrap
Internet Message Format
|
1993-08-31
|
3KB
From akp1@quads.uchicago.edu Tue Aug 31 16:15:48 1993
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
From: akp1@quads.uchicago.edu (Adam K. Powers)
Subject: Re: Little Moses
Reply-To: akp1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 17:20:43 GMT
PCALLAS@UCSVAX.UCS.UMASS.EDU (PETER WILLIAM CALLAS) writes:
>I'm not familiar with the song "Little Moses" that is being played in
>the current round of concerts. Can anyone tell me a bit about it?
"Little Moses" is a a pretty old song - I believe the Carter Family recorded
it, but I forget to whom Krogsagaard credits the song. Dylan tried it out
in the 1975 Rolling Thunder rehearsals, but didn't play it on stage then.
In 1992, it became a regular solo feature (and highlight) during the spring
and summer shows. Bob apparently got tired of it for a while, and has now
brought it back as a regular set piece, with a new arrangement.
As for the song itself, I'd say it's the polar opposite of "Ballad of
Hollis Brown," for starters. It has a simple, repetitive melody -
very easy to latch on to. It sounds like a lullaby, and may have
originated as such - the song is a very sketchy telling of the tale
of Moses. Here are the lyrics (from the San Jose tape, as I hear 'em)
Way by the water so wide
The ladies were winding their way
As Pharaoh's little daughter stepped down to the water
To bathe in the cool of the day
And before it was dark, she opened the ark
And found a sweet infant was there
And before it was dark, she opened the ark
And found a sweet infant was there
Way by the river so blue
The infant was lonely and sad
She thought him so pretty and on him took pity
And it made little Moses so glad
She called him her own, her beautiful son
And she sent for a nurse that was near
She called him her own, her beautiful son
And she sent for a nurse that was near
Way by the water so wide
She carried the beautiful child
His own tender mother, to his sister and brother
Little Moses looked happy and smiled
And his mother, so good, done all that she could
To rear him and teach him with care
And his mother, so good, done all that she could
To rear him and teach him with care
Way by the sea that was red
Little Moses, a servant of God
Who in Him confided and the sea was divided
As upward he lifted his rod
And the Jews they flew 'cross while Pharaoh's horse
Was drown-ed in the waters and lost
And the Jews they flew 'cross while Pharaoh's horse
Was drown-ed in the waters and lost
Way by the mountain so high
The last one that ever might be
His hope was most glorious that He'd be victorious
And someday his people be free
And when his labor did cease, he departed in peace
And he rested in the heavens above
And when his labor did cease, he departed in peace
And he rested in the heavens above