Show #21: ROBERT DeCORMIER #2 of 2
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The following interview with Robert DeCormier was broadcast October 19 & 22, 1963 from New York City on worldwide short-wave radio. This historic radio interview was transmitted from the studios of Radio New York Worldwide on the show Folk Music Worldwide hosted by newsman Alan Wasser. This is interview #2 of 2 with Mr. DeCormier. The first interview can be found here.
Featuring folk song performances by Mr. DeCormier and the Robert DeCormier Singers: "The Hammer Song," "Halleluiah," "Go Tell Aunt Rhody," "Bella Bimba (Italian)," "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (Jamaican)," and "Walk Together Children". Transcript includes full song lyrics.
Listen to the Show 
(24:53)
Transcript:
MEL BERNAM (ANNOUNCER): Here is Radio New York, Folk Music Worldwide, a program devoted to the best in folk music throughout the world, showcasing the top performers and authorities in the field. Now your host for Folk Music Worldwide, Alan Wasser.
ALAN WASSER (HOST): Hello again and welcome to Folk Music Worldwide. Again today Robert DeCormier is in the studio with us. He's the leader of the Robert DeCormier Singers, a huge group of folk singers that is making a huge mark on the folk music scene today.
For those of you who may not have heard last week's show and would like to hear something of what Robert DeCormier's folk singing group sounds like, why don't we play "The Hammer Song" as done by Robert DeCormier.
[Song Performance: "The Hammer Song", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land
I'd hammer out danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between,
All of my brothers,
All over this land.If I had a bell,
I'd ring it in the morning,
I'd ring it in the evening,
All over this land,
I'd ring out danger,
I'd ring out a warning,
I'd ring out love between,
All of my brothers,
All over this land.If I had a song,
I'd sing it in the morning,
I'd sing it in the evening,
All over this land,
I'd sing out danger,
I'd sing out a warning,
I'd sing out love between,
All of my brothers,
All over this land.Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing,
All over this land
It's the hammer of justice,
It's the bell of freedom,
It's a song about love between,
All of my brothers,
All over this land.
All over this land.
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: "The Hammer Song" as done by the Robert DeCormier Singers. Mr. DeCormier, that's a song that's become very popular now. Do you know where it came from originally?
ROBERT DeCORMIER (GUEST): Yes, it's actually... it's been popular amongst folk singers ever since it was written, which is about 15 years ago, I guess. Pete Seeger and Lee Hays wrote the song.
ALAN WASSER: Well now your group does it somewhat differently than most other groups do, don't they?
ROBERT DeCORMIER:I guess so. I suppose everyone does it in the way which they feel the song or the way which best works for their group or solo performance or whatever it is. We have a large chorus, so in itself that makes it different than anyone else's, I guess.
ALAN WASSER: The song "Hallelujah" I see here on the album, that's a title that of course elicits an awful lot of memories of an awful lot of different songs. Just how do you do "Hallelujah?"
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well this is a "Hallelujah." As you say, "Hallelujah" could be any number of songs I suppose. This one is a "Hallelujah" as sung in a negro church by a congregation with a leader taking verses.
The most interesting thing about this one is it has a strange little... written in three-four bar in the middle of the chorus which suddenly breaks the rhythm. It sort of attracted me to the song.
ALAN WASSER: Well let's see if the same thing is what attracts our listeners. Here is "Hallelujah" as done by the Robert DeCormier choral.
[Song Performance: "Hallelujah", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
I been down into the sea.
Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
I done been down into the sea.I been to the sea, and I've done been tried,
Been down into the sea,
Been to the sea, and I've been baptized,
Been down into the sea.Singing Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.
Been down into the sea.
Hallelujah, and a hallelujah glory!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.
Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.Moses stood on the Red Sea shore
Been down into the sea
Smote the water with a two by four
Been down into the seaSinging Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.This is the year of the jubilee
Been down into the sea
My Lord has set me free.
Been down into the sea.Singing Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.
Singing Hallelujah, and a hallelujah glory!
Hallelujah, Lord!Well I been down into the sea.
Singing Hallelujah, and a hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Lord!
Well I been down into the sea.
Been down into the sea
This year of jubilee
My Lord has set me free
'Cause I been down into the sea!
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: Mr. DeCormier, I noticed on "Hallelujah" there didn't seem to be any instruments. Do you do many songs a cappella?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: It varies. We do a lot of songs a cappella. One of the songs which, let's say, originally or would be sung traditionally in a cappella, or sometimes just from a point of view of arranging a song a cappella.
Of course we do songs with different kinds of instruments and different... all sorts of instrumental groups. One song on this record is a very, very well known American song, "Go Tell Aunt Rhody," kind of a little lullaby.
By the way, that's based on a Rameau song, an old French composer. But this one is done with an Appalachian dulcimer, which is a very, very beautiful three-stringed instrument, American folk instrument.
ALAN WASSER: What does an Appalachian dulcimer look like?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well, it's... how can you describe it on the radio? It's quite long and narrow with a lovely curved shape going in and out, and it's played across the knees with just three strings.
ALAN WASSER: Well, let's hear an Appalachian dulcimer accompanying the Robert DeCormier folk singers doing "Go Tell Aunt Rhody".
[Song Performance: "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
Go tell Aunt Rhody,
Go tell Aunt Rhody,
Go tell Aunt Rhody
That the old gray goose is dead.The one she's been saving,
The one she's been saving,
The one she's been saving
To make a feather bed.The old gander's weeping,
The old gander's weeping,
The old gander's weeping,
Because his wife is dead.The goslings are mourning,
The goslings are mourning,
The goslings are mourning,
Because their mother's dead.She drowned in the mill pond,
She drowned in the mill pond,
She drowned in the mill pond
From standing on her head.So go tell Aunt Rhody, (she is dead)
Go tell Aunt Rhody, (the old gray goose is dead, she is dead)
Go tell Aunt Rhody
The old gray goose is dead.
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" done by the Robert DeCormier singers. That's a song that I knew as a child, we used to sing it, but certainly nowhere near that well.
Well, we'll be back to hear more of Robert DeCormier's music and to talk to him some more righter after this message.
(short pause for insertion of commercial)
All right, this is Alan Wasser again, back at Folk Music Worldwide on Radio New York Worldwide. As I usually do at this point in the show, let me again make a, oh I guess a pitch for more letters.
We're always interested in getting them. We've had some lovely mail from oh, Andy Hines, some very nice people over in The British Isles. We're always anxious to get more. Please write in.
We're very interested in getting your opinions, your comments, or just knowing that you heard us. And of course we always send out QSL cards to anybody who requests them to acknowledge that you did pick up Radio New York Worldwide.
Well, back to Robert DeCormier. Mr. DeCormier, the songs we've been hearing have all been American folk music. I know you do... We heard last week a song called "Igra Kolo," which is from Eastern Europe. What other countries are represented in your music?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well, we do songs from many countries. Another one on this record is a song from Italy, it's called "Bella Bimba". I found this song in a marvelous little book of folk songs I bought in Milan when I was there with Belafonte in 1958.
ALAN WASSER: Well, "Bella Bimba," as done by the Robert DeCormier folk singers.
[Song Performance: "Bella Bimba", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Oh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance, bella bimba, ah, ah, ah, ah
La villa nella Bali bimba, Bali benMa come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benWhen we are dancing, la villa nella
When we are dancing how happy we'll beMa come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Oh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance, bella bimba, ah, ah, ah, ah
La villa nella Bali bimba, Bali benMa come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, balla benVarda che passa la Villa Nella
Ne Tango bella inamorarMa come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Ma come balli bene, bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bella bimba
Oh come and dance with me my bella bimba, bella bimba, bali benOh come and dance, bella bimba, ah, ah, ah, ah
La villa nella Bali bimba, Bali benBalli bene, bella bimba, balli bene, bali ben
Balli bene, bella bimba, balli bene, bali ben
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: "Bella Bimba," Italian folk song as done by the Robert DeCormier folk singers. Mr. DeCormier, we've now heard two European songs.
Andy Hines, who I mentioned before had written in, is from Central America. Do you have anything from that area as a special song for him?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well, on this record there's one from the Caribbean, from the West Indies. It's a spiritual called "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy", a very, very beautiful song.
ALAN WASSER: This is from what part of the Caribbean, any idea?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Yes, from Jamaica.
ALAN WASSER: Well all right, Andy, it's not quite Honduras, but at least it is somewhere in the Caribbean. Here, for Andy Hines, is "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy" by the Robert DeCormier folk singers.
[Song Performance: "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
And they said that his name was JesusHe come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
Oh yes, believer, oh, yes, believer
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,The wise men saw when the baby born (he was hiding in the manger)
The wise men saw where the baby born (with a donkey, and a sheep)
The wise men saw where the baby born
And they said that his name was JesusHe come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
Oh yes, believer, oh, yes, believer
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,The angels sang when the baby was born
The angels sang when the baby was born
The angels sang when the baby was born
And they sang that his name was JesusHe come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
Oh yes, believer, oh, yes, believer
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
And they said that his name was JesusHe come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom,
Oh yes, believer, oh, yes, believer
He come from the Glory,
He come down
He come from the Glorious Kingdom
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: Robert, we discussed last week something about what your group is made up of, how many there were. But of course there're a lot of listeners who didn't catch last week's show. They might be interested in knowing how many there are in your group.
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well on this record there are 25 singers. When we perform in concerts, because of the horrible economic problems of keeping a group like this working, we travel with a smaller group, about 16 singers or 15 singers and 4 instrumentalists.
ALAN WASSER: How do these break down? How many men, how many women?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well, we had 8 and 8 on the... on our concert tour and 13 and 12, 13 men and 12 women on the recording. Group is also an integrated group, both negro and white singers.
This is, I mean, partly out of my own conscience and partly out of the fact that in America to... it seems to me to... for a chorus to do folk music, we should do a good bit of that which is indigenous choral folk music of this country, which is the negro music.
ALAN WASSER: We have time for one more song if we can move very quickly. What would you recommend in that area, for an ending song?
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Well, "Walk Together Children" is a marvelous unaccompanied negro spiritual.
ALAN WASSER: Well let's hear that as our last song by the Robert DeCormier folk singers.
[Song Performance: ""Walk Together Children", the Robert DeCormier Singers]
Lyrics:
Walk together children
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised landI said walk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great meeting in the promised landWell, walk together children
Don't you get weary
Sing together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great meeting in the promised landI'm gonna walk and never tire
Walk and never tire
Gonna walk and never tire
There's a great meeting in the promised landOh walk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised landI said shout together children
Don't you get weary
Sing together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great meeting in the promised landYes, sing together children
Talk together children
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised landI'm gonna walk and never tire
Walk and never tire
I'm gonna walk and never tire
There's a great meeting in the promised landWalk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great camp meeting in the promised landI said shout together children
Don't you get weary
Sing together children
Don't you get weary
Walk together children
Don't you get weary
There's a great meeting in the promised land
(end of music)
ALAN WASSER: Robert DeCormier, that was a beautiful rendition of "Walk Together Children". We're flat out of time. I'm going to have to just say goodbye, and thank you very much.
ROBERT DeCORMIER: Goodbye Alan, and thank you.
MEL BERNAM (ANNOUNCER): This has been Folk Music Worldwide, devoted to the best in folk music throughout the world in spotlighting top performers and authorities in the field.
If you have any suggestions, requests or comments, why not write in to Folk Music Worldwide Radio New York, WRUL, New York City, 19 USA. This has been a Music Worldwide presentation of Radio New York Worldwide.
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