When Susanna Jones wears red Her face is like an ancient cameo Turned brown by the ages. Come with a blast of trumpets, Jesus! When Susanna Jones wears red A queen from some-time Egyptian night Walks once again. Blow trumpets, Jesus! And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red Burns in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain. Sweet silver trumpets, Jesus!
American Pierrot: A Langston Hughes Songbook
Song Cycle by Robert G. Patterson (b. 1957)
1. When Sue wears red [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "When Susanna Jones wears red", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Mein dunklen Hände. Moderne Negerlyrik in Original und Nachdichtung, herausgegeben und übertragen von Eva Hesse und Paridam von dem Knesebeck, München: Nymphenburger Verlag, 1953, page 62.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
2. Midnight dancer [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Wine-maiden Of the jazz-tuned night Lips Sweet as purple dew, Breasts Like the pillows of all sweet dreams, Who crushed The grapes of joy And dripped the juice On you?
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Midnight dancer", subtitle: "To a Black Dancer in the Little Savoy"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Love song for Lucinda [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment Will never let you be. Love Is a bright star Glowing in far Southern skies. Look too hard And its burning flame Will always hurt your eyes. Love Is a high mountain Stark in a windy sky. If you Would never lose your breath Do not climb too high.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Love song For Lucinda"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. Lady's boogie [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
See that lady Dressed so fine? She ain’t got boogie-woogie On her mind – But if she was to listen I bet she’d hear, Way up in the treble The tingle of a tear. Be-Bach!
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Lady's boogie"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. Words like Freedom [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
There are words like Freedom Sweet and wonderful to say. On my heart strings freedom sings All day everyday. There are words like Liberty That almost make me cry. If you had known what I know You would know why.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Words like Freedom"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]6. Go slow [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Go slow, they say -- while the bite Of the dog is fast. Go slow, I hear -- While they tell me You can't eat here! You can't live here! You can't work here! Don't Demonstrate! Wait! -- While they lock the gate. Am I supposed to be God, Or an angel with wings And a halo on my head While jobless I starve to dead? Am I supposed to forgive And meekly live Going slow, slow, slow, Slow, slow, slow, Slow, slow, Slow, Slow, Slow? ???? ??? ?? ?
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Go slow"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]7. Visitors to the Black Belt [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
You can talk about Across the railroad tracks — To me it's here On this side of the tracks. You can talk about Up in Harlem — To me it's here In Harlem. You can say Jazz on the South Side — To me it's hell On the South Side: Kitchenettes With no heat And garbage In the halls. Who're you, outsider? Ask me who am I.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Visitors to the Black Belt"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]8. Dream boogie: variation [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Tinkling treble, Rolling bass, High noon teeth In a midnight face, Great long fingers On great big hands, Screaming pedals Where his twelve shoe lands, Looks like his eyes Are teasing pain, A few minutes late For the Freedom Train.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Dream boogie: variation"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]9. Silhouette [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Southern gentle lady, Do not swoon. They've just hung a black man In the dark of the moon. They've hung a black man To a roadside tree In the dark of the moon For the world to see How Dixie protects Its white womanhood. Southern gentle lady, Be good! Be good!
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Silhouette", appears in One-Way Ticket, first published 1949
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this page: John Musto10. Heart [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Pierrot Took his heart And hung it On a wayside wall. He said, "Look, Passers-by, Here is my heart!" But no one was curious. No one cared at all That there hung Pierrot's heart On the public wall. So Pierrot Took his heart And hid it Far away. Now people wonder Where his heart is Today.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Heart", appears in Fields of Wonder, first published 1947
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]11. Soledad (A Cuban Portrait) [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
The shadows Of too many nights of love Have fallen beneath your eyes. Your eyes, So full of pain and passion, So full of lies. So full of pain and passion, Soledad, So deeply scarred, So still with silent cries.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Soledad (A Cuban Portrait)", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]12. Life is fine [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn't, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered! I came up twice and cried! If that water hadn't a-been so cold I might've sunk and died. But it was Cold in that water! It was cold! I took the elevator Sixteen floors above the ground. I thought about my baby And thought I would jump down. I stood there and I hollered! I stood there and I cried! If it hadn't a-been so high I might've jumped and died. But it was High up there! It was high! So since I'm still here livin', I guess I will live on. I could've died for love -- But for livin' I was born Though you may hear me holler, And you may see me cry -- I'll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die. Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Life is fine", appears in One-Way Ticket, first published 1949
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 705