by Anonymous / Unidentified Author and by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Language: English 
Some say No-e is a good old man,
He built his Ark on the sandy land;
And it's who built the Ark? No-e,
No-e built the ark, O yes, my Lord.

No-e built the Ark, O yes, my Lord.
Who built the Ark? No-e.

Some saw No-e and his fam'ly crew
Bring into the Ark critters two by two;
And it's who filled that Ark? No-e,
No-e filled the Ark, O yes, my Lord.

No-e filled the Ark, O yes, my Lord.
Who filled the Ark? No-e.

Some say No-e was both wise and brave,
He sailed his Ark through the wind and wave;
And it's who sailed the Ark? No-e,
No-e sailed that ark, O yes, my Lord.

No-e built the Ark, O yes, my Lord.
No-e filled the Ark, O yes, my Lord.
No-e sailed the Ark, O yes, my Lord.
Who built the ark? No-e.
The first four lines are the original text, as found in English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, collected by Cecil J. Sharp, London, Oxford University Press, 1932. The four line text is noted by the editor as collected, "Sung by Mr. Hillard Smith, at Hindman, Knott Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1917" (p. 216).

Composition:

    Set to music by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "No-e in the Ark", 2010 [ tenor and piano ]

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-12-28
Line count: 20
Word count: 148