“In the Evening by the Moonlight”

Description

"In de ebening by de moonlight when de darkies work was over... Dat's de only time we had to spare.... Uncle Gabe would take de fiddle down...." "All dem happy times we used to hab, will ne'er return again... In de ebe'ning...."

Supplemental text

In the Evening by the Moonlight
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From sheet music published 1880 by Hitchock's Music Store.
Title page does not mention the song title; it is inscribed

JAMES A.                           BLAND'S
THE BEST ETHIOPIAN SONGWRITER IN THE WORLD
GREAT            ETHIOPAN            SONGS
KEEP DEM GOLDEN GATES WIDE OPEN
DE ANGELS AM A COMING
TAKE GOOD CARE OF MOTHER
IN THE EVENING BY THE MOONLIGHT

The song itself is inscribed

  Dedicated to Mr. NEIL MOORE
IN THE EVENING BY THE MOONLIGHT
        Words and Music by JAS. BLAND

1. In de ebening by de moonlight when dis darkies work was over,
   We would gather round de fire 'till de hoecake it was done.
   Den we all would eat our supper, after dat we'd clear de kitchen,
   Dat's de only time we had to spare to had a little fun,
   Uncle Gabe would take de fiddle down, dat hung up on de wall,
   While de silv'ry moon was shining clear and bright,
   How de old folks would enjoy it, they would sit all night and listen,
   As we sang in de ebe'ning by de moonlight.

CHORUS.
In de ebening by de moonlight, you could hear us darkies singing,
In de ebening by de moonlight you could hear de banjo ringing,
How de old folks would enjoy it, They would sit all night and listen,
As we sang in de ebening by de moonlight.

2. In de ebening by de moonlight when de watchdog would be sleeping,
   In de corner near de fireplace, beside de ole armchair,
   Whar Aunt Chloe used to sit and tell de Piccaninnies stories,
   And de cabin would be fill'd wid merry coons from near and far,
   All dem happy times we used to hab, will ne'er return again,
   Eb'ry thing was den so merry gay and bright,
   And I never will forget it, when our daily toil was ober,
   How we sang in de ebe'ning by de moonlight.

Notes

James A. Bland (1854-1911), one of the leading songwriters of the 1870s, was a university-educated Black (born in New York) who spent many years in England. That he wrote songs about slaves and slavery days says more about the climate of the time than about his feelings. Even so, there is a slight dig at slavery in the remark that the time after supper was "de only time we had to spare, to hab a little fun."

Bland also wrote "[Oh, dem] Golden Slippers" and "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." - RBW

References

1. RJackson-19CPop, pp. 87-90, "In the Evening by the Moonlight" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Dean, pp. 103-104, "In the Evening by the Moonlight" (1 text)
3. Geller-Famous, pp. 22-26, "In The Evening By The Moonlight" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Silber-FSWB, p. 250, "In The Evening By The Moonlight" (1 text)
5. ST RJ19087 (Full)
6. Roud #9591
7. BI, RJ19087