Soon I Will Be Done

SATB divisi choir, unaccompanied
TTBB choir, unaccompanied
Negro Spiritual

This spiritual is about life after death. The hope of “no more weeping and a-wailing” and seeing loved ones who have passed on is the ever-present joy which drives the rhythmic energy of this arrangement. In the midst of a painful life with no assurance of freedom, this spiritual expresses the joy of living with God.

Soon I will be done-a with the troubles of the world,
Going home to live with God. 

No more weeping and a-wailing,
I’m going to live with God. 

I want to meet my mother,
I want to meet my father,
I want to meet my Jesus,
I’m going to live with God.

Performance Note: Relaxed diction is preferred over a highly affected use of dialect.

SATB Error: m. 41, bt. 4 - Soprano text should match Alto text.