The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.
In this recording, the McNair family sings folk songs about religion, community, labor, and amusement. Timothy McNair accompanies on the guitar or the piano. Although recorded in Higginsville, Missouri, the family learned the songs in North Carolina. They sing: 00:00 - Will the Circle be Unbroken (vocals: Archie and Timothy McNair; guitar: Timothy McNair) 02:52 - Farther Along (vocals: Archie, Joyce, and Timothy McNair; guitar: Timothy McNair) 05:20 - When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (vocals: Archie and Joyce McNair; piano: Timothy McNair) 06:55 - Rosewood Casket (vocals: Archie and Timothy Mcnair; guitar: Timothy McNair) 08:57 - Just a Closer Walk with Thee (vocals: Archie, Joyce, and Timothy McNair; guitar: Timothy McNair) 10:36 - Burglar Man (vocals: Archie McNair; guitar: Archie McNair).
Archie Luther McNair (1923-1973) was born in Cameron, North Carolina, to Landis McNair and Naomi Peele; he worked at Swift and Co. Later moved to Asheville, where he served as a minister at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. He married Joyce Bullock McNair (1925-?), who was born in Kipling, North Carolina, to Osborn (1895-?) and Eula Bullock (1893-?). She grew up in Hectors Creek, North Carolina, and played the piano. Joyce and Archie McNair had five children; Donald, Timothy (1950- ), Archie, Jonathan, and Gwendolyn. Timothy McNair graduated from the University of Central Missouri and Ashville Technical Institute and later worked at First Union National Bank. In 1972 he married Cassandra Mae Williams and they lived in Asheville. Additional biographical information has not been determined.
SONGS FROM 'rIlE MONAI H FAMILY Prepared fOl' Profls"or :Jurrir1on Fo1 k10re 302 M'clrch 9, 1970 Don NlcNtlir ~able of Contents I. Introduction II. ~ra~script of recording 1. Will the Circle Be UnBroken 2. F!J.rther Along :3. WIHm the Holl Is Called Up Yonder 4. Rosewood Casket 5. Just R C10s8r VI"lk With The'll G. Burg1lRr hhm J II. COmt118nt I. Introduction I hRd not gotten far into this FolkJ.ore course hefo:re 1 cUscov'lred that somEl of' the songs I would be stud;rinr: ll,re th<l Slame onElS that my plllI'nts sing. I wrote to thlm :and persuaded them to record som'" 1'01' m"'. Unfortunately, I V/,as unRble to bll 8.t th'lir hom in IHr;r;Insvl11'l, Missouri, to conduct lan Int'lr-- view. Biographical notes N:nmtl: Archie tuther lllcN'i\ir Occupation: Pr.sbytllrian Minister Birth date Rnd Place: Uctober 2, 1923. Oameron, N.C. ChU.dhood spent!n Cameron and C",rthRge (centrGt1 i\I.C.) N,ame: ,Joyce Bullock (maiden nl1m,,) McNI:11r Occupation: Housewife Blrth date! ".nd pbce: Janufil.ry 23/ 1925. KLpl:inp;, Childhood sp,mt In Kipling, N.C, \c"'ntr,~l N.C.) N.C. Nlame: Timothy Landis McNuir Occupation: Student (Central Mo~ Stat. Col10ge) Birthdlll te [lnd pIc ce : D" cembr 4, 1950. S&lnfo rd, N. G. II. Trtluscl"ipt 1 WU.l the Cirole b" Unbroken (Archie s.nd Tim singing--Tlm llocompanying on guitar.) I VlllS stllndlng by my vdndoVi On III cold llnd cloudy day, When I S9W tho hearse come rolling For to t~ke my mother away. FiWl~ Will the oircle be unbroken By and by, by llnd by, Th@re 's a bet hI' home 8.'0'1",1 M.De; In th@ sky, Lord, in the sRy. IJOrd, I told th@ underttlk",r, Undertnl{.nT', pl","se drIve slow; 1"01:' thnt [lOC]" yem 8:00 hll;uil tug, Lord 1 hgte to aBe hAT' go. Will the eirelm bn unbT'okon By 8no. bv, by '<no. by, 'l'hElY'o' a 8. hotter hOTnf~ nw"lt:1ng In th<'l a1ll:y, 1'01'0., In the sky. Well I followed close behind her, Tried to hold up and be brave; But, I eould not hide my sorrow, Wh",n they IM.1d hiH' in tho gr"Jve. Will the eirel13 he unbrokfln By Bnd ~y, by llnd by, There's a bettor home awaiting In the sky, Lord, 1n the sky. 2: Flallther Along (Arohle, Joyoe, :and Tim sinr;ing -- TIm laooomp@.nying on gul tlar) Tempted @nd tried we're oft made to wonder Why it should be thus ,.11 tho d'ily long, While th,H'e ape othups livIng lilbout us Nev,)!' mol<'lsted thour;h In th<'lw!'ong. Farther Rlonr; we'll know .Jl qbout it, Fftrther along we'll understand why, Oheer up my brothElr, live in the sunshIne, We'l]. undorstandit all by and 'by. When we s Jesus coming in Glory, Whim he comes from h:l.s home in th#) sky, Then w'" shall mElet him in thnt bright mansion; We'll unde1Psh.nd It all by and by. l~",rther along we'll know all about it, F.rther along wo'll understand why, Che.~!' up my brother, live in the sunshJ n<1l, We'll llndersbmd it all by and by. 3 When the R611 Is Called Up ~ond.r (Archie {and Joyce singing -- 'I'im Iccompanying on piano; he plays by ear.) When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound And time shlilll be no more, And the morning bre.~ks eternlRl bright and f,dr, When the saved of earth shall gather Over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yondB~Illl be thare. When the roll is called up yond'~r, When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is csl10rl up yonrler, When the roll is Cia 11(~d up yonder, I III bl') there. Let us labor for the Master B'rom the dawn til setting sun, Let us talk of all his wondrous love and cRre, Then when .11 of life is OVAI' And our work on earth is done, And OUI' roll is c!alled up yonder, 1 111 be th"r6. ,.OJ., Whlln the roll is callAd up yonder, We'll be fillAdwith joy and wonder, When we Sl\H' that blood brought numb19r Sung fI'om every trlbe :J,nd Dm. t:ton of the world. 4 " I.' ,: //l !, I' ( f.... \1), -If " / 0.1,.,;' I , ( I (\ !, i, 1./ /1 (/ \ Oome "'nd sit beside me, broth'"r, CorM' llnd si t upon my bed, For my aching soul gro~s w~ary, And my lonElso11le helilrt fRIll'! dI'JQd. JJlilst Sund~y I s~.w h",r walking With anothor by her side, And I thought I hen<J hep t,ll him She would neV~1 r be my brlde. When I'm d<'lad lind in my coffin, And my shroud's !l\ronnd mel bound, And my n2rrow gr~v~ is rQdy In Bome lonesome churchyard ground, HOSelwood CJ~[1klilt (Archie and '1.m singing -- Tim @.ccompany-;n~ on guitfar) There's a little r080wood casket Lying on Q marple st~nd, And Q packet bf the letters Wri tt@n by my true lov" I shand. 'I'IlKel her l.tters 'md her lock"t, Place togeth0r o'@r my hfflart, But the golden ring sh) gavFJ 1M From my finger nevnr pRrt. 5 Just ll. CloSEll' Walk wi th 'l'hee ( Al'chie, Joyce / and 'rim singing -- 'rim accompanying on guital'. ) I am wlu.k but thou ll.l't stl'ong; J@sus k(~ep me>. fr'om Rll wl'ong, I'll be sll.tisfied a3 long As I walk, let me walk, Cl030 to Thea. Just a closElr walk with TheEl, Gl'ant it Jesus is my plea, Dll.ily walking c16s@ to Thee, Let it be, de.r Lord, let it be. Wht'ln my f<'iJt'lble l1.fe is o'er, Time fop me will be no mope; Guide me gently safely 0'.1'. To 'rhy kingdom's shope, to 'l'hy shore. Just ll. closer wll.lk with Thee, Grant it Jesus is my pIEla, Dally walking close to Th88; Let it be, d~.r Lord, le>t it be. Burgl~r MQn (Archie 6i,nglng and accompQnyi ng himl~eIf on gui bu'. ) W@ll, I'll tell you the story of ~. burguler m~n Who w@nt to rob Ii house; Hfl crept in ilt the Vii ndow just qultl',1' "s a mouse. He WAnt upstairs llnd went undel' the bed, ~.illng a' so g~y, . But he crt ..lnly ssw a sight th.. t night 'l'h.. t m9d his hW.lr turn (I,rfi!.Y. 'Bout nine o'clock .n old maid cume ln, "I'm so tard," she said. She took out her teeth ~nd _ big glass eye And the htdr rIght off her h'Hld. She looked in the dru.w.r ond pulled out III gun, Stuck it under the bed, SQid l()ok here man if you don't marry mIll Gonn.. blow off tbl!' top !l' your hillld. Vie 11 htl loolwd ll. t he I' tc3(~ th and her big glilss ye, And he SIlW no plilce to scoot, . So he stdd to the old maid sttilndJn~ hy, "Wom"n, for the Lord's sll]{e, shoot." Ill. Comment Comment Two songs from this t~p~ ar~ ~speoially Int~r-esting. In "When thlll Hall 1'3 Called np Yonder," the hst refrrain 1s quite unusual. I have nelvtllr heard it 1I.1s~wh'Hlll nor S<3l9n it printed. My fll\ther S:llys h", l","rned it !i\.S ra child. In "Ros@wood O"sk"t," therl9 Is II chunge of sex; usually, th~ dying person is f",m"l~. Dlild says Lh.t h~ IElqrnEld "Burg I ,n' Mllln" from friends with whom he used to sing and play .t danc@s. He s~ys his version was longer lilt one time but thlilt h0 hSlS forgotten plllrts of t t. (... ~LEASE- .' ny letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs 9f earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your cownunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this lnaterial by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. ny signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't \;ant your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of American life. that you want to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remenilier any more old-timey things that it will always be preserved, write to: ;~@-'t1~67: 5 7 /40.' ~ ~((U, AfC1!1et:? ~. t=.e Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia state University 33 Gtlmer street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ~igned -/ ~n~~ j Address d~ ~~ h'oz ~L/ For Ga. Fl. Archives:
A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access.
Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions.
As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.