Cary Smith interview with David Whitner and Thelma Whitner

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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 Whitner family sings gospel songs accompanied by David Whitmer on acoustic guitar. Songs include: Hell Hold to my Hand, sung by David Whitner and Thelma Whitner; If You Ever go to Georgia, sung by their son James Whitner; Closer Walk with Thee, sung by David Whitner; Wayworn Pilgrim, sung by Thelma Whitner; Too Near Home to Turn Back Now, sung by Thelma Whitner; Jesus, Hold my Hand, sung by David Whitner and Thelma Whitner; Heavenly Highway, sung by Thelma Whitner; The Bright and Shiny City, sung by David Whitner and Thelma Whitner; Let the Spirit Descend, sung by David Whitner, Thelma Whitner, and Janet Whitner, their daughter; and Knoxville Girl, sung by David Whitner and James Whitner. Biographical information about David Whitner and Thelma Whitner has not been determined. Collecting Project for English 307, Folklore Professor John A. Burrison WwWwwWISITYIWIrYWWY--r Informants: David and Thelma whitner 317 Hattie Street . Cartersville, Georgia Collector: Cary Smith 1526 Mayflower Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 1999-owne Delectables rest, - - - -- - - - VAS I met David Whitner, the head of my family of informants, at a small country music station just outside of Cartersville, Georgia, on October 15, 1967. There was a preaching and singing program, of a rather fundamentalist variety, being broadcast at the time; Mr. Whitner was one of the two guitarists on the program. After the program, the participants as well as most of the live audience, were in something of a frenzy; they were laughing and crying and hugging practically everyone in sight--Myself included--and Mr. Whitner appeared to be the only one calm enough to talk with, concerning collecting for this project. He said that, although he couldnot read music, he would be glad to help me if he could. We made an appointment for Saturday, October 21, and this recording was made at that time. The recording took place at Mr. Whitner's house at 205 Hattie St. in Cartersville, 8. small frame house situated on a gravei street. The living room, where we recorded, was furnished with a sofa and one chair, a television, and a table holding a huge white bible. The only decoration, other than the simple curtains, was a calendar on the wall. David Whitner said that he dropped out of school when he was in the second grade, to help with his family when his father died. He and his wife both work on the night shift at a local carpet mill. They are both in their middle thirties--I did not ask their ages at the session-- but Thelma whitner, especially, looks drawn and older in the face. She can read, and it was she who read and signed the recording release, at her husband's reguest. The Whitners have four children, the oldest two being included in the recording. James, the oldest Whitner child, is about fifteen, and his sister Janet one or two years younger. Mr. Whitner played his "Kay guitar on all the songs on this tape. It has pickups for an amplifier-- it is an arched-top model--- but he does not ordinarily use any IIIVIRUS . ...AALS L . di amplification. He is left-handed, an while the guitar is not a left-handed model, he strings it as if it were; he said that he has tried to play it with the strings in the order for a right-handed player, but that he never could learn that way. He also plays the harmonica. At the time of this session, he did not have one; and while I have since purchased both a harmonica and a bracket for him to use, he has had to cancel three appointments with me for various reasons. (I still hope to record him, though, and may have an opportunity to do so before the first of the year.) In appearance, Thelma Whitner is the most interesting performer of the family. She sits with an intense expression on her face, reflecting the emotions of her music in her changes of expression as she loosens up to her songs. At the end of the session, she was dripping with perspiration, and obviously almost exhausted. Their choice of music appears, to some extent, to reflect the fact that this family has had a relatively hard life. Their gospel songs all point to a better existence in the hearaiter, and attempt to console one for the pain of earthly life. This point may be far fetched, but I do not think it is totally lacking in value. Both admitted that they had known some old ballads and "love songs", but that they did not remember them. The gospel songs seem to fulfill their needs better than the ballads did. This could be an example of folklore dying out, but it could also be an example of the type of thing which may be taking its place. Whether or not the gospel songs are of oral tradition is another matter. But for David Whitner, they are oral tradition; he learned them from other singers, not fron sheet music. And his children are learning them from him. Y il- --------------YY IL-JUILLALJA.4ALLAAI. LLLS J. CONT V - VIWIKI Side 1 of tape. "Jesus, Hold My Hand" As I travel through this dismal land There is a friend who walks with me; Leads me safely through the sinking sand, He is the Crist of Calvary. This would be m' prayer: Dear Lord, each day Help me do the best I can. For I need the light to guide ne day and night, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. Blessed Jesus, hold my hand; Yes, I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land Protect me by Thy saving hand. Hear ny feeble plea, Oh, Lord, look down on me. When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. - --- - Let me travel in the lighted ground That I may see the blessed way. Keep me there to make me wholly Thine, Sing redemption songs someday. I will be a soldier brave and true, Never failing to take a stand. AS I onward go and daily meet the foe, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. -- --- - - SLLLLIONIS- L VUKLULU-LUVUL Blessed Jesus, hold any hand; Yes, I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land Protect me by Thy saving hand. Meer - - - Innenmiwi Hear my feeble plea, ! Oh, Lord, look down on me. When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. When I wander through the valley dim, Toward the setting of the sun, Lead ne safely to a land of rest, To the promised life I've won. I have put my faith in Thee, dear Lord, That I may reach the golden strand, There's no other friend on whom I can depend, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. Irrrini Blessed Jesus, hold my hand; Yes, I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land, Protect me by Thy saving hand. Hear my feeble plea, Oh, Lord, look down on me. When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. (Sung by Mr. and Mrs. Whitner.) PIXA. SYYNYT ----- - - "Heavenly Highway (Sung by Mrs. Whitner.) I am on the heavenly highway Leading to that home above, From this world I have forsaken Just to serve the one I love. When the way grows tough and rugged, As low beneath the cross I bow, He says unto my soul, Be patient, The Lord'll light the way somehow. Oh, Lord, I get so tired and worried, As I journey on my way. When my faith begins to fail me, Then I go away and pray. I get a little glance of heaven, As low beneath the cross I bow. He says unto my soul, Why worry? The Lord'll light the way somehow. When my friends misunderstand me, And refuse to shake my hand, Satan tells me I'in a failure, That I firmly take my stand. Let the world despise and leave me, Jesus is a friend to poor; (?) Oh, how sweet to hear him whisper, I will light the way for you. Sometimes I feel jus' like a stranger, As I daily trod along, Through this world of trials and danger That always seems so long. (?) But Jesus promised to be with me And to answer every call; He will put His arms around me And will not let me fall. Oh, Lord, I get so tired and worried, As I journey on my way. Cheer me, Lord, and give ne confort Ever' time I kneel and pray. Holdin' out to me his fanger As low beneath the cross I bow, He'll say unto my soul, Why worry? The Lord'll light the way somehow. - VUILT------- rry "The Bright and Shiny City (Part II of "Maple on the Hill ".) (Sung by Mr. and Mrs. Whitner.) There's a bright and shiny city in that land beyond the sky, Where the soul can live forever and be free. For the story's from the Bible, told by prophets long ago, That the Savior would prepare a place for me. There'll be shouting in that city, for the Savior promised me A sweet home in a mansion in the sky. When His home He has completed, He will come again for me; I'11 depart from this world to never die. We are drifting, yes we're drifting, and our days are slipoing by; Yes, we're drifting down the rugged stream of time. Jesus suffered, died on Calvary to open up the way, And I'm drifting to that happy home of mine. --r---- rufu H311 112 113 11 on, dear sinner, take this warning, Christ is pleading now for you; As you know, the end of time will surely come. You will have to face the judgement on that resurrection morn, And you'll have to meet the deeds that you have done. Oh, how sad to face the judgement as you stand before the Lord, When you know your sinful life on earth is o'er. Then you'll look to Him for mercy but He'll only shake His head, And say, Far from lie forevermore. VLIWINUKTIVTRUP HUF 21 We are drifting, yes we're drifting, and our days are slipping by; Yes, we're drifting down the rugged stream of time. Jesus suffered, died on Calvary to open up the way, And I'm drifting to that happy home of mine. -- - - - - P A S IL - J.. ----- "Let The Spirit Descend" (Sung by Mr. and ilirs. Whitner and their daughter, Janet Whitner.) When John was preaching, preparing the way For Jesus, the Heavenly King, To all that believe and trust on His name, Would stand in God's kingdom and not be ashamed. Let the spirit descend, like a beautiful dove, As it did on Jesus that day. He was baptized by John, in the river of Jordan; God's voice, like thunder, said, This is My Son. When Iaz rus lied dead, in the grave for days, Martha sent for Jesus to come. Crying, Laz'rus, cone forth, they heard as He said, And Laz'rus from the grave rose, he arose from the dead. - erose TOM H IPS --- -- S Let the spirit descend, like a beautiful dove, As it did on Jesus that day. He was baptized by John, in the river of Jordan; God's voice, like thunder, said, This is Ivy Son. an-YYYYYNTIHINT-I Jesus hung on the cross, His tears fell as rain; The multitudos mocked him to shame. Forgive them, Father, for the things done to Me, He died on the cross, upon Calvary. Let the spirit descend, like a beautiful dove, As it did on Jesus that day. He was baptized by John, in the river of Jordan, God's voice, like thunder, said, This is My Son. W AF - - - - -- -. . .-.. Knoxville Girl" (Sung by ivir, Whitner and his son, James Whitner.) I met a little girl in Knoxville, A town we all know well. And every Sunday evening Out in her home I'd dwell. We went to take an evening walk About a mile from town; I picked a stick up off the ground And knocked that fair girl down, She fell down on her bended knee, For mercy she did cry; Oh, Willie dear, don't kill me here, I'm unprepared to die. She never spoke another word; I only beat her more, Until the ground around me, It in her blood did flow, I took her by her golden curls, I dragged her round and round. I threw her in the river: That flows through Knoxville town. PR Go there, yo there, you knoxville girl, With your dark and rolling eyes; Go there, go there, you Knoxville girl, You can never be my bride, V IZI ILIJA. -1-- I started home from Knoxville, Got there about midnight. My mother , she was worried, And woke up in a fright. 1-Yr Y Yulum. III II. Crying, Willie, my son, what have you done To bloody your clothes so? I told my anxious mother I was bleeding at the nose. I called for a lighted candle To light myself to bed, And also for a handkerchief To bind my aching head. I rolled and tumbled the whole night through, No comfort could I find. The flames of hell rolled around my bed, And in my eyes did shine, The police thoy came and got me, They locked me in the cell. My friends all tried to get me out But none could go my bail. I'm here to spend my life away, Down in this dirty old cell, Because I killed that Knoxville girl, The girl I loved so well. 10, Side 2 of tape, "He'll Hold to my Hand" (Sung by Mr. and Mrs. Whitner.) Someday when I've traveled my last mile here, The call will be coming for ne, I'll enter the lifeboat that will be here To carry me over the sea. He'll hold to my hand, As over this river I go, Then safe I shall be, In beautiful heaven, I know. DE BLE DETERIORI 11.111 BLI BREI EN BREDA My boat will sail safely, though waves dash high, For Jesus will be at my side. He'll still the rough water, and by and by, I'm crossing this river so wide. He'll hold to my hand, As over this river I go. Then safe I shall be, In beautiful heaven, I know. I'm ready to move to that golden shore, And live while the ages shall roll. I want to see mother, and sisters of old, In that heavenly home of the soul. He'll hold to my hand, As over this river I go. Then safe I shall be, in beautiful heaven, I know, P- P UI.L. "If You Ever Go to Georgia" (James Whitner, who is about fifteen years old, is singing this one, with his father accompanying him with the guitar. James plays the guitar, also, but I was not able to persuade him to play for ne, in fact, it took quite a bit of coaxing on the parts of both his father and myself to persuade him to perform at all by himself. He said that he and some friends made this song up from parts of several songs when they were little kids, but it appears to be simply a localized version of the familar "Midnight Special",) If you ever go to Georgia, You better live right; You'd better not gamble, Or you'd better not fight. For the po-lice'll get you, They'll run ya down. Ya ain't got no money, You're jailhouse-bound. YINIALI They'll take you to the jailhouse, They'll look you in a cell, They'll 'low no other For to go your bail, -IYUARATAM PL r-- -- They'll take ya to the chain gang, They'll sign your name; They'll put you on the road With a ball and chain. ---YxLLCrioLYWYYYYY - W ITT Four o'clock in the morning, varoh out in the hall;, If you start to run, boys, You're sure to fall. 1917 Drink up your coffee, Right there in the hall; (?) If you don't drink that, boys, You get none at all. Four o'clock in the morning, Hear the ding dong ring, You can look on the table, See the same ol' thing. You've got my woman. Oh, how d' I know? I can tell by the apron, And the dress she wore. She's got diamonds on her fingers, And Inoney in her hand; She's crying, Captain, I want my man. She says, Oh Captain, Ya got a heart like a rock, If you don't let him out, I'm gonna break that look, He said, Oh lady, That'll never do; When he makes his time, He'll come to you. "Closer Walk With Thee" (Sung by Mr. Whitner.) I am weak but Thou art strong, Jesus, keep me from all wrong. I'll be satisfied at long; As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. H ere. Just a closer walk with Thee; Grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee; Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be. When my feeble life is Oler, Time for me will be no more. Guide me gently, set me oler To that kingdom's shore, to the shore. Just a closer walk with Thee; Grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee; Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be. When the sun sets in the West, Lord, when I have done my best, Please give me sweet peace and rest, In that home, happy home of the blest. Just a closer walk with Thee; Grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee; Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be. "Wayworn Pilgrim" (Sung by Mrs. Whitner.) I am just another wayworn pilgrim, Trodding toward Jerusalun, Looking for a happy home in heaven, Far beyond the valley dim. I have nothing but my faith in Jesus, And His everlasting grace. And I know, though the sun be sinking, I will have a resting place. I am just a pilgrim, Seems I travel all alone; Just a body, Passing through a world that's not my home. But, I'm not discouraged, Something tells me I'm an heir; When I get to heaven, I will be a nillionaire. Day by day I look to Him for guidance, And I know He'll never fail. Day by day His little (?) hand is leading, And I know He'll never fail. I am just another wayworn pilgrin, And a beggar, too. Maybe in that land of many mansions There will be a place for ne. --- - - - - - I' -- -- .. .-- --- - - --- I am just a pilgrin, Seens I travel all alone; Just a body, Traveling through a world that's not any home. But, I'm not discouraged, Something tells me I'm an heir; When I get to heaven, I will be a millionaire. So one day when I homeward journey To that home made all o gold, Where there's wonderous joy eternal, Nothing else shall be my goal. I'll exchange my joy and earthly comforts (?) Tor a robe of spotless white, And shall count forever in that city, Where there never comes no right. ............................................................................................................ I am just a pilgrini, Seems I travel all alone; Just a body, Passing through a world that's not my home. But, I'm not discouraged, Something tells me I'm an heir; When I get to heaven, I will be a millionaire. www a "Too Near Home to Turn Back Now" (Sung by Mrs. Whitner.) I been a-traveling here in this life Filled with heartaches, troubles, and strife; Sometimes Satan tries to tell me To turn aside. I say, Satan, get thee behind, No returnings in me you'll find; I'm too near my heavenly home Whero I'll abide. I'm too near the home of iny Lord to miss sweet heaven's reward. I'm not returning to sin, I've make my vow. There is nothing to go back to, So praise God, heaven's in you. I'm too near my heavenly home To turn back now. --- R U SIIVSLIVALTA S AUNA. There is joy in going this way; It gets sweeter every day. My dear Lord is leading the way To realns above. He'll be with ne until then; See, my Savior's guiding, my friend, On up to heaven, My home, my perfect home. ..----------- ------ MUY -- I'm too near the home of my Lord To miss sweet heaven's reward. I'm not returning to sin, I've made my vow. WY 17. There is nothing to go back to, So praise God, heaven's in you. I'm too near my heavenly home To turn back now. Just one limb beside the long race, See, my friend, no other today * Will be worth whatever the cost To make me true. I would not give up to disgrace, I'll continue be the Lord's grace. I'm too near my heavenly home Beyond the blue. I'm too near the home of my Lord To miss sweet heaven's reward. I'm not returning to sin, I've made my vow. There is nothing to go back to, So praise God, heaven's in you, I'm too near my heavenly home To turn back now. LLULITLLLLLLLILIJ * The first two lines in this stanza have me bafl'led; I have given what they sound like, but obviously are not, in ny transcription. 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 in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. 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 language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. 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 emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.