Negro spiritual: Nobody knows the trouble I see

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I see,
glory hallelujah

Sometimes I’m up,
sometimes I’m down,
oh yes Lord,
sometimes I’m almost to the ground,
oh yes Lord.

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I see,
glory hallelujah.

Sometimes I'm up,
sometimes I'm down,
oh yes Lord,
but all the time I'm heavenly bound,
oh yes Lord.

If you get there before I do,
oh yes Lord,
tell all my friends I'm coming too,
oh yes Lord.

  --This is a beautiful old spiritual whose slow, sad music conveys the tragedy of slavery. It was sung in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865. You can hear Paul Robeson singing it here.
 

Comments

[Charles Ntumwa]

I have decided to write an autobiography of my life in Britain since I arrived here nearly some 38 years ago. I want to use the Negro Spiritual as the Title to my book and introduction. I want to travel with Slavery as it was then and compare it with want I believe I suffered. etc. How do I apply for Copyright to use these relics? Where can I dig more information about slavery at the time this Spiritual was written and sung? Please reply to my e-mail. This is a serious book I intend to write about. Charles

[Sedulia]

Dear Charles, I'm not an expert on copyright law but I am certain that there is no problem with your using this phrase, as titles are generally not copyrightable. Here is a UK website with more official information. http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law
There isn't much information on the web about this particular spiritual but librarians in Britain will be happy to help you dig for more. They love to help writers. Good luck!