Negro spiritual: Nobody knows the trouble I see
24 April 2007
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.
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
Posted by: Charles Ntumwa | 11 May 2007 at 14:17
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!
Posted by: Sedulia | 11 May 2007 at 18:39
traduction en francais please
Posted by: | 24 November 2008 at 15:19
Personne ne connait les chagrins que j'ai,
Personne ne les connait, sauf Jesus.
Personne ne connait les chagrins que j'ai,
glory hallelujah
Parfois je suis en haut,
Parfois je suis en bas,
oh oui Seigneur,
parfois je suis presque par terre,
oh oui Seigneur.
Personne ne connait les chagrins que j'ai,
Personne ne les connait, sauf Jesus.
Personne ne connait les chagrins que j'ai,
glory hallelujah
Parfois je suis en haut,
Parfois je suis en bas,
oh oui Seigneur,
mais tout le temps je suis en route vers le ciel,
oh oui Seigneur.
Si tu y arrives avant moi,
oh oui Seigneur,
dis a tous mes amis que je viens aussi,
oh oui Seigneur.
Posted by: Sedulia | 25 November 2008 at 06:21
The version I knew from several sources
was in dialect with its faulty grammar
and touching expression, but that was over fifty years ago, unlaundered.
Posted by: Curtis Stotlar | 19 April 2019 at 18:45
Hi Charles, life's trials and tribulations need not be limited to slavery as we all bear our crosses through life as Jesus did if you write about your own life there is no need to concern yourself with copyright as we all have our own stories and yours have the opportunity to be shown to all of us, thank you for continuing with your passion.
Posted by: Lance | 10 June 2020 at 01:51