So I'm climbing Bryce Hill Road tonight on a drop-dead gorgeous Midsummer evening, with Mt. Mansfield looming ahead, and a marching song comes to me. Or it could be a work song, a group of men singing along in time with the dip of their shovels. Or a sea chanty, with one man singing out the verse and the rest singing the chorus as they haul on a line.
It sounded great as I walked along, but either I forgot the tune, or it wasn't anywhere near as good as the beautiful setting made it sound. Either way, the rhythm and verse/response chorus resembles the old spiritual and slave's field song, "Let My People Go".
Shake That Serpent Off
Old Paul was shipwrecked on the isle
shake that serpent off
pulled a stick from the woodpile
shake that serpent off
the serpent straight right up he stand
shake that serpent off
and bit th'apostle on his hand
shake that serpent off, Paul, shake that serpent off
His friends they gave up Paul for dead
shake that serpent off
He jus' toss it in the fire and said
shake that serpent off
No rest for me till my work's done
shake that serpent off
Gotta teach you 'bout the healing one
shake that serpent off, Paul, shake that serpent off
Now listen to a word that's true
shake that serpent off
resist the devil he flee from you
shake that serpent off
and no impossibility
shake that serpent off
can stop our savior's victory
shake that serpent off, Paul, shake that serpent off
I ain't no God I'm just a man
shake that serpent off
I give him glory when I can
shake that serpent off
Now bring your sick and lame to me
shake that serpent off
with them I'll share God's victory
shake that serpent off, Paul, shake that serpent off
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