This song was written down in the Work Projects Administration's Slave Narratives. The government sent out interviewers to talk with the ex-slaves and write down what they had to say. It's from an interview of Mrs. Fannie Berry, ex-slave from Petersburg, Virginia, on February 26, 1937. Here's what she said about it…

"…Lee, had surrendered. Glory! Glory! yes, child the Negroes are free, an' when they knew dat dey were free dey, Oh! Baby! began to sing [this song]… Sech rejoicing an' shoutin', you never he'rd in you' life."

Thanks and Acknowledgements

This song can be found in "Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States, From Interviews with Former Slaves, Virginia Narratives" by the Work Projects Administration.