There's a Man Goin' Round - Laudate Mennonite Ensemble
Description
There's a Man Goin' Round
Arr. Moses Hogan
Music Director: Ken Nafziger
Production:
Video by SkySail Productions
Audio by Traveling Tracks
The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion
There's a Man Goin' Round
Words by Traditional African American spiritualMusic by Traditional African American spiritual
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names,
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names,
He has taken my father's name,
And has left my heart in pain,
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names.
O Death is that man takin' names,
O Death is that man takin' names,
He has taken my mother's name,
And has left my heart in pain,
O Death is that man takin' names.
Story Behind the Song
“There’s a Man Goin’ Round” is a traditional African American spiritual, often known by the fuller line “There’s a man going round taking names.” The song personifies Death as the one who comes “taking names,” and variants name the loss of a father, mother, brother, or other loved ones. It has been preserved in oral tradition and concert-spiritual arrangements, including a well-known arrangement by Moses Hogan.