It's song who's origin came from old Slave's spiritual hymn. In the back woods and flat lands of South Carolina exists a language called "Gullah." It's a cross between French, English and Caribbean dialects. I am very familiar with the language as I have lots of kinfolk in the state and sometimes when they start carrying on real fast, the dialect creeps in and I have to look around and say "what'd he say?"
Of course all slaves were "heathens" at the time and the only way to save them was to convert them to Christianity. Many slaves learned English by singing Christian hymns and reciting verses from the bible.
The song, as originally taught to the slaves was...
"Come by here my Lord, come by here....
"Come by here my Lord, come by here.
The song was asking God to come into their homes and into their lives.
BUT.... when it was sang in the Gullah language it became....
"Come by h'ya m'Lord, come by h'ya....
"Come by h'ya m'Lord, come by h'ya.
Later it was fully transferred to.....
"Cumbaya m'Lord, cumbaya.....
"Cumbaya m"Lord, cumbaya.
Now you know......... the rest of the story.
therick
Of course all slaves were "heathens" at the time and the only way to save them was to convert them to Christianity. Many slaves learned English by singing Christian hymns and reciting verses from the bible.
The song, as originally taught to the slaves was...
"Come by here my Lord, come by here....
"Come by here my Lord, come by here.
The song was asking God to come into their homes and into their lives.
BUT.... when it was sang in the Gullah language it became....
"Come by h'ya m'Lord, come by h'ya....
"Come by h'ya m'Lord, come by h'ya.
Later it was fully transferred to.....
"Cumbaya m'Lord, cumbaya.....
"Cumbaya m"Lord, cumbaya.
Now you know......... the rest of the story.
therick