Steal away to Jesus! - African American Spiritual

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 2 August 2004, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

Refrain: GO-AWAY SHH, GO-AWAY SHH, GO-AWAY MEET JESUS.
GO-AWAY, GO-AWAY HOME.
ME NOT STAY HERE LONG TIME, SAY-#NO.

MY LORD, HE SUMMON ME.
SUMMON HE HOW? THUNDER.
INSIDE-SELF SOUL, ME FEEL TRUMPET ANNOUNCE
ME NOT STAY HERE LONG TIME, SAY-#NO. Refrain

FOREST GREEN*, (2h)5-CL'trees bend down and return'.
HAVE-MERCY-ON-us WE SINNER LEGS-TREMBLE.
INSIDE-SELF SOUL, ME FEEL TRUMPET ANNOUNCE
ME NOT STAY HERE LONG TIME, SAY-#NO. Refrain

MY LORD, HE SUMMON ME.
SUMMON HE HOW? LIGHTNING.
INSIDE-SELF SOUL, ME FEEL TRUMPET ANNOUNCE
ME NOT STAY HERE LONG TIME, SAY-#NO. Refrain


Notes: GO-AWAY - (2h)[B], arms parallel to the floor, FOs away to one side, hands start at right angles to the wrists like the end of the sign LATE, and move up to their normal position while arms move away, as if shooing someone away.

SHH - [1] is tapped against pouted lips like the hearing gesture one uses with children.

SAY-#NO - #NO with a single, emphatic movement.

THUNDER - touch ear with index finger then (2h)[S], PO down, FO away, move antisymmetrically from side to side while mouthing "pow". For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunder.

INSIDE-SELF - Hold the FT of [C] against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

GREEN* - Like GREEN but with one broad sweep of the arm.

(2h)5-CL'trees bend down and return' is (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, bow down once and then return to their place.

HAVE-MERCY-ON-us - (2h)[open 8], POs > signer, hands move in vertical circles normal (perpendicular) to the chest. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Mercy - 2.

LEGS-TREMBLE is (2h)[1^], POs down, FOs away, tremple symmetrically.

LIGHTNING is [1] makes a zig zag in the air. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunderbolt.

Lyrics:

Refrain: Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home,
I ain't got long to stay here.

My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain't got long to stay here.

Green trees are bending,
Poor sinners stand a-trembling;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain't got long to stay here.

My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the lightning;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain't got long to stay here.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to American Spirituals, scroll down and click on "Steal away to Jesus!"

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