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Journey to Freedom: The Spiritual Radio Project, a collaboration designed to illuminate the vital role spirituals play in understanding the complete picture of American history and the African American experience.
Across the year on CPR Classical, you’ll hear many beloved spirituals including “Deep River”, “Go Down Moses”, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Additionally, Holland will choose a dozen spirituals for CPR Classical - one each month - that help tell the African American cultural narrative. Many are less-known; all will air on CPR Classical, including Sunday mornings on Sing! from 6 to 10 a.m. with host David Ginder. The series began in February during Black History Month with Lord, How Come Me Here?
Not a word, not a word, not a word
Like most spirituals, the origin of this song is unknown, passed down from generation to generation. Alan and John Lomax recorded prisoners in Louisiana and Mississippi in 1933 singing “Never Said A Mumbling Word.” The Lomax brothers noted on their anthology, American Ballads and Folksongs, that the song was well known throughout the deep south. Blues performer Huddie William Ledbetter (Lead Belly), born in Louisiana and raised in Texas, recorded the song in 1945 and said he learned the spiritual from his mother. Others who recorded it include The Golden Gate Quartet and operatic soprano Barbara Hendricks.