In That Great Gettin Up Mornin

There's a better day a coming, fare thee well, fare thee wellYes there's a better day a coming, fare thee well, fare thee well Blow your trumpet Gabriel, fare thee well, fare thee wellBlow your trumpet Gabriel, fare thee well, fare thee wellLord, how loud shall I blow it, fare thee well, fare thee wellBlow

In That Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’
Harry Belafonte Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I'm gonna tell you 'bout the coming of the judgment
Fare thee well, fare thee well
I'm gonna tell you 'bout the coming of the judgment
Fare thee well, fare thee well

There's a better day a coming, fare thee well, fare thee well
Yes there's a better day a coming, fare thee well, fare thee well

In that great gettin' up morning, fare thee well, fare thee well
In that great gettin' up morning, fare thee well, fare thee well
In that great gettin' up morning, fare thee well, fare thee well
In that great gettin' up morning, fare thee well, fare thee well
Oh preacher fold your bible, fare thee well, fare thee well
Oh preacher fold your bible, fare thee well, fare thee well
For the last souls converted, fare thee well, fare thee well
Yes for the last souls converted, fare thee well, fare thee well

Blow your trumpet Gabriel, fare thee well, fare thee well
Blow your trumpet Gabriel, fare thee well, fare thee well
Lord, how loud shall I blow it, fare thee well, fare thee well
Blow it right and calm and easy, fare thee well, fare thee well
Do not 'larm all my people, fare thee well, fare thee well
Tell them all come to the judgment, fare thee well, fare thee well

Then you see that fork of lightening, fare thee well, fare thee well
Then you hear that rumbling thunder, fare thee well, fare thee well
Then you see dem stars a falling, fare thee well, fare thee well
Then you see the world on fire, fare thee well, fare thee well
Then you see dem sinners rising, fare thee well, fare thee well
See 'em marching home for heaven, fare thee well, fare thee well

Farewell poor sinners, fare thee well, fare thee well
Farewell poor sinners, fare thee well, fare thee well


Overall Meaning

The song "In That Great Gettin' Up Mornin'" by Harry Belafonte is a spiritual gospel song that speaks about the coming of the judgment day. The song essentially states that on judgment day, we will all have to face the consequences of our actions and decisions, and those who have lived a righteous life will be rewarded while the wicked will be left to face destruction. The song describes the event in which the last souls are converted, and the preacher is advised to put away his bible since there will be no more people to convert.


The song goes on to say that Gabriel, the archangel, will blow his trumpet to signal the start of the judgment day, and it will be loud enough to be heard by everyone. The lyrics suggest that the world will be engulfed in a storm of lightning, thunder, and fire, and everyone will see the stars falling from the sky. At this point, the sinners who did not heed the warnings to repent will rise and be judged.


The song concludes by saying that the sinners will march towards heaven, and those who lived righteously will bid them farewell. The song underscores the importance of living righteously and warns listeners that they will face the judgment day whether they like it or not.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna tell you 'bout the coming of the judgment
I will inform you about the impending judgment.


Fare thee well, fare thee well
Goodbye, farewell!


There's a better day a coming, fare thee well, fare thee well
A brighter future is on the horizon!


In that great gettin' up morning, fare thee well, fare thee well
On the day of resurrection, we will meet again. Farewell for now!


Oh preacher fold your bible, fare thee well, fare thee well
The time for preaching has ended. Farewell!


For the last souls converted, fare thee well, fare thee well
The last souls to be converted may depart now. Farewell!


Blow your trumpet Gabriel, fare thee well, fare thee well
Archangel Gabriel, sound your trumpet! Farewell for now!


Lord, how loud shall I blow it, fare thee well, fare thee well
Gabriel inquires about the volume of the trumpet. Farewell!


Blow it right and calm and easy, fare thee well, fare thee well
Blow the trumpet softly and calmly. Farewell!


Do not 'larm all my people, fare thee well, fare thee well
Don't startle or frighten the people with the trumpet. Farewell!


Then you see that fork of lightening, fare thee well, fare thee well
The lightning strikes! Goodbye for now!


Then you hear that rumbling thunder, fare thee well, fare thee well
The roaring thunder echoes. Farewell!


Then you see dem stars a falling, fare thee well, fare thee well
Falling stars light up the sky. Farewell!


Then you see the world on fire, fare thee well, fare thee well
The world ignites in flames. Goodbye for now!


Then you see dem sinners rising, fare thee well, fare thee well
See the sinners rise from the dead. Farewell!


See 'em marching home for heaven, fare thee well, fare thee well
Watching the sinners march towards Heaven. Farewell!


Farewell poor sinners, fare thee well, fare thee well
Goodbye to the sinners. Farewell!


Writer(s): Belafonte, Luboff

Contributed by Madison H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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