In Sandburg, 1927, The American Songbag, a note says it is a fragment of a spiritual heard in Texas in the early 1880s by Charley Thorpe of Santa Fe. (source)

Lyrics

1. By’m bye, By’m bye.
Stars shining, number, number one, number two, number three,
Good Lawd, by’m bye, by’m bye, Good Lawd, by’m bye.

2. By’m bye, By’m bye.
Stars shining, number, number four, number five, number six,
Good Lawd, by’m bye, by’m bye, Good Lawd, by’m bye.
Oh, my! By’m Bye, By’m Bye
Oh, my! By’m Bye.

3. …number seven, number eight, number nine…

Recorder notes: D, E, F#, G, A, D’

Links

• more Spirituals
• more songs with high & low
• more songs with short / long
• more lullabies
• more songs with I IV V chords
• video
• video of a cappella singers
• Kindergarten lesson
• more recorder DEF#GAD’ songs

The following content is available below to Plus Members:

• PDF includes:
  • Song with chords in 2 keys
• MIDI file
• MP3