Sugar (Honoring Leaner “Sugar” Bell Johnson)

“I was born June the 7th, 1917, in Hale County. People call me Sugar. I lived in a wood house. I started school when I was ten years old down here at Sunshine. It was a Black school. There weren’t no White. There wasn’t but two teachers. One was teaching the little class, and the other was teaching the high class.

“My parents worked in the field, chopped cotton, and when it was time to plant corn, I dropped corn. And when it come up, I chopped it. That’s what me and my mama done… (who) owned that place. When the crop’s made, you sell and get half of what you made. That’s what I meant.

“I had five sisters and no brothers at all. I was the fourth. Honey was the fifth. When I was a little girl, my older sisters whopped me. They were just that way.

“I had a job in Greensboro. I worked at the chicken house. I was a gizzard wrapper. What year did I marry? 1935 to Norville Johnson. A lot of girls like him. I just went on and talked to him. (It was) a long time before I really loved him. Praise the Lord – it’s a long time before you love.

“Well you see, if the Lord done put his hand on you, you can’t be still when He touches you. You didn’t know that did you? You can’t be still if you get happy. Everybody in there knows it. That’s right, you feel it!” – Leaner “Sugar” Bell Johnson

From the Album Well May The World Go (Smithsonian Folkways)

Five sisters in the family
No brothers at all
I was the fourth child born
When I was small
Don’t know what I didn’t do
My older sister snapped the whip
Good God, I was scared
When she went to get the switch
I had my first baby
Working the field
When the Lord puts his hands on you
You just can’t stand still

When I met my husband
Had nothing to ride
We couldn’t do nothing
Except go walking side by side
It took a long tie
Before we fell in love
If you ain’t got religion
You better get you some
I recall the moment
When I found God’s will
When the Lord puts his hands on you
You just can’t stand still

Brought me up from a baby
To where I am now
Don’t care who knows it
But I’m freedom bound
Sometimes I get lonely
Sometimes I get sad
But don’t let the Devil fool you
When you get mad
It says in the Bible
Thou shall not kill
When the Lord puts his hands on you
You just can’t stand still

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 2000 / BMI

*Lyrics collectively written with youth at Sunshine in rural Alabama through a partnership with the Pacers Small School Cooperative, University of Alabama and Community Celebration of Place. Inspired by Leaner “Sugar” Bell Johnson.

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Well May the World Go is exclusively available on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Larry’s music is available on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp and select e-tailers