The Anti-slavery Harp: A Collection of Songs for Anti-slavery MeetingsBrown, William Wells
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The Anti-slavery Harp: A Collection of Songs for Anti-slavery Meetings
Brown, William Wells
Antislavery movements -- Songs and music; Slavery -- United States -- Poetry; Songs, English -- United States -- Texts
Come join the Abolitionists,
Ye dames and maidens fair,
And breathe around us in our path
Affection’s hallowed air;
O that will be joyful, joyful, joyful,
O that will be joyful, when woman cheers us on,
When woman cheers us on, to conquests not yet won.
’Tis then we’ll sing, and offerings bring,
When woman cheers us on.
Come join the Abolitionists,
Ye sons and daughters all,
Of this our own America--
Come at the friendly call;
O that will be joyful, joyful, joyful,
O that will be joyful, when all shall proudly say,
This, this is Freedom’s day--Oppression flee away!
’Tis then we’ll sing, and offerings bring,
When freedom wins the day.
THE SLAVE’S A MAN, FOR A’ THAT.
Though stripped of all the dearest rights
Which nature claims and a’ that,
There’s that which in the slave unites
To make the man for a’ that:
For a’ that, and a’ that,
Though dark his skin, and a’ that,
We cannot rob him of his kind,
The slave’s a man, for a’ that.
Though by his brother bought and sold,
And beat and scourged, and a’ that,
His wrongs can ne’er be felt or told,
Yet he’s a man for a’ that:
For a’ that, and a’ that,
His body chained and a’ that,
The image of his God remains,--
The slave’s a man, for a’ that.
How dark the spirit that enslaves!
Yet darker still than a’ that,
He, who amid the light, still craves
Apologies, and a’ that:
For a’ that, and a’ that,
Small evil finds, and a’ that,
In crimes which are of darkest hue,
And foulest deeds, and a’ that.
If those who now in bondage groan,
Were white, and fair, and a’ that,
O should we not their fate bemoan,
And plead their cause, and a’ that?
For a’ that, and a’ that,
Would any say, in a’ that
We’ve nought to do--they are not here--
We’ll mind our own, and a’ that?
O tell us not they’re clothed and fed,
’Tis insult, stuff, and a’ that;
With freedom gone, all joy is fled,
For Heaven’s best gift is a’ that!
For a’ that, and a’ that,
Free agency, and a’ that,
We get from Him who rules on high--
The slave we rob of a’ that.
Then think not to escape His wrath,
Who’s equal, just, and a’ that;
His warning voice is sounded forth,
We heed it not, for a’ that:
For a’ that, and a’ that,
’Tis not less sure for a’ that;
His vengeance, though ’tis long delayed,
Will come at last, for a’ that.
YOUR BROTHER IS A SLAVE.
O weep, ye friends of Freedom, weep!
Shout liberty no more;
Your harps to mournful measures sweep,
Till slavery’s reign is o’er.
O, furl your star-lit thing of light--
That banner should not wave
Where vainly pleading for his right,
Your brother toils--_a Slave_!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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