Slave Songs of the United States: The Classic 1867 Anthology

There are 136 songs in this book, most of which are no longer sung. They are simply amazing, musically and theologically. An example: "Come and Go With Me", collected in Augusta, GA, presents a major scale with a flat 6th and 7th, and the tune ends on the 4th. Unfortunately, the collectors, as went on for generations as standard procedure, did not acknowledge the names of any of their sources. The original "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" is in here; it is a rowing song from the sea islands, addressed to the archangel Michael as a prayer for safe passage; these lyrics are more striking than the familiar ones. Here are the complete lyrics to "Come and Go With Me", which is singular both in its scale and its notion that heaven is in the present, to be accepted rather than earned:Ole Satan is a busy ole manHe roll stones in my wayMaster Jesus is my bosom friendHe roll 'em out my wayOh, come and go with meOh, come and go with meOh, come and go with meA-walking in the heaven I roamI did not come here myself my LordIt was my Lord who brought me hereAnd I really do believe I'm a child of GodA-walking in the heaven I roamOh, come and go with meOh, come and go with meOh, come and go with meA-walking in the heaven I roamIt was reported that the freed slaves did not want to remember their old songs. And we all have reasons for forgetting a painful past. But look at these songs; they are the heart and soul's truth of life. It is not too late to learn from these people. Put this music in your heart.Water spring that never dry, Hallelu, HalleluThe more we dig, the more it spring, Hallelujah!

My high school sophomore English students read Julius Lester's book "To Be a Slave" as a foundation for understanding the slave experience in the United States, particularly during the final decades leading up to the Civil War. To further their immersion into the slave culture, I have also purchased numerous slave narratives and other reference materials, including this book: "Slave Songs of the United States," first published in 1867.This collection begins with a 28-page introduction from editor William Francis Allen (1830-1889). In it, he writes: "More than thirty years ago those plantation songs made their appearance which were so extraordinarily popular for a while; and if "Coal-Black Rose," "Zip Coon" and "Ole Virginny nebber tire" have been succeeded by spurious imitations, manufactured to suit the somewhat sentimental taste of our community, the fact that these were called "negro melodies" was itself a tribute to the musical genius of the race."And this collection of 136 songs is, indeed, a tribute to the musical heritage of African-Americans. The collection is divided into four sections: I. Southeastern Slave States (82 songs), II. Northern Seaboard Slave States (20 songs), III. Inland Slave States (9 songs), and IV. Slave Songs of the United States (25 songs).Each song includes music and lyrics, as well as occasional notes of the songs history, origin, lyric meaning and/or use. It would be simply amazing to actually hear these songs as they were originally sung, but having the music and knowing these were songs that helped sustain an enslaved people gives me chills. These songs tell their own story, and it is a fascinating read. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I received the book - I have enjoyed it, but the format is a little hard to follow - the songs are to broken up on too many pages.

While there are currently many books available on Black songs and their relationship to slave life, this is one from the actual era, not colored by the perspective of a century and a half later. As such it a wonderful window into that time.

An inexpensive way to own an invaluable resource for music of the late 1800s in the US. You'll be amazed at how many of these songs you've heard in one form or another.

A very honest seller. When I placed order it was on back order and once it came in seller sent to me without any issues. I will purchase from this seller again. The book is exactly what I was searching for and the slave songs are inspirational and will definitely be added to our church’s music ministry.

I had a problem with the delivery of this item, but they fixed it so I am happy!

Would I purchase this item again? Yes. I am writing a book about the Civil War and wanted some accurate information and this one is very very nice and a wonderful gift to a choir leader or anyone interested in our history and its spiritual foundations through song.

Dover Books are a wonderful institution snatching hard-to-get books from extinction. This book is a wonderful example of this: an anthology of African American songs in English (and Creole) compiled just two years after the end of the American Civil War, so many of the songs were collected from people who had been slaves until very recently. The introduction is superbly revealing, both for the respect the compilers show African-American music and the attitudes they were struggling against. At a time when some were still arguing that Africans were of a different species to the white races, closer to apes, the editors were lauding their musical achievements

The foreword and the context are hard to digest in today's world, but the music is fascinating.

Love, love, love this book. I have two other, different collections and they all have some fab songs in. This is no different. A great range of spirituals, gospels, work-songs and blues. FAB

Good book

Livre excellent, très bien emballé et reçu en parfait état. Félicitations.En outre, il est évidemment très émouvant de retrouver les chants de ces malheureux esclaves noirs aux États Unis, au 19ème siècle.Le recueil comprend plus de 130 chants, présentés avec leurs paroles et leurs partitions (armature, mesure et ligne mélodique). Les paroles sont retranscrites en tenant compte de la prononciation des esclaves noirs ; ainsi on trouvera "chillen" pour "children", "de Lord" pour "the Lord", voire le savoureux "De bell is a-ringin' in de oder bright world", la cloche sonnant le rêve de liberté que reprit Martin Luther KING dans son fameux discours "I HAVE A DREAM" et son envolée finale : "FREE AT LAST ! FREE AT LAST !". Quelques uns de ces chants ont traversé les époques, sont parvenus jusqu'à nous et constituent aujourd'hui encore de solides succès, par exemple : "MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE", "NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE HAD", ou "ROCK O' MY SOUL". Citons aussi l'attendrissant "CAROLINE" dont les paroles, venues très probablement de Louisiane, iront au cœur des Français : "Aine, dé, trois, Caroline, ça ça yé comme ça ma chère"... Bref, pour ceux qui s'intéressent aux chants d'esclaves africains-américains, comme pour ceux qui s'intéressent à leur vie, leurs souffrances, et aux droits humains (jusqu'au combat non-violent de Martin Luther KING), ce livre est intéressant. Et si vous aimez chanter, prenez votre guitare ou votre banjo, et faites revivre la mémoire et le chant de ces hommes et ces femmes qui ont su transcender leurs souffrances et en faire un chant qui ne s'éteindra pas : chant de LIBERTÉ et de FRATERNITÉ, pour toujours.- Georges-Guy LOUVET