“Many a woman who never before held a plow, is now seen in the corn-field…”
Category: Songsheets
My Old Kentucky Home (Foster, 1853)
Stephen Foster’s anthem recounts “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in three verses.
Uncle Sam’s Farm: “One grand, ocean-bound republic”
Stephen A. Douglas (1858): “This Union will not only live forever, but it will extend and expand until it covers the whole continent, and makes this confederacy one grand, ocean-bound Republic…”
Jim Crow (Rice, 1830)
If we can hold our immediate revulsion at the (now offensive) language, we’ll find some shocking critique and surprisingly liberal views in the lyrics…
Jeff in Petticoats (Tucker & Cooper, 1865)
A humorous slather of wordplay and derision aimed at (former) confederate president Jefferson Davis…
Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel (Emmett, 1853)
Here are a few versions of Dan Emmett’s song, displaying the far-reaching sense of international politics and breaking-news commentary to be found on the antebellum popular stage…
Old Folks At Home (Foster, 1851)
Stephen Foster’s 1851 song “Old Folks At Home” provides an excellent introduction to the antebellum period:
Vacant Chair (Root & Washburn, 1861)
George Root’s setting of Henry S. Washburn’s popular poem …
Kingdom Coming (Work, 1862)
Popular in both the North and the South, perhaps because of his ambiguous treatment of the plight of “contraband” (liberated slaves) …
Bonnie Blue Flag (Macarthy, 1861)
Harry Macarthy’s lively jig documents the secession of the southern states in winter 1860-1861…
Battle Cry of Freedom (Root, 1862)
“And at the fourth verse a thousand voices were joining in the chorus…”
The Hardtacks 