Nat Turner
from Songs of Slavery and Emancipation by Mat Callahan / Various Artists
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital AlbumThe Songs Of Slavery and Emancipation project presents recently discovered songs composed by enslaved people and explicitly calling for resistance to slavery. Some originate as early as 1800 and others as late as the outbreak of the Civil War. The project also includes long-lost songs of the abolitionist movement, some of which were written by fugitive slaves as well as free black people, challenging common misconceptions of abolitionism.
Thirty one songs are presented in a beautiful hard cover bound double CD and digital download containing new performances in a traditional style by numerous contributing artists.
An accompanying 64 page liner notes booklet includes complete lyrics as well as reproductions of historic documents. The liner notes also include essays by the album’s producer Mat Callahan, scholar Robin D.G. Kelley and activist organizer Kali Akuno.
“These songs of slavery and emancipation, some written more than two hundred years ago, are not only important historically; they have a direct bearing on today’s movements for social and economic transformation. When you hear songs like “Nat Turner” or “Hymn of Freedom,” it’s almost as if they were written yesterday. They bring inspiration and revolutionary clarity to contemporary struggles.
Songs of Slavery and Emancipation brings a whole era of resistance forward into the twenty-first century. To forget the lessons of the revolt and rebellion of the enslaved or the organizing of the abolitionist networks and the Underground Railroad is to condemn people to the false belief that because one of us is Black and the other is white we can’t unite, we don’t have anything in common, and we can’t work together. And this goes for people of all ethnicities, places of origin, and genders.
We must not forget this history. These songs can make an important contribution. They provide a popular art form that can help people understand all Americans’ history and participate in our contemporary struggles. Songs of Slavery and Emancipation carries crucial history that enlivens our collective memory and helps keep the spirit of resistance strong and moving forward.”
- Kali Akuno
Executive Director of Cooperation Jackson
A companion full length book, published by the University Press of Mississippi, documents the sources of these newly released songs, as well as providing historical context:
www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/S/Songs-of-Slavery-and-Emancipation
Includes unlimited streaming of Songs of Slavery and Emancipation via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... moreships out within 3 days2 remainingPurchasable with gift card$30 USD or more
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Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
$1 USD or more
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Buy the Full Digital Album
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The Songs of Slavery and Emancipation project encompasses a:
• Double CD
• Full length book published by the University Press of Mississippi
• Documentary film - The film is available to watch starting June 17th at www.arthistorypolitics.com.
Order the CD and (soft cover) book combination here and receive our special discounted price by combining both items.
The soft cover book is usually $30 and the double CD is $30. Get them both here together for $50.
The Songs of Slavery and Emancipation project presents recently discovered songs composed by enslaved people and explicitly calling for resistance to slavery. Some originate as early as 1800 and others as late as the outbreak of the Civil War. The project also includes long-lost songs of the abolitionist movement, some of which were written by fugitive slaves as well as free black people, challenging common misconceptions of abolitionism.
Thirty one songs are presented in a beautiful hard cover bound double CD containing new performances in a traditional style by numerous contributing artists.
An accompanying 64 page liner notes booklet includes complete lyrics as well as reproductions of historic documents. The liner notes also include essays by the album’s producer Mat Callahan, scholar Robin D.G. Kelley and activist organizer Kali Akuno.
The album will also be available via digital download and streaming services.
A companion full length book, published by the University Press of Mississippi, documents the sources of these newly released songs, as well as providing historic context.
Songs of Slavery and Emancipation
By Mat Callahan
Introduction by Robin D. G. Kelley
Afterword by Kali Akuno
University Press of Mississippi
www.upress.state.ms.us
MAT CALLAHAN is a musician and author originally from San Francisco. He is author of five books including The Explosion of Deferred Dreams: Musical Renaissance and Social Revolution in San Francisco, 1965–1975 and A Critical Guide to Intellectual Property. His recent projects include the republication of Songs of Freedom: The James Connolly Songbook by Irish revolutionary James Connolly; the recording and publication of Working-Class Heroes: A History of Struggle in Song: A Songbook; and the launch of the multimedia project Songs of Slavery and Emancipation, which includes this book, a CD of song recordings, and a film. ... moreships out within 5 daysPurchasable with gift card$50 USD or more
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lyrics
Nat Turner (Gainin' Ground)
- First discovered as "The Gainin’ Ground" in Pete Seeger Where Have All the Flowers Gone pg. 236
- later discovered it in John Greenway American Folksongs of Protest pg. 92-93
-and Russell Ames, The Story of American Folk Song, 1955, p.151-152
all three attribute discovery of the song to Lawrence Gellert
This is confirmed by Gellert, published in Mainstream Vol.16, No.2 February, 1963
The tablature provided by Seeger posed difficulties, so I composed a melody that was consistent with music of the period and fit the lyrics.
You mought be rich as cream,
And drive you coach and four horse team;
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ round,
Nor Nat Turner from gaining ground.
You mought be reader and writer too
And wiser’n Old Solomon the Jew
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ ‘round,
Nor Nat Turner from gainin’ ground.
And your name it mought be Ceaser sure
And got you cannon can shoot a mile or more
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ ‘round
Nor Nat Turner from gainin’ ground.
You mought be a Carroll from Carrollton,
Arrive here night afo’ Lawd make creation,
But you can’t keep the world from moverin’ around
And not turn her back from the gaining ground.
- First discovered as "The Gainin’ Ground" in Pete Seeger Where Have All the Flowers Gone pg. 236
- later discovered it in John Greenway American Folksongs of Protest pg. 92-93
-and Russell Ames, The Story of American Folk Song, 1955, p.151-152
all three attribute discovery of the song to Lawrence Gellert
This is confirmed by Gellert, published in Mainstream Vol.16, No.2 February, 1963
The tablature provided by Seeger posed difficulties, so I composed a melody that was consistent with music of the period and fit the lyrics.
You mought be rich as cream,
And drive you coach and four horse team;
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ round,
Nor Nat Turner from gaining ground.
You mought be reader and writer too
And wiser’n Old Solomon the Jew
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ ‘round,
Nor Nat Turner from gainin’ ground.
And your name it mought be Ceaser sure
And got you cannon can shoot a mile or more
But you can’t keep the World from moverin’ ‘round
Nor Nat Turner from gainin’ ground.
You mought be a Carroll from Carrollton,
Arrive here night afo’ Lawd make creation,
But you can’t keep the world from moverin’ around
And not turn her back from the gaining ground.
credits
from Songs of Slavery and Emancipation,
released June 17, 2022
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Jalopy Records Brooklyn, New York
New York City's "best and only" Folk music record label.
Jalopy Records is the in-house record
label for the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. The Jalopy Theatre is a grassroots community music venue and cultural center dedicated to folk music from the United States and around the world.
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