The Enlisted Men (the Negro Battle Hymn)
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
The Enlisted Soldiers or The Negro Battle Hymn
- First discovered in Cabin and Plantation Songs as Sung By the Hampton Students (1901) pg.146
NOTE:—“While recruiting and drilling the 9th Regiment, U.S. Colored troops at Benedict, Maryland, in the winter of 1863-64, the men gathered around the camp-fire would sing by the hour the melodies of the plantation slave life that they had just left-not always very melodious; but late one evening I was startled by a magnificent chorus from nearly a thousand black soldiers, that called me from my tent to listen to its most inspiring strains, and I caught the following words which I called the ‘Negro Battle Hymn.’” Samuel Chapman Armstrong, commander of the 8th US Colored Infantry regiment.
Hark! listen to the trumpeters,
They call for volunteers,
On Zion’s bright and flow’ry mount,
Behold the officers.
Refrain: They look like men,
they look like men,
they look like men of war;
All armed and dressed in uniform,
They look like men of war.
Their horses white
their armor bright
With courage bold they stand,
Enlisting soldiers for their King,
To march to Canaan’s land.
Ref.
It sets my heart quite in a flame
A soldier thus to be,
I will enlist, gird on my arms,
And fight for liberty.
Ref.
We want no cowards in our band,
That will their colors fly;
We call for valiant hearted men,
Who’re not afraid to die.
Ref.
To see our armies on parade
How martial they appear,
All armed and dressed in uniform
They look like men of war.
Ref.
They follow their great General,
The great Eternal Lamb,
His garment stained in His own blood,
King Jesus is His name.
Ref.
The trumpets sound, the armies shout,
They drive the host of Hell,
How dreadful is our God to adore,
The great Immanuel.
Ref.
- First discovered in Cabin and Plantation Songs as Sung By the Hampton Students (1901) pg.146
NOTE:—“While recruiting and drilling the 9th Regiment, U.S. Colored troops at Benedict, Maryland, in the winter of 1863-64, the men gathered around the camp-fire would sing by the hour the melodies of the plantation slave life that they had just left-not always very melodious; but late one evening I was startled by a magnificent chorus from nearly a thousand black soldiers, that called me from my tent to listen to its most inspiring strains, and I caught the following words which I called the ‘Negro Battle Hymn.’” Samuel Chapman Armstrong, commander of the 8th US Colored Infantry regiment.
Hark! listen to the trumpeters,
They call for volunteers,
On Zion’s bright and flow’ry mount,
Behold the officers.
Refrain: They look like men,
they look like men,
they look like men of war;
All armed and dressed in uniform,
They look like men of war.
Their horses white
their armor bright
With courage bold they stand,
Enlisting soldiers for their King,
To march to Canaan’s land.
Ref.
It sets my heart quite in a flame
A soldier thus to be,
I will enlist, gird on my arms,
And fight for liberty.
Ref.
We want no cowards in our band,
That will their colors fly;
We call for valiant hearted men,
Who’re not afraid to die.
Ref.
To see our armies on parade
How martial they appear,
All armed and dressed in uniform
They look like men of war.
Ref.
They follow their great General,
The great Eternal Lamb,
His garment stained in His own blood,
King Jesus is His name.
Ref.
The trumpets sound, the armies shout,
They drive the host of Hell,
How dreadful is our God to adore,
The great Immanuel.
Ref.
credits
from Songs of Slavery and Emancipation,
released June 17, 2022
license
all rights reserved
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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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