The Emancipation Car :: :: University of Virginia Library

Come, come to freedom's call—
Old and young, come one and all,
Join now to celebrate
Eighteen hundred and thirty-eight.
Sing, freemen, sing, sing, freemen, sing,
Sing a song, for it wont be long,
'Till the slaves are all set free.

In old Jamaica's Iles,
See the sun of freedom smiles;
Chains are no longer worn,
Despots from their thrones are torn.
Praise, freemen, praise; O praise, &c.,
Praise the Lord, for it was his word
That set the captive free.

Hark! what is this I hear?
A dismal sound salutes my ear.
Groans from the living graves,
Of thirty hundred thousand slaves.
Pray, christians, pray; pray, &c.,
Weep and pray for the glorious day,
When the slaves shall all go free.

Go! go! with one accord—
“Preach my Gospel,” saith the Lord.
Cry on the land and sea,
“God created all men free.”
Preach, ye heralds, preach; preach, &c.,

Preach and pray for the glorious day,
When the slaves shall all go free.

Now in the eastern skies,
See that brilliant light arise;
Darkness is fleeing past—
Slavery's die will soon be cast.
Plead, freemen, plead; plead, &c.,
Plead and pray till the glorious day,
When the slaves shall all go free.

Blow, blow, the trumpet blow,
Round the walls of Jerico—
Loud let the echo sound—
Slavery's walls are tumbling down.
Blow, christians, blow, blow the trumpet blow;
Blow and pray till the glorious day,
When the slaves shall all go free.