No More Auction Block (Paul Robeson)

"No more Auction Block" (Also known as "Many Thousand Gone") is a song composed as a marching song for black soldiers during the American Civil War. It takes on extra power when performed by Robeson. As an historical footnote, Bob Dylan would end up using elements of it's melody in his song "blowing in the Wind."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Auction
• Block
• Paul
• Robeson
• slave
• slavery
• african
• opression
• American
• South
• Plantation

[OscarLimaMike]

Maybe someday slavery will end... doesn't seem likely though we are all still the beneficiaries of slavery today. Now it hides behind the happy face logo of Walmart.

[RedCeltic]

"You know how, today, the Northern people put on airs of morality on the score of having "abolished chattel slavery," the "traffic in human flesh," "gone down South and fought, and bled, to free the Negro," etc., etc. Yet we know that just as soon as manufacturing was introduced in the North, the North found that it was too expensive to own the Negro and take care of him; that it was much cheaper not to own the worker;" -- Daniel DeLeon 1896

[michelle1688]

this is grand, Red Celtic, mad to think not long ago ppl thought slavery was normal and 'christian' even!

Robeson was a great all rounder, civil rights, sports, scholar, writer, singer, etc

is it right he was also in the international brigades in Spain? or am i getting mixed up

5* defo

[RedCeltic]

He was a supporter of the Abraham Lincon Brigade, and had even visited them in the field... but I don't think he took part in the conflict.

[hareyb]

blowin' in the wind was based on this song

[420IrishRasta420]

FUCK RACISM, in ALL its forms

[biastg]

It was sung in camp by Black soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War, as was "Oh Freedom," which was revived in the 1960s as a civil rights song. I do the two together as a medley.

[Faxe90Swe]

@apchyouzo

The Americans weren't alone. 

[Faxe90Swe]

@420IrishRasta420

how about racism against alleged racists?

[mandaladouble]

Paul Robeson was a great human being.

[wb7ptr]

The great civil rights song, "We Shall Overcome" is based partly on this one. I think it was a merging of "No More Auction Block" and another spiritual.

[apchyouzo]

how could you Americans do this to other human

[JiffySpook]

 '....no more drivers Lash for me...'

[thirteenfingers]

Just a quick comment about this great song... I've seen it described as a civil war song a few times, but it's my understanding that it pre-dates the American civil war by quite some time. I believe it originated around 1833 when many blacks fled to Canada after Britain abolished slavery.

Of course, that doesn't take away anything from the song or this performance, but if I'm correct it may make a difference to the video description.

All the best.

[vivascargill]

Paul Robeson will live forever in the hearts of people!! A great man!!

I have said this elsewhere but I will say it again when he was dying maybe poisoned by Hoover My Mom was in the same Hospital an almost crawled out of her bed to get to see him but could not--I saw him once at his funeral--I hope he rests in peace in a place with no action blocks! God bless him!

[vivascargill]

@raymondcrooke thanks!