GET OFF THE TRACK.wmv

This was a song written and performed by the Hutchinson family who were ardent abolitionists as well as supporters of temperance and increased rights for women and worker's. They became well known in the 1840s by popularizing the use of four part harmony in choral singing.

The lyrics have been shortened in this presentation and are as follows:
Ho! the car, Emancipation,
Rides majestic through our nation
Bearing on its train, the story
Liberty! a nation's glory.
Roll it along! Roll it along!
Roll it along! thro' the nation
Freedom's car, Emancipation
Roll it along! Roll it along!
Roll it along! thro' the nation
Freedom's car, Emancipation.

First of all the train, and greater,
Speeds the dauntless Liberator
Onward cheered amid hosannas,
And the waving of free banners.
Roll it along! Roll it along!
Roll it along! spread your banners
While the people shout hosannas.
Roll it along! Roll it along!
Roll it along! spread your banners
While the people shout hosannas.




Let the ministers and churches
Leave behind sectarian lurches;
Jump on board the car of freedom
Ere it be too late to need them.
Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm!
Sound the alarm! pulpit's thunder!
Ere too late, you see your blunder.
Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm!
Sound the alarm! pulpit's thunder!
Ere too late, you see your blunder.
.

Rail roads to emancipation
Cannot rest on Clay foundation
And the tracks of 'The Magician'
Are but rail roads to perdition.
Pull up the rails! Pull up the rails!
Pull up the rails! Emancipation
Cannot rest on such foundation.
Pull up the rails! Pull up the rails!
Pull up the rails! Emancipation
Cannot rest on such foundation.


All true friends of emancipation,
Haste to freedom's rail road station;
Quick into the cars get seated,
All is ready, and completed.
Put on the steam! Put on the steam!
Put on the steam! All are crying,
And the liberty flags are flying.
Put on the steam! Put on the steam!
Put on the steam! All are crying,
And the liberty flags are flying.

Hear the mighty car wheels humming!
Now look out! the engine's coming!
Church and statesmen! hear the thunder!
Clear the track! or you'll fall under.
Get off the track! Get off the track!
Get off the track! all are singing,
While the liberty bell is ringing.
Get off the track! Get off the track!
Get off the track! all are singing,
While the liberty bell is ringing.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• hutchinson
• family
• singers
• slavery
• abolitionism
• civil
• war
• fugitive
• slave
• act
• emancipation

[Thx1138d]

i can only imagine what the South thought of the Hutchinson family

[HenryClayTalleyrand]

They mention the Magician, I think this is from the 1848 election. Martin Van Buren (known as the Little Magician) ran as an Free Soil candidate in the North.

[georgeafullerton]

@wendyjoseph1

I was not aware which, if any, of the Hutchinsons sang at Fred's funeral.

The only one of the original quartet to survive Fred was John Wallace Hutchinson who died in 1908.

[Nopleravet]

Simply Splendid!!!

[wendyjoseph1]

@SteveonLI

do you have any idea how i can find the sheet music to the song they sang at Fredrick Douglass's funeral?

[galoon]

Another great one, and a nice version of this song!

[dottedboy]

This was unbelievably awesome, thank you.

[Ihateworking1]

RE: I meant "way" not "was"

[Ihateworking1]

What a message! Gets my American pride going was more than anything they could produce today. Go Blue! Go Ohio!!

[SteveonLI]

hutchinsons were incredible! what a story