An Introduction to America’s Music

154 PART 1 | FROM COLONIZATION THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR

date: 1844

performers: The New Hutchinson Family

Singers (George Berglund, Wayne Dalton,

Bill Rollie, Judy Sjerven, voices; Linda Steen,

piano; Robert de Cormier, director)

genre: song of social reform

meter: duple

form: strophic

Listening Guide 6.4 “Get Off the Track!”^ JESSE HUTCHINSON JR.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• alternation of solo voice and unison voices


• piano accompaniment in imitation of
  minstrel band


• political content of lyrics

timing section text comments

0:00 introduction The piano’s introduction evokes the shrill

fi ddle and rhythmic accompaniment of the

minstrel band.

0:07 stanza 1 Ho! The Car Emancipation

Rides majestic thro’ 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.

0:32 stanza 2 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.

Stanzas 2–5 begin each with a different solo

voice, the other voices joining in for the second

half of the stanza—the music that marks the

chorus in “Old Dan Tucker.”

0:57 stanza 3 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.

1:22 stanza 4 Rail Roads to emancipation

Cannot rest on Clay foundation

CD 1.20

172028_06_132-161_r3_ko.indd 154 23/01/13 8:19 PM