A sheet of lyrics for a song entitled, “The Land that Gives Birth to Freedom,” about leaving Tennessee for Kansas, 1877.

This songster, or sheet of song lyrics, was sold by Benjamin “Pap” Singleton as part of his campaign to encourage migration from Tennessee to Kansas.

Transcription:

The Land That Gives Birth to Freedom

Words by Hester Hickman. Arranged by A. D. DeFrantz, Nashville, Tennessee, 1877.

We have held a meeting to ourselves to see if we cant

Plan some way to live. (Repeat.)

Chorus.--Marching along, yes we are marching along,

To Kansas City we are bound. (Repeat)

We have Mr. Singleton for our President, he will go on

before us and lead us through. (Repeat)

Chorus --

Surely this must be the Lord that has gone before him,

and opened the way. (Repeat.)

Chorus --

For Tennessee is a hard slavery State, and we find no

Friends in this country. (Repeat.)

Chorus --

Truly it is hard, but we all have to part, and flee into a

Strange land unknown. (Repeat.)

Chorus --

We want peaceful homes and quiet firesides; no one to

Disturb us or turn us out. (Repeat.)

Chorus --

Extending Our Voices to Heaven.

Farewell, dear friends, farewell.

We are on our rapid march to Kansas, the land that gives

Birth to freedom. May God Almighty bless you all.

Farewell, dear friends, farewell.

Many dear mothers who are sleeping in the tomb of clay

Have spent all their days in slavery in old Tennessee.

Farewell, dear friends, farewell.

The time has come, we all must part, and take the parting band,

Farewell, dear friends, farewell.

It seems to me like the year of jubilee has come; surely

this is the time that is spoken of in history.

Farewell, dear friends, farewell.

Sold by “Pap” Singleton, author of the exodus.