Lincoln and Liberty
The version published in Hutchinson's Republican Songster of 1860 is shown below. (Democrat Stephen Douglas, the "Little Giant," is the "Slaveocrats' giant" who defeated Lincoln in the Illinois election of 1858 for U.S. Senator—but over whom Lincoln won the moral victory among those of either free-soil or abolitionist principles.)
HURRAH for the choice of the nation!
Our chieftain so brave and so true;
We'll go for the great Reformation—
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
We'll go for the son of Kentucky—
The hero of Hoosierdom through;
The pride of the Suckers so lucky—
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
Our David's good sling is unerring,
The Slaveocrats' giant he slew;
Then shout for the Freedom-preferring—
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
They'll find what, by felling and mauling,
Our rail-maker statesman can do;
For the People are everywhere calling
For Lincoln and Liberty too.
Then up with our banner so glorious,
The star-spangled red-white-and-blue,
We'll fight till our flag is victorious,
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
Another version, sung by ex-Weaver Ronnie Gilbert, has the variant, and more extensive, lyrics stated below. It seems to be a partial amalgamation of the version above and a previous song sharing its melody, namely, The Liberty Ball (published by 1845 and attributed to "G.W.C."), which another source attributes [1] to Jessie Hutchinson - who died years prior to the Lincoln election. Given the political culture of 1860, the less militant version above was far more politic, while it could still clandestinely wink at abolition and racial equality, at least among those familiar with The Liberty Ball.
Hurrah for the choice of the nation!
Our chieftain so brave and so true;
We'll go for the great Reformation—
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
We'll go for the son of Kentucky
The hero of Hoosierdom through;
The pride of the Suckers so lucky
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
Our David's good sling is unerring,
The Slaveocrats' giant he slew;
Then shout for the Freedom-preferring
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
We'll go for the son of Kentucky
The hero of Hoosierdom through;
The pride of the Suckers so lucky
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
Come all you true friends of the nation
Attend to humanity's call
Oh aid of the slaves’ liberation
And roll on the liberty ball
We’ll finish the temple of freedom
And make it capacious within
That all who seek shelter may find it
Whatever the hue of their skin.
Success to the old fashioned doctrine
That men are created all free
And down with the power of the despot
Wherever his stronghold may be
They'll find what, by felling and mauling,
Our rail-maker statesman can do;
For the people are everywhere calling
For Lincoln and Liberty too.
Then up with our banner so glorious,
The star-spangled red-white-and-blue,
We'll fight till our Cause is victorious,
For Lincoln and Liberty too!
References[edit]
- Siber, Irwin (1971). Songs America Voted By. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books.
- Hall, Roger Lee (2009). Lincoln and Liberty: Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era. Stoughton, Massachusetts: PineTree Press.