"The Black Brigade" (1863)
Plantation Song & Dance
Sung With Great Success at
Bryant's Minstrels
Word and Music Composed by
Daniel Decatur Emmett, 1815-1904

New York: William A. Pond & Co. 547 Broadway
Plate No. 5860
[Source: scsm0043@LoC]

[SONG with unison CHORUS (indented),
with last line SONG for each verse]
1. 
Dar’s someting rong a brewin’; 
  Gwine to jine de Union. 
Dar’s someting rong a brewin’, 
  Hyro! we go! 
We’re on de brink ob ruin; 
  Gwine to jine de Union, 
Ah,ah, ah, ah! de boys from Linkum Land.

GRAND [unison] CHORUS [sung after verse]
Den harness up de mule, 
Be careful how ye whip, 
An’ mind your eye, 
Sam Johnson am de nigga Gin’ ral, 
We’re de Brack Brigade, 
Why don’t ye let her rip? 
Jeemeses Ribber Massa Greely, O!

[similar format for each verse as above]
2. We am de snolly-gosters,
We am de snolly gosters,
An’ lubs Jim Ribber oysters.

3. We’re gwine to fight de South, O,
We’re gwine to fight de South, O,
All be de ‘word ob mouth’, O.

4. To fight for death an’ glory,
To fight for death an’ glory,
Am quite annudder story.

5. Old John Brown dey strung ’im,
Old John Brown dey strung ’im,
As high as Haman hung ’im.

6. I’ll take my boat an’ paddle,
I’ll take my boat an’ paddle,
For freedom will skydaddle.