"Ole Mose
or
Freedom is a coming" (1865)
[aka "Freedom is a Comin'"]
Song & Chorus
Words & music by
Edwy Wells Foster.

Boston: Henry Tolman & Co., 291 Washington St.
H. F. Greene, Engr[aver].
Plate No. 5041
[Source: 089/072@Levy]

1. Not long ago one summer ever,
Ole massa sez to me.
I specks yez gwaine to leave me, Mose,
In hopes dat you’ll be free.
O now Ole Mose don’t leave me so.
De rest hab run away.
Don’t leave Ole massa all alone
Kase he am old an’ gray!

[Ole Mose.] [sung after each VERSE]
Hark! Massa do you hear day!
Hear the cannon’s boom!
Freedom is a comin’
Wid fife and drum!

SEMI-CHORUS. Soprano & Tenor. [sung twice after each "Ole Mose"]
Hey! ye darkeys.
Haste y for de glory, glory
Hey! ye darkeys.
Hallelujah’s come.

Contraband CHORUS. [sung twice after each SEMI-CHORUS]
Hi! Hi! Hi! Freedom is a comin’, comin’
Hi! Hi! Hi! Hallelujah’s come!
[Contraband CHORUS.]
Glory Hallelujah!

2. You’ve allus ben so true, Ole Mose,
Still fait’ful be to me.
An’ when I die, I’ll will dat you
Shall ever more be free.
De darkeys dat hab run away
Will wish dey hadn’t gone.
Kase Old Abe sure will hang de lot,
Yes evry blessed one!

3. But Massa, I’se a growin’ old
An’ gray as well as you;
For sixty years I’se been
A fait’ful slave an’ true,
Though I’m too ole for freedom now
I’se glad for every slave;
Dars comfort yet for poor Ole Mose,
Dars freedom in de grave!

4. O bress de Lamb! O bress de Lamb!
My prayers by night an’ day;
Are answered now, in freedom’s guns,
Dat boom so far away!
Every gun an’ battle shout,
Breaks a captive’s chain
An’ freedom rises pure an’ strong,
From out among de slain!

5. I’ve just one word to say to you,
An’ Massas big an’ small;
Dar is no use o’ fightin’ fate,
It’s stronger dan you all.
You see de smoke of wrath aroun’
Dis righteous wrath am He
Who in de bressed Book has sed
De Captive shall go free!

6. Ole Massa soon I’se gwain’ to die,
My toil will soon be o’er;
I hear de voices callin’ me,
From off de blissful shore.
Though I’m too ole for freedom now,
I’se glad for every slave,
Dars comfort yet for poor Ole Mose,
Dars freedom in de grave!