Get off the Track (1844)

This famous song was written by the Hutchinson Family Singers of New Hampshire, converts to the abolitionist cause who introduced it during the presidential campaign of 1844. Whigs were furious because the song urged voters to reject their candidate Henry Clay, a Kentucky slaveholder ("Railroads to Emancipation / Cannot rest of Clay foundation"). Instead the Hutchinsons urged voters to support a new, small antislavery party, the Liberty Party. Votes for Liberty candidate James Birney may have cost Clay the election.
The Hutchinsons wrote many verses and added more during subsequent elections. The last two here, from the 1860 campaign, advocate support for Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln.
This performance by the Dutchess Anti-Slavery Singers, under the auspices of the Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project, took place in March 2013 in the historic sanctuary of First Congregational Church/United Church of Christ, Poughkeepsie, New York. For more information on the Singers and the historical research behind this music, visit: mhantislaveryhistoryproject.org/
Special thanks to Dutchess Community College and Professor Dana Weidman. Full credits at • Eliza's Flight song w/...

[@jamestown8398]

"This government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free".
Thankfully we chose the right half.

[@LongfellowChorus]

"Get off the track" in the final verse should be shouted, not sung, as quoted in "Excelsior: Journals of the Hutchinson Family Singers," Dale Cockrell, Pendragon Press, 1989: "And when they came to the chorus-cry...the way they cried 'Get off the track'...they forgot the harmony and shouted after another...like an alarmed multitude of spectators, about to witness a terrible catastrophe...it was glorious to witness them alighting down again from their wild flight into the current of the song."

[@djStrimmer]

LongfellowChorus I’m so glad you’ve mentioned this 🙏 thank you

[@keithharvey7478]

So much history in this song

[@chuckclark2741]

Featured this morning on Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now!" Inspiring.

[@johnbrowne2173]

That's what brought me here! Bless her heart! ^..^

[@Milles123]

Brought here as well by today's "Democracy Now!" discussion with Kristen Clarke and William Arkin.

[@cherylparker5071]

​@@Milles123 I, too, heard it on Democracy Now and searched for it. Great minds think alike and watch Democracy Now. Great song

[@lindywindy1995]

Excellent; loved to hear this music come to life! Thank you. Linda in Oregon

[@pauortolacobos6636]

This is the kind of people that made America Great. Strong willed, moral and kind but at the same time severe people with an Iron faith. And when America starts to lack this kind of people, its greatness will decrease accordingly. As it's happening now.

[@dorothydaniel4569]

Loved this...made me smile. And the line about a road that ends in slavery and Texas made me laugh a little...I presently reside in Teaxs. Thanks

[@ack3145]

Roll it along!

[@peterkvoriak6600]

Great......this is america

[@miguellemir242]

Question: Im not American, what was the context for the " Slavery and Texas" bit???

[@user-gd7kn1qq6n]

anyone have access to the music for banjo or piano? really want to learn how to play this amazing song

[@cuddlesandkafka]

levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/012/156

[@danielheartfire614]

Is this musically related to Old Dan Tucker?

[@RandomVidsforthought]

It's the same tune with different lyrics

[@DrywallJackson]

i didn't know they had color video back in 1844!

[@Furry67]

We Granite Staters were quite innovative.