I'm on my way to Canada,
That cold and dreary land,
The dire effects of slavery
I can no longer stand,
My soul is vexed within me more
To think that I'm a slave,
I'm now resolved to strike the blow
For freedom, or the grave.
Oh, righteous father, wilt thou not pity me,
And aid me on to Canada, where colored men are free.
I heard the Queen of England say
If we would all forsake
Our native land of slavery
And come across the lake,
That she was standing on the shore
With arms extended wide,
To give us all a peaceful home
Beyond the rolling side.
Farewell old master, that's enough for me,
I'm going straight to Canada where colored men are free.
Grieve not my wife,
Grieve not for me,
Oh, do not break my heart;
For nought but cruel slavery
Would cause me to depart,
If I should stay to quell your grief,
Your grief I would augment,
For no one knows the day that we
Asunder may be rent.
Oh, Susannah don't cry after me,
I'm going up to Canada where colored men are free.
I served my master all my days
Without a dime's reward,
But now I'm forced to run away
To flee the lash abhored,
The hounds are baying on my track
The master just behind,
Resolved that he will bring me back
Before I cross the line.
Oh, old master don't come after me
I'm going up to Canada where colored men are free.
I heard old master pray last night,
I heard him pray for me,
That God would come and in his might
From Satan set me free,
So I from Satan would escape
And flee the wrath to come,
If there's a fiend in human shape
Old Master must be one.
Oh, old master while you pray for me
I'm doing all I can to reach the land of liberty.
Ohio's not the place for me,
For I was much surprised,
So many of her sons to see
In garments of disguise;
Her name has gone throughtout the world
Free labor, soil and men,
But slaves had better far be hurled
Into a lion's den.
Farewell Ohio, I'm not safe in thee,
I'll travel on to Canada where colored men are free.
I've now embarked for yonder's shore,
Where man's a man by law,
The vessel soon will bear me o'er
To shake the Lion's paw;
I no more dread the auctioneer,
Nor fear the master's frown,
I no more tremble when I hear
The baying negro hound.
Oh, old master, don't come after me,
I'm just in sight of Canada, where colored men are free.
I've landed safe in Canada,
Both soul and body free,
My blood and brains and tears no more
Shall drench old Tennessee;
Yet I behold the scalding tears
Now streaming from my eye,
To think my wife, my only dear,
A slave must live and die.
Oh, Susannah, don't grieve after me,
Forever at the throne of God, I will remember thee.
That cold and dreary land,
The dire effects of slavery
I can no longer stand,
My soul is vexed within me more
To think that I'm a slave,
I'm now resolved to strike the blow
For freedom, or the grave.
Oh, righteous father, wilt thou not pity me,
And aid me on to Canada, where colored men are free.
I heard the Queen of England say
If we would all forsake
Our native land of slavery
And come across the lake,
That she was standing on the shore
With arms extended wide,
To give us all a peaceful home
Beyond the rolling side.
Farewell old master, that's enough for me,
I'm going straight to Canada where colored men are free.
Grieve not my wife,
Grieve not for me,
Oh, do not break my heart;
For nought but cruel slavery
Would cause me to depart,
If I should stay to quell your grief,
Your grief I would augment,
For no one knows the day that we
Asunder may be rent.
Oh, Susannah don't cry after me,
I'm going up to Canada where colored men are free.
I served my master all my days
Without a dime's reward,
But now I'm forced to run away
To flee the lash abhored,
The hounds are baying on my track
The master just behind,
Resolved that he will bring me back
Before I cross the line.
Oh, old master don't come after me
I'm going up to Canada where colored men are free.
I heard old master pray last night,
I heard him pray for me,
That God would come and in his might
From Satan set me free,
So I from Satan would escape
And flee the wrath to come,
If there's a fiend in human shape
Old Master must be one.
Oh, old master while you pray for me
I'm doing all I can to reach the land of liberty.
Ohio's not the place for me,
For I was much surprised,
So many of her sons to see
In garments of disguise;
Her name has gone throughtout the world
Free labor, soil and men,
But slaves had better far be hurled
Into a lion's den.
Farewell Ohio, I'm not safe in thee,
I'll travel on to Canada where colored men are free.
I've now embarked for yonder's shore,
Where man's a man by law,
The vessel soon will bear me o'er
To shake the Lion's paw;
I no more dread the auctioneer,
Nor fear the master's frown,
I no more tremble when I hear
The baying negro hound.
Oh, old master, don't come after me,
I'm just in sight of Canada, where colored men are free.
I've landed safe in Canada,
Both soul and body free,
My blood and brains and tears no more
Shall drench old Tennessee;
Yet I behold the scalding tears
Now streaming from my eye,
To think my wife, my only dear,
A slave must live and die.
Oh, Susannah, don't grieve after me,
Forever at the throne of God, I will remember thee.
Contributed by Bartleby - 2012/1/12 - 16:20
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Sull’aria di “Oh! Susanna”, popolarissima canzone scritta nel 1847 da Stephen Foster.
Ancora una canzone – questa meno nota e cantata, ma dal testo per nulla criptico – sull’ “Underground Railroad”, la rete di cammini segreti attraverso la quale, tra la fine del 1700 e la Guerra Civile, non meno di 30.000 afroamericani riuscirono a scappare dalla schiavitù.
Si vedano al proposito Follow the Drinking Gourd, Go down, Moses, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Steal Away e Wade in De Water.