"Melodrama" means "a play with music," and 19th century audiences
expected music whenever they went to see a play. Before Uncle Tom's
Cabin began its extraordinary run as "the world's greatest hit," in fact, an
evening at the theater meant seeing several plays, with musical or other
entertainment in the intervals. Because staging Stowe's story took over 3
hours, it was shown without other entertainment -- another way in which Uncle
Tom changed American culture.
|
CLICK TO ENLARGE
1901 Brady Production
Prompbook Museum of the
City of New York.
All rights reserved. |
From the beginning of its extraordinary run, however, the play itself
contained songs. This page attempts to provide some access to what the drama
sounded like to successive generations of American audiences: the songs listed
below were all named in at least one of the various playbills, ads, promptbooks
and other records in the archive. They are listed chronologically, according
to their first mention. Some of these songs (like George Howard's "I'se So
Wicked") were performed thousands of times,
over all the decades between 1852 and the 1920s. Others, though, reflect the
changing musical (and ideological) tastes of various times, like the
introduction of "Negro Spirituals" into the play after the popular success of
the Fisk Jubilee Singers in the 1870s, or the increasing absorption of minstrel
songs into the drama. Similarly, some of the songs were written specifically
for productions of "UTC"; others were already familiar pop tunes before anyone
used them in a performance -- you can usually tell from their titles which are
which. |
The list below allows you to recreate the soundtrack of
the play in several ways. When a SONG is a link, clicking
on it will allow you to read the lyrics, or, when it has a
CHECKMARK, to listen to a recorded performance of it.
When COMPANY/THEATER is a link, clicking on that will
take you to a playbill or text of that production. This list is a work in
progress: a goal of the archive is
to identify and include at least the lyrics (and, with luck, recordings) of
all the "songs of UTC" we can identify. Many of them, though, seem never to
have been published, including the many "Ethiopian medleys" and "overtures" with which
the play often began. Other evidence suggests those medleys were typically
made up of popular minstrel tunes. We know that even "Dixie" -- that
pro-slavery Confederate anthem -- was eventually included in the Tom Shows
(see the page from the 1901 promptbook above). In 1911 the Edison
Recording Co. released such a medley as "Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Dream Picture,"
and you can hear that by CLICKING HERE. The "dream"
audiences would have heard in such a song is by no means Stowe's original
vision of abolition, which underlines the importance of trying to recover what
the dramatizations that millions of Americans attended for over 70 years did
in fact sound like.
|
| SONG |
 |
SUNG/PLAYED BY |
EARLIEST PERFORMANCE |
COMPANY/THEATER |
| Nigga to the Cornfield |
|
Chorus |
30 August 1852 |
C.W. Taylor/National Theatre |
| To Little Eva in Heaven |
 |
St. Clare |
12 November 1852 |
Howards/Troy Museum |
| Uncle Tom's Religion |
|
Uncle Tom |
12 November 1852 |
Howards/Troy Museum |
| Our Home Is
Surely the Sweetest |
|
Eva |
1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Ethiopian Medley Overture |
|
Chorus |
13 December 1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Early in de Morning |
|
Chorus |
13 December 1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Hurrah! Hurrah! More Wood |
|
Chorus |
13 December 1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Good Uncle Tom |
|
Eva |
13 December 1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Plantation Jig |
|
Gray & Thayer |
13 December 1852 |
Boston Museum |
| Poor Uncle Tom |
|
|
1852 |
Wood's Minstrels |
| Old Folks at Home |
|
Uncle Tom |
26 July 1853 |
Howards/National Theatre |
| I'Se So Wicked |
|
Topsy |
26 July 1853 |
Howards/National Theatre |
| Eva to Her Papa |
|
Eva |
20 October 1853 |
Howards/National Theatre |
| Wait
for the Wagon |
|
|
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Cheer, Boys, Cheer |
|
|
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Poor Old Jessie |
|
|
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Camptown Races |
|
|
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Old Dan Tucker |
|
|
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
Dere's No Use Talking
When a Nigger Wants To Go |
|
Topsy |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Banjo Solo |
|
Topsy |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| My Old Kentucky Home |
|
George Harris |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Who's Dat Knocking |
|
George Harris |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Though Sorrow Clouds |
|
George & Liza |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Coon Hunt |
|
Lame Jake |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Hearts and Home |
|
Chorus |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Corn Shucking Reel |
|
Chorus(?) |
11 October 1853 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Nelly Bly |
|
Topsy |
21 November 1853 |
CHESNUT STREET THEATRE |
| Lilly Dale |
|
Topsy |
21 November 1853 |
CHESNUT STREET THEATRE |
| Mary Blane |
|
Topsy |
21 November 1853 |
CHESNUT STREET THEATRE |
| African Breakdown |
|
Topsy |
21 November 1853 |
CHESNUT STREET THEATRE |
| Topsy's Song |
|
Topsy |
1853 |
Providence Museum |
| Massa in de Cold Ground |
|
|
1853 |
Providence Museum |
| Uncle Tom's Gone to Rest |
|
|
1853 |
MINSTREL/Christy's Opera House |
| Eva's Song |
|
Eva |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Bekase My Name Am Topsey |
|
Topsy |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Duett |
|
Tom & Chloe |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Liza, Love, I Am Here |
|
George & Eliza |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| I Love My Love in the Morning |
|
George & Eliza |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Oh, Eva, Your Eyes They Shine |
|
Chorus |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Singing Lesson |
|
Topsy |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Beautiful Summer |
|
Eva |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Hail to This Happy Day |
|
Chorus |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Now I Am a Lady |
|
Topsy |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Their Hands Will Join Forever |
|
Chorus |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Liza and George Are Married |
|
Chorus |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Eva's Farewell |
|
Eva, Tom, Chloe |
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| Pop Goes the Weasel |
|
|
1854 |
MINSTREL/Christy & Wood's |
| A Nigger's Life Is Always Gay |
|
Black Jake |
27 November 1855 |
Lights and Shadows of Southern Life |
| Dandy Jim of the Caroline |
|
Black Sam |
27 November 1855 |
Lights and Shadows of Southern Life |
| O Stay with the Loved Ones |
|
Marie |
27 November 1855 |
Lights and Shadows of Southern Life |
| When Swallows Homeward Fly |
|
Marie |
27 November 1855 |
Lights and Shadows of Southern Life |
| Death of Eva |
|
St. Clare |
2 November 1859 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Union |
|
Topsy |
1859 |
Howards/Adelphi Theatre |
| Dere's a Nigger in de Tent |
|
Uncle Tom & Topsy |
16 August 1861 |
MINSTREL/Sanford's Opera House |
| Ethiopian Overture |
|
|
13 February 1862 |
Continental Theatre |
| Jim Crow |
|
Topsy |
13 February 1862 |
Continental Theatre |
| Aunt Jemimah |
|
Topsy |
13 February 1862 |
Continental Theatre |
| Nancy Till |
|
Topsy |
13 February 1862 |
Continental Theatre |
| My Old
Kentucky Home |
|
Topsy |
13 February 1862 |
Continental Theatre |
| Rip Slap |
|
Topsy |
24 June 1863 |
Continental Theatre |
| Gentle Eva Clare |
|
Topsy |
24 June 1863 |
Continental Theatre |
| Hi, Jeff |
|
Topsy |
24 June 1863 |
Continental Theatre |
| Mocking Bird |
|
Quimbo & Chorus |
24 June 1863 |
Continental Theatre |
| Last Rose of Summer |
|
|
12 January 1875 |
Niblo's Garden |
| Mocking-Bird Galop |
|
|
12 January 1875 |
Niblo's Garden |
| Spring Waltz |
|
|
12 January 1875 |
Niblo's Garden |
| Mother, Is Massa Gwine To Sell Us? |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Shake Your Dusty Wings |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Jingle, Jingle |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Sweet Bye-and-Bye |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| The Slave's Dream |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Steal Away |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Nearer To Thee |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| Hail! Hail! |
|
Chorus |
8 May 1876 |
Howards/Boston Museum |
| I'm So Glad |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Rise, Shine and Give God the Glory |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Gospel Train Get On Board |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Essence of old Virginia |
|
Topsy |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Hard Trials |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Old Black Joe |
|
Uncle Tom & Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Room Enough for All |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| He Is the Lily of the Valley |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| I Long for the Good Old Home |
|
Uncle Tom & Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |
|
Chorus |
14 January 1877 |
New Orleans Academy of Music |
Old Sheep Know de Road
Young Lambs Must Learn the Way |
|
Chorus |
24 December 1877 |
Howards/Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| The Old Home Ain't What It Used to Be |
|
Chorus |
24 December 1877 |
Howards/Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| Dat Sweet Ham Bone |
|
Chorus |
24 December 1877 |
Howards/Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| Little Eva: Song & Chorus |
|
Eva |
c1878 |
Unspecified dramatization |
| Uncle Tom's Cabin |
|
Tom |
c1878 |
Unspecified dramatization |
| Carve Dat
Possum |
|
Chorus |
7 January 1878 |
Howards/Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| Emma Snow |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Old Uncle Ned |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Ben Bolt |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Selections from Madame Angot |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Adele |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Jordan's a Hard Road to Travel |
|
Orchestra |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Tell Me Where My Eva's Gone |
|
Chorus |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| Angels Ever Bright and Fair |
|
Chorus |
23 February 1878 |
Booth's Theatre |
| I'll Be Dar |
|
|
c1880 |
Unspecified dramatization |
| I'm a Rolling |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Go Down, Moses |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Mary and Martha |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Go Chain the Lion Down |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| I'm a Traveling to the Grave |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Gwine to Ride Up in the Chariot |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells |
|
|
3 May 1880 |
Excelsior Miniature/Brooklyn Athenaeum |
| Uncle Tom's Gwine To Stay |
|
Tom |
c1881 |
Sam Lucas in unspecified play |
| The Beautiful Gates Ajar |
|
Eva, Chorus |
c1885 |
7-Act Version of
Aiken |
| Honor the Lamb |
|
Chorus |
25 June 1888 |
John P. Smith Company |
| Oh, Who Will Go With Me? |
|
Chorus |
25 June 1888 |
John P. Smith Company |
| We'll Miss You, Darling Eva |
|
Chorus |
25 June 1888 |
John P. Smith Company |
| Johnnie Get Your Gun |
|
Topsy |
12 November 1888 |
Greene's New
Version |
| Climb de Golden Fence |
|
Topsy |
1895 |
Tivoli, San Francisco |
| Coon with the Big White Spot |
|
Topsy |
1895 |
Tivoli, San Francisco |
| The Star Spangled Banner |
|
|
28 March 1898 |
Harkins & Barbour's |
| Little Kinkies |
|
|
28 March 1898 |
Harkins & Barbour's |
| Jubilee Echoes (Medley) |
|
|
28 March 1898 |
Harkins & Barbour's |
| Darkies' Paradise |
|
|
28 March 1898 |
Harkins & Barbour's |
| Dixie |
|
Chorus |
7 March 1901 |
Wm. A. Brady's Revival |
| Oh Lord Bless Dees Bones |
|
Chorus |
1909 |
Robinson Bros. |
