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[As sung by Wood's Minstrels, Minstrel Hall, N.Y.] The Words by Henry Wood, Esq. The Music composed by A. Sedgwick. New York: Wm. Vanderbeek, 1852. [N.B. This Song was suggested by the incidents to be found in Miss Harriet Beecher Stowe's celebrated work, entitled "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN," which, since its first issue, has been so widely sought after.] A look of gloomy bitter sadness, Rests on every creature, Gone is every sign of gladness, Joyless every feature; Forc'd away ere scarce a warning, Came that we must sever, With us at eve but ere the morning, Tom was gone forever. [CHORUS:] Poor Uncle Tom, Farewell for evermore, Time will thy virtues tell, When life is o'er. Poor Uncle Tom, Farewell for evermore, Time will thy virtues tell, When life, when life is o'er. He trod the steamer's deck dejected, And nought he thought could cheer him, Still he was not by all neglected-- A sweet child gambol'd near him; And gazing on his face with sorrow, She kindly said--"Why sigh you, Don't weep, and then perhaps tomorrow My father, dear will buy you." [CHORUS:] Poor Uncle Tom,--the voice Of that young child Made his lone heart rejoice-- He sigh'd and smild. Hark, what a cry to heaven ascends Eva, the planter's little daughter, Whose life on some swift aid depends, Now struggles in the water; A bound--a splash--and old Tom leaping, Ahead of ev'ry other, Rescues the child, and brings her weeping To her distracted mother. [CHORUS:] Poor Tom is now at rest, In the dark grave, And those who knew him best, Mourn for the slave. |
PERFORMED BY GLIMPSE OF GLORY LEAD VOCAL: Kay Buchanan CHORUS: Constance Harrington (Soprano) Kay Buchanan (Alto) David Tate (Tenor) James Stewart (Bass) PIANO: Lynne Mackey Recorded by Bill Dudley Produced by Bill Wellington Harrisonburg, Virginia Audio encoding at the Digital Media Center, Clemons Library, University of Virginia |
 Special Collections, University of Virginia Above: cover of the sheet music (New York, 1852). Below: the lyrics published as a broadside (Philadelphia, n.d.). Bottom: the lyrics published in a minstrel book (New York, 1855).  Levy Collection of Sheet Music THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE  Small Special Collections UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA |