Molasses To Rum

Lyrics

[RUTLEDGE, spoken] Our Northern brethren. Feelin' a bit tender toward our slaves. They don't keep slaves. Oh, no. But they're willin' to be considerable carriers of slaves to us. They're willing—for the shilling! Or haven't you heard, Mr. Adams? Clink. Clink (sung) Molasses to rum to slaves Oh, what a beautiful waltz You dance with us, we dance with you In molasses and rum and slaves Who sail the ships out of Boston? Laden with bibles and rum Who drinks a toast To the Ivory Coast? "Hail Africa, the slavers have come!" New England with bibles and rum And it's off with the rum and the bibles Take on the slaves, clink clink! Then hail and farewell to the smell Of the African coast! Molasses to rum to slaves 'Tisn't morals, 'tis money that saves Shall we dance to the sound Of the profitable pound? In molasses and rum and slaves Who sail the ships out of Guinea Laden with bibles and slaves 'Tis Boston can boast To the West Indies coast "Jamaica, we brung what ye craves!" Antigua, Barbados: "We brung bibles and slaves!" (spoken) Gentlemen, you mustn't think that our Northern friends see our black slaves as merely figures on a ledger. Oh, no, they see them as figures on a block! Look at the faces at the auctions, gentlemen. White faces on African wharves. Seafaring faces. New England faces. "Put them in the ships. Cram them in the ships! Stuff them in the ships." Hurry, gentlemen! Let the auction begin! (sung) Ya-ha! Ya-ha-ma-cundah! (spoken) Gentlemen, do you hear? That's the cry of the auctioneer (sung) Ya-ha Ya-ha-ma-cundah! (spoken) Slaves, gentlemen! Black gold! Livin' gold! Gold from: (sung) Angola Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Blackbirds for sale! Ashanti Ibo, Ibo, Ibo, Ibo Blackbirds for sale! Handle them, fondle them But don't finger them! They're prime! They're prime! Ya-ha! Ya-ha-ma-cundah! [BARTLETT, spoken] For the love of God, Mr. Rutledge, please! [RUTLEDGE] Molasses to rum to slaves Who sail the ships back to Boston Laden with gold? See it gleam! Whose fortunes are made In the Triangle Trade? Hail slavery: the New England dream! Mr. Adams, I give you a toast! Hail Boston Hail Charleston Who stinketh the most?