1776 - Molasses To Rum

1776(1972) set to Sherman Edwards Molasses To Rum performed by John Cullum -It is fairly safe to say that Molasses To Rum is one of the only songs ever written about the triangle trade.The powerful song not only delves into the horrors of the slave trade but also addresses the hypocrisy of the Northern colonies by calling attention to their participation in slavery .
Lyrics:
Our northern brethren
feeling a bit tender toward our slaves.
They don't keep slaves!
Oh, no.
But they're willing to be considerable carriers of slaves
to others
Oh they're willing
for the shilling

Or havent you heard Mr Adams Clink Clink ,

Molasses to Rum to Slaves
Oh, what a beautiful waltz
You dance with us, we dance with you
In Molasses and Run 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

(Gentlemen, you mustn't think our Northern friends see our black slaves as figures on the ledger. Oh, no, sir. They see them as merely figures on the 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!)

Ya-ha!
Ya-ha-ma-cundah!

(Gentlemen, do you hear? That's the cry of the auctioneer.)

Ya-ha
Ya-ha-ma-cundah!

(Slaves, gentlemen! Black gold. Living gold. Gold from:)
Angola
Guinea, Guinea, Guinea
Blackbirds for sale!

Ashanti
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!

Josiah Bartlett:
(For the love of God, Mr. Rutledge, please.)

Edward 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?