SONGS AND HYMNS
OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT
1846–1927

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Where movements are being born, people are singing in anticipation. Where protests are taking place, people are singing in solidarity. Where prayers are being offered, people are singing in reverent hope. Throughout the history of America, her people have joined in communal songs to tell stories, bind together, and to encounter God. But throughout America’s history it has become clear that a true hero is hard to find. The political and social vision as well as the theology of the following hymns and songs is by no means perfect, but they exemplify strides toward justice and equality through song. This project brings together historical songs and hymns, each representing particular moments in American history between 1846-1927, presented in new recordings in the hope that they might find new life in our current time. 

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Our tracklist traces a chronological journey through certain events studied in Dr. Heath Carter’s Social Christianity and American Inequality class at Princeton Theological Seminary in Fall 2019. While far from an exhaustive presentation of the topics covered, the liner notes offer a brief context and notes on the theological and social interpretations offered by the text. The re-presentation of these songs in 2019 allows for some critical reflection and honest appraisals of the work of songwriters and singers during the mid to late 1800s.

Being mindful of our own social location, and taking seriously Du Bois’ observation that “the mass of ‘gospel’ hymns which has swept through American churches and well-nigh ruined our sense of song consists largely of debased imitations of Negro melodies made by ears that caught the jingle but not the music, the body but not the soul, of the Jubilee songs,” we have chosen to focus on songs written and originally presented predominantly by white folk. This serves to hold a candle of hope to the legacy of the white church in America, which too often stood against abolition and equality. Yet, the theological support of abolitionism does exist in America’s musical history, selections of which are present here. 

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In the hope of liberty and justice for all, and the pursuit of a true hero, 

     Jenna Reed and Rory Chambers

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General Production Notes

Many of the songs have been arranged to suit a folk “jump jazz” trio — Guitar, Bass, Drumset — a portable ensemble that aims to reflect the songs’ popular usage in public streets and halls rather than more formal performance settings.

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Our choice to focus on the time period pre-1930 serves several purposes: firstly, original recordings of songs of social protest and the labor movement are well-documented once recording technology became available in the 1920s. Secondly, given the lack of recorded music, it is interesting to consider that songs made it into homes by way of books of sheet music to be played on the home piano or other instruments. Our hope is that we have offered these songs some new life as we’ve drawn them off the page and into listeners’ ears.

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Practically, once original manuscripts were found, each song was re-notated digitally then recorded and mixed in Garageband in Rory's living room. All instruments were played or programmed by Rory, with additional vocals by Ellen White, Alisa Unell, Ben Kreider, Ashley Mlacker, and Lena Zwarg.

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Navigating the Project

Press play below to listen to the songs as you browse the Liner Notes and the rest of the information presented on this page. Clicking on the music note on the right side of the play bar will open a new page which displays lyrics and a player window. 

Scanned original documents are linked in the liner notes; they can be found either through a hyperlink in the title of the primary document or a link to an external archival site.