In the decades immediately following the Civil War, a number of Black singing groups toured the United States, usually billed as singers of 'Plantation melodies,' or 'Jubilee songs.' Songs were almost exclusively religious. Concerts took place at camp meetings and in lecture halls.
Well-known are the singers from Fisk (Jubilee Singers) and the Hampton Institute, but the others are seldom mentioned. The "Nashville Students" was one such group, touring in the 1870's-1880's for the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, 'proprietor' H. B. Thearle, musical arranger J. J. Sawyer.
In 1885, a small booklet with some of their selections was published. Similar little booklets were published by other groups for sale at concerts; all are now exceedingly rare.

A few of the songs of the "Nashville Students," not published by other groups, will be given in the following posts.

Lyr. Add: DAR'S A JUBILEE

Refrain:
Dar's a jubilee,
Way down on de ole camp ground,
Way down on de ole camp ground.

1.
De Devil tho't he had us fast,
Way down on de ole camp ground.
2.
I've broke his chains, am free at last,
Way down on de ole camp ground.
3.
You can fool us so, but you can't fool God,
Way down on de ole camp ground.
4.
For God knows de secrets of ev'ry heart,
Way down on de ole camp ground.

P. 3, With score, a camp meeting song.
Note: "It will be observed that in most of these songs, the first strain is of the nature of a chorus or refrain, which is to be sung after each verse. The return to this chorus should be made without breaking the time. In some of the verses the syllables do not correspond exactly to the notes in the music. The adaptation is so easy that it was thought best to leave it to the skill of the singer rather than to confuse the eye by too many notes. The music is in each case carefully adapted to the first verse. Whatever changes may be necessary in singing the remaining verses will be found to involve no difficulty." J. J. Sawyer.
Arranger J. J. Sawyer, 1885, "Jubilee Songs, Plantation Melodies, Words and Music." Sung by the Original Nashville Students, the Celebrated Colored Concert Co. H. B. Thearle, Redpath Lyceum Bureau, Boston and Chicago.