I don't know anything about the Ballad of America Website, but they have some verses I haven't seen elsewhere. Many Thousand Gone: About the Song Enslaved African Americans created a varied body of music that included work songs, leisure songs, and spirituals. The sound was rooted in African traditions and informed by the European American music to which they were now being exposed. Likewise, African rhythms, harmonies, and vocal styles had a great influence on the music of European Americans. The words to the spiritual “Many Thousand Gone,” aka “No More Auction Block,” conveyed various messages depending on whether the singer was a slave, runaway slave, African American Union soldier, or emancipated former slave. Lyrics No more auction block for me No more, no more No more auction block for me Many thousand gone No more peck of corn for me No more, no more No more peck of corn for me Many thousand gone No more driver’s lash for me No more, no more No more drivers’ lash for me Many thousand gone No more pint of salt for me No more, no more No more pint of salt for me Many thousand gone No more hundred lash for me No more, no more No more hundred lash for me Many thousand gone No more mistress call for me No more, no more No more mistress call for me Many thousand gone No more children stole from me No more, no more No more children stole from me Many thousand gone No more slavery chains for me No more, no more No more slavery chains for me Many thousand gone
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