Jed, here's a book you should know about:

The Underground Railroad, by William Still, 1871.   The copy I have was republished in 1970 by Johnson Publishing Company Inc., Chicago, as part of the "Ebony Classics" series.

William Still of Philadelphia was the son of slaves, and was deeply involved in helping fugitives. The book is 800 pages of personal stories, mostly of successful escapes, with some stories about recaptured slaves and some focusing on the conductors. The accounts are very detailed and many include reprinted letters, or "reward" ads published by slaveowners. In the introduction Still explains that he hoped that book would be helpful for separated families trying to find each other again, and that he wrote only about the cases he had personal knowledge of.

I haven't come across any mention yet of songs or of fugitives working on ships - but there's still 600 pages to go. I'm sure you'd find some stories to write about - just don't pick the same ones I do, eh?

Marion

PS The good people at William Still Underground Railroad Foundation will sell you a copy.