Molasses to Rum Songtext
von Clifford David

Molasses to rum to slaves
Oh what a beautiful waltz
You dance with us
We dance with you
In molasses and rum and slaves

Who sailed the ships outta 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

Then 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
T'isnt morals; ′tis money that saves
Shall we dance to the sound of a profitable pound
In molasses and rum and slaves


Who sailed the ships, outta Guinea
Laden with Bibles and slaves
'Tis Boston can boast, to the west and east coast
Jamaica, we brung what ye craves
Antigua, Barbados
We brung Bibles, and slaves

Gentlemen, you mustn't think our northern friends
Merely see our Black slaves as figures on a ledger
Oh, no, sir
They see them as figures on the block
Watch the faces at the auctions, gentlemen
White faces on African wharves
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, Ibo
Look at the faces in the crowd, gentlemen
White faces
New England faces
Sea-faring faces
Faces from Nantucket, Boston, Boston, Boston
Blackbirds for sale!

Handle them
Fondle them
But don′t finger them
They're prime, they′re prime
Ya-ha!
Ya-ha-ma-cundah

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?