We know how popular the play "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was in antebellum
times, but was anyone aware of wide variety of songs used in the
play? This was before "Musicals", and Gilbert & Sullivan, so
apparently each venue could use whatever songs they wanted for the
actors to sing -- some of it just popular Minstrel tunes of the day,
some specifically written for the play.
I separated out below a list of titles from OTC handbills up to 1863*
A few quite recognizeable as popular tunes of the time, but others
obscure, I think:
Nigga to the Cornfield, To Little Eva in Heaven, Uncle Tom's Religion,
Our Home Is Surely the Sweetest, Ethiopian Medley Overture, Early in
de Morning, Hurrah! Hurrah! More Wood, Good Uncle Tom, Plantation Jig,
Poor Uncle Tom, Old Folks at Home, I'Se So Wicked, Eva to Her Papa,
Wait for the Wagon, Cheer-Boys-Cheer, Poor Old Jessie, Camptown Races,
Old Dan Tucker, Dere's No Use Talking When a Nigger Wants To Go, My
Old Kentucky Home, Who's Dat Knocking, Though Sorrow Clouds, Coon
Hunt, Hearts and Home, Corn Shucking Reel, Nelly Bly, Lilly Dale, Mary
Blane, African Breakdown, Topsy's Song, Massa in de Cold Ground, Uncle
Tom's Gone to Rest, Eva's Song, Bekase My Name Am Topsey, Duett, Liza-
Love-I Am Here, I Love My Love in the Morning, Oh-Eva-Your Eyes They
Shine, Singing Lesson, Beautiful Summer, Hail to This Happy Day, Now I
Am a Lady, Their Hands Will Join Forever, Liza and George Are Married,
Eva's Farewell, Pop Goes the Weasel, A Nigger's Life Is Always Gay,
Dandy Jim of the Caroline, O Stay with the Loved Ones, When Swallows
Homeward Fly, Death of Eva, Union, Dere's a Nigger in de Tent,
Ethiopian Overture, Jim Crow, Aunt Jemimah, Nancy Till, My Old
Kentucky Home, Rip Slap, Gentle Eva Clare, Hi-Jeff, Mocking Bird
Dave Miller
*source http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/onstage/performin/ossongshp.html