--THE ONLY OPTION :  A Song sung by  Abolitionists

  In 1850, the United States Congress passed what was known as the "Fugitive Slave Act." This new law
was a great setback for the abolitionist movement to end slavery and to help enslaved people to escape from the slave states.  Basically, it made escaping from slavery and assisting that escape illegal under federal law.  The fines were stiff. It meant that the northern states were no longer a safe haven for those who had escaped bondage. The North was no longer safe for Free African Americans, some of whom were kidnapped and sold into slavery.  

 It is hard to know the extent  to which the Abolitionists made an impact. The movement was growing in strength in the years just before the Civil War.

 Abolitionists were strong people who were not daunted by this horrific law. In this song, an Abolitionist is singing to his fellow freedom workers, saying that giving up their efforts was not an option.

Their cause was too important.

The Song



INSTRUMENTAL

Lyrics:

Now, if you think that we've been beat,
Then get off your seat,
Don't talk defeat because...

Failure's not an option..

It's not an option for us...on no, and

If you want to lag behind, it means
You don't mind if
Someday you will find..

All ideals are tossed and lost..

It's not an option for us.

There are folks who are slavin' against their will.

They're worked so hard, until they're ill.. and

Almost feeling they're barely alive..

To improve their lives for  that we must strive.

Oppose those laws that sanction, what is wrong,

We'll fight with might,

Tenacious spirit strong.

In the end we  can succeed..

That's the only option for us.  So

Let's go forward, united we'll stand,

Promoting freedom, in our land.

Then finally we will succeed..

It's the only option,

the only  option,

The only option for us.

Click here, or on the musical score to see the entire three pages
of the  transcription .

IMPROVISATION #1:  by Bernie Katzman- An Abolitionist
Dance segment






































IMPROVISATION #2-classical style, by Bernie Katzman