For Women's Equality Day 2020 & the 100th anniversary of
the 19th Amendment Suffrage singer & historian, Tisha Dolton sings
"Give the Ballots to the Mothers" (1888) with lyrics by suffragist
Rebecca Naylor Hazard (1826-1912). Many suffrage songs sung at rallies and
meetings, like at the Easton Political Equality Club, were set to popular tunes of the day, this song is set to the tune
"Marching Through Georgia". This is actually a reworking of Hazard's own lyrics. She originally penned a version of this song called "Woman Suffrage Jubilee" in 1882. You can compare different lyrics below. (The first is the version I am singing in the video.)
Give the Ballots to the Mothers
(Tune: Air-Marching through Georgia, Lyrics: Rebecca N. Hazard, 1888)
VERSE 1
Bring the good ole bugle, boys! we’ll sing another song.
Sing it with a spirit that shall start the world along.
Sing it as we hope to sing it cheerily and strong,
Give the ballots to the mothers.
CHORUS
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The homes they shall be free!
So we’ll sing the chorus from the mountains to the sea,
Giving the ballots to the mothers.
VERSE 2
Bring the dear old banner, boys! Fling it to the wind.
Mother, wife, and daughter, let it shelter and defend.
'Equal Rights' our motto is, we're loyal to the end,
Giving the ballots to the mothers.
CHORUS
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The homes they shall be free!
So we’ll sing the chorus from the mountains to the sea,
Giving the ballots to the mothers.
Woman Suffrage Jubilee
(Tune: Air-Marching through Georgia, Lyrics: Rebecca N. Hazard, 1882)
VERSE 1
Bring the good ole bugle, boys! we’ll sing another song.
Sing it with a spirit that shall start the world along.
Sing it as we hope to sing it fifty thousand strong,
When comes the news in November.
CHORUS
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll vote to make you free!
So we’ll sing the chorus from the mountains to the sea,
When we win in November.
VERSE 2
Bring the dear old banner, boys! Fling it to the freeze.
Mother, wife, and daughter, let it shelter all of these.
Those who share a freeman’s dwelling, should themselves be free,
Then vote for freedom in November.
CHORUS
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll vote to make you free!
So we’ll sing the chorus from the mountains to the sea,
And we’ll sing it in November.
