by Phillis Wheatley (1753 - 1784)
On Being Brought From Africa to America
Language: English
‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, “Their colour is a diabolic die.” Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.
Text Authorship:
- by Phillis Wheatley (1753 - 1784) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Tom Cipullo (b. 1960), "On Being Brought From Africa to America", 2000 [ voice and piano ], from Climbing: 7 Songs on 8 Poems by African-Americans, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-11-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 58