Last updated: May 11, 2026
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"Wake Nicodemus!"
What’s in a name? For the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas, founded in 1877, it’s in a song. Several historic articles, oral histories, and even one of the original Nicodemus broadsides reveal that the inspiration for the town’s name came from the popular folk song “Wake Nicodemus,” published in 1864 by composer and abolitionist Henry Clay Work.
Library of Congress
WAKE NICODEMUS!
Words and Music By HENRY CLAY WORK.
The music of this song, published by Root & Cady of 95 Clark Street, Chicago, can be obtained at the Music-Store of Frederick Blume, 208 Bowery, New-York.
Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth,
And was bought for a bagful of gold;
He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth
But he died, years ago, very old.
'Twas his last sad request—so, we laid him away,
In the trunk of an old hollow tree:
Wake me up! was his charge, at the first break of day. .
Wake me up for the Great Jubilee!
Chorus: The Good Time Coming is almost here!
It was long, long, long on the way!
Now, run and tell Elijah to hurry up Pomp,
And meet us at the gum-tree down in the swamp,
To wake Nicodemus to-day.
He was known as a prophet: at least, was as wise. .
For, he told of the battles to come;
And we trembled with dread when he roll'd up his eyes,
And we heeded the shake of his thumb.
Though he clothed us with fear, yet the garments he wore
Were in patches at elbow and knee;
And he still wears the suit that he used to, of yore,
As he sleeps in the old hollow tree. Chorus.
Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash,
Though the bullet has oft cross'd his path:
There were none of his masters so brave or so rash
As to face such a man in his wrath;
Yet his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim. .
He obeyed who was born to command;
But he long'd for the morning which then was so dim. .
For the morning which now is at hand. Chorus.
'Twas a long weary night. . we were almost in fear
That the future was more than he knew;
'Twas a long weary night. . but the morning is near,
And the words of our prophet are true.
There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone. .
There are tokens in endless array;
While the storm which had seemingly banished the dawn,
Only hastens the advent of day. Chorus.
H. DE MARSAN, Publisher of Songs, ballads, toy books, &c.
No. 60 Chatham Street, N. Y.
The song tells the story of an African man named Nicodemus, implied to be a prince, who was enslaved in America. Nicodemus is described as a “prophet—at least was as wise— / For he told of the battles to come—” referring to his prediction of the future emancipation of enslaved people and the conflict, the American Civil War, that would follow. In a later verse, it is noted that Nicodemus also “long’d for the morning which then was so dim— / For the morning which now is at hand,” as he knew that the cause of emancipation would triumph and bring about a “new day” for Americans. Though the song says that Nicodemus died before emancipation, he told others to bury him in a hollow tree and wake him when emancipation happened so that he could be present for the “great Jubilee,” a celebration of freedom.
This request is echoed in the song’s chorus:
The “Good Time Coming” is almost here!
It was long, long, long on the way!
Now run and tell Elijah to hurry up Pomp,
And meet us at the gum-tree down in the swamp,
To wake Nicodemus today.
According to Nicodemus historian Lulu Sadler Craig, the song’s story is based on the legend of an actual African man named Nicodemus. Craig claimed that Nicodemus was likely taken from Africa on a slave ship around 1620 and later bought his freedom, becoming the first enslaved person set free in the Americas. While there is no known written record of Nicodemus, his story still resonated heavily with enslaved Americans and their hopeful struggle for freedom.
The song “Wake Nicodemus” reflects the sentiments of its author, Henry Clay Work. Born into an abolitionist family in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1832, Work became an abolitionist and made his home a stop on the Underground Railroad. A self-taught musician, Work’s anti-slavery and patriotic values were clear in his music, and he composed several popular “war songs” during the Civil War that reflected the attitudes of many Americans. Many of his songs also became popular in minstrel shows, entertainment that presented stereotyped and over-exaggerated caricatures of Black Americans.
Work’s music was widely popular across the United States. Southern Black Americans, including the founders of Nicodemus, would have been familiar with “Wake Nicodemus” and its hopeful call to embrace and celebrate their freedom. In a Nicodemus broadside from July 1877, the addition of verses from this song and the alteration of the chorus lyrics to read “Run and tell Elija to hurry up Pomp, / To meet us under the cottonwood tree, / In the Great Solomon Valley / At the first break of day” hinted at the significance of the song’s hopeful message and encouraged potential Nicodemus settlers to answer the call for celebration and embrace their freedom through this new community.
Kansas State Historical Society
To The Colored Citizens of the United States
NICODEMUS, GRAHAM CO., KAN., July 2d., 1877.
We, the Nicodemus Town Company of Graham County, Kan., are now in possession of our lands and the Town Site of Nicodemus, which is beautifully located on the N. W. quarter of Section 1, Town 8, Range 21, in Graham Co., Kansas, in the great Solomon Balley, 240 miles west of Topeka, and we are proud to say it is the finest country we ever saw. The soil is of a rich, black, sandy loam. The country is rather rolling, and looks most pleasing to the human eye. The south fork of the Solomon river flows through Graham County, nearly directly east and west and has an abundance of excellent water, while there are numerous springs of living water abounding throughout the Valley. There is an abundance of fine Magnesian stone for building purposes, which is much easier handled than the rough sand or hard stone. There is also some timber; plenty for fire use, while we have no fear but what we will find plenty of coal.
Now is your time to secure your home on Government Land in the Great Solomon Valley of Western Kansas.
Remember, we have secured the service of W. R. Hill, a man of energy and ability, to locate our Colony.
Not quite 90 days ago we secured our charter for locating the town site of Nicodemus. We then became an organized body, with only three dollars in the treasury and twelve members, but under the careful management of our officers, we have now nearly 300 good and reliable members, with several members permanently located on their claims—with plenty of provisions for the colony—while we are daily receiving letters from all parts of the country from parties desiring to locate in the great Solomon Valley of Western Kansas.
For Maps, Circulars, and Passenger rates, address our General Manager, W. R. HILL, North Topeka, Kansas, until August 1st, 1877, then at Hill City, Graham Co., via Trego.
The name of our post-office will be Nicodemus, and Mr. Z. T. Fletcher will be our "Nasby."
REV. S. P. ROUNDTREE, Sec'y.
NICODEMUS.
Nicodemus was a slave of African birth,
And was bought for a bag full of gold;
He was reckoned a part of the salt of the earth,
But he died years ago, very old.
Nicodemus was a prophet, at least he was as wise,
For he told of the battles to come;
How we trembled with fear, when he rolled up his eyes,
And we heeded the shake of his thumb.
CHORUS: Good time coming, good time coming,
Long, long time on the way;
Run and tell Elija to hurry up Pomp,
To meet us under the cottonwood tree,
In the Great Solomon Valley
At the first break of day.
Nicodemus was a slave of African birth,
And was bought for a bag full of gold;
He was reckoned a part of the salt of the earth,
But he died years ago, very old.
Nicodemus was a prophet, at least he was as wise,
For he told of the battles to come;
How we trembled with fear, when he rolled up his eyes,
And we heeded the shake of his thumb.
CHORUS: Good time coming, good time coming,
Long, long time on the way;
Run and tell Elija to hurry up Pomp,
To meet us under the cottonwood tree,
In the Great Solomon Valley
At the first break of day.
Sources
“Henry C. Work,” Songwriters Hall of Fame, accessed April 16, 2026. https://www.songhall.org/profiles/henry-c-work
Henry C. Work, Wake Nicodemus!, Geo. A. Russell, Chicago: Root & Cady, 1863, notated music, https://www.loc.gov/item/2023783753/.
Orval McDaniel, “A History of Nicodemus, Graham County, Kansas” (master’s thesis, Fort Hays Kansas State College, 1950), 50.
Lulu Sadler Craig, “Chapter II,” (typescript, unknown date), Kansas Collection, University of Kansas Libraries, 1.