When Israel was in Egypt’s land,Let My People Go! was a traditional African American spiritual, which certainly expressed the longing of African Americans for freedom from oppression and slavery.
Let My people go!
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let My people go!Chorus: Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell old Pharaoh
To let My people go!No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let My people go!
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil,
Let My people go!(Chorus)
Oh, let us all from bondage flee,
Let My people go!
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let My people go!(Chorus)
You need not always weep and mourn,
Let My people go!
And wear these slav’ry chains forlorn,
Let My people go!(Chorus)
Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let My people go!
And you’ll possess fair Canaan’s land,
Let My people go!(Chorus)
Chorus:Follow the Drinking Gourd was a traditional African American spiritual, which was probably created by slaves before the American Civil War. The "drinking gourd" was the star constellation, the Big Dipper, which contained the North Star and pointed the way to freedom. The "old man" would have been a "conductor" on the "Underground Railroad."
Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is a-waiting
For to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinkin' gourdWhen the sun comes up
And the first quail calls
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is a-waiting
For to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinkin' gourd(Chorus)
Now the riverbank
Will make a mighty good road
Dead trees will show you the way
And the left foot, pegfoot
Travelin' on
Just you follow the drinkin' gourd(Chorus)
One of the most well known conductors of the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman, who became known as "Moses" for leading so many enslaved African Americans to their freedom.
See http://www.jesterbear.com/Hoodoo/Roots.html: "Moses Oil or Oil of Moses" on Roots and Stuff"