Songs
Underground Railroad songs have many meanings. The singing was a tradition brought over from Africa by the first African slaves. Once they were brought over, these songs were used everyday in a slave's life as spirituals, or Bible based songs. Slaves used these songs to communicate because they would get caught if they regularly talked. Underground Railroad songs, however, did not help slaves escape. Many people thought that songs helped slaves escape their owners, but it was all a myth. If they used songs, slave owners and bounty hunters could find out were the slave were heading and could cut them off on their trails. The songs were used to communicate with one another, but they did not use songs to escape. Underground Railroad songs assisted working slaves to mentally escape from their cruel, controlling owners.
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is coming just to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
When the sun comes back, and the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is waiting just to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking Gourd
For the old man is waiting to care you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
Well the river bank makes a mighty good road
Dead trees will show you the way
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
Well the river ends, between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
Well' there's a great big river that meets the small river
The old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is just waiting to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd
Wade in the Water
Wade in the water. God's gonna trouble the water.
Who are those children all dressed in Red.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones that Moses led.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Chorus
Who are those children all dressed in White?
God's gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones of the Israelites.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Chorus
Who are those children all dressed in blue?
God's gonna trouble the water.
Must be the ones that made it through.
God's gonna trouble the water.
