The song
of the Underground Railroad.
It told the slaves in their own
language how to travel out of bondage.
It told them when to go, what rivers to follow,
what mountains to pass over,
what turnings
to make, who to ask for,
and always to keep their eyes to the north where freedom was
under the sign of the drinking gourd.
It was the Big Dipper,
and so their song was called Follow the Drinking Gourd.
Follow,
follow, follow,
follow the drinking gourd.
Follow
the drinking gourd,
for the old man is a-waiting for 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 a-waiting for to carry you to freedom.
Just follow the drinking gourd.
Follow
the drinking gourd,
follow the drinking gourd,
for the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Now the river bank will make a mighty good road,
the dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot,
peg foot,
traveling on,
just you follow the drinking gourd.
Follow
the drinking gourd,
follow
the drinking gourd,
for the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Now the river ends between two hills,
follow the drinking gourd.
There's another river on the other side,
just you follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the drinking gourd,
follow the drinking gourd,
for the old man is a-waiting for to
carry you to freedom.
Follow the drinking gourd.