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Follow the Drinking Gourd
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Original lyrics
3 translations
Follow the Drinking Gourd lyrics
When the Sun comes back
And the first quail calls
Follow the Drinking Gourd,
For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd
The riverbank makes a very good road.
The dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
The river ends between two hills
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
There’s another river on the other side
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
When the great big river meets the little river
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
For the old man is awaiting for to carry to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd.
- Drinking Gourd:
The Big Dipper (US, Canada) or the Plough (UK, Ireland) is a large asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude. Four define a "bowl" or "body" and three define a "handle" or "head". It is recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures. The North Star (Polaris), the current northern pole star and the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper (Little Bear), can be located by extending an imaginary line through the front two stars of the asterism, Merak (β) and Dubhe (α). This makes it useful in celestial navigation.
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Submitted by 
SilentRebel83 on 2014-02-01
SilentRebel83 on 2014-02-01Last edited by 
maluca on 2022-03-19
maluca on 2022-03-19American Folk: Top 3
| 1. | Oh, Shenandoah |
| 2. | Red River Valley |
| 3. | The House of the Rising Sun |
Comments
These lyrics were used in the Underground Railroad on how to get to safety. They were taught by a man known as Peg Leg Joe. The young slaves would use the song when it would be safe to run, and where it was safe to go. Lyrics and notes taken from the Eastern Illinois University website. Many thanks.