| Play/Download Music File Barry Taylor |
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| Before the Civil War an intinerent carpenter,
Peg Leg Joe, travelled throughout the South, passing the tune to slaves. The
words contained coded directions to travel north. The Drinking Gourd was code for the Big Dipper.
See below for related links, including ones that "decode" the words. |
When the sun goes back and the first quail calls Follow the drinking gourd The old man is a-waitin' for to carry you to freedom Follow the drinking gourd Chorus Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd For the old man is a-waitin' to carry you to freedom Follow the drinking gourd The river bed makes a mighty fine road, Dead trees to show you the way And it's 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 I thought I heard the angels say Follow the drinking gourd The stars in the heavens gonna show you the way Follow the drinking gourd |
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Related Links |
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| Lyrics from Digital Tradition Folksong Database | |