Rise Up Singing: Follow The Drinking Gourd

Traditional American Slave Song (Later arranged by Lee Hays and The Weavers)
Rise Up Singing chapter: Freedom, p.59
Chorus: Em A Em - / / G D Em Bm / Em Bm Em -
Verses: Em - - - / / " / " /

Chorus:
Follow the drinking gourd (2x)
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd

Verses:
When the sun comes up and the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

The river bank will make a mighty 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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rise Up Singing
• traditional
• song
• singalong
• songbook
• folk
• music
• chords
• lyrics
• easy guitar
• Freedom
• black
• slave
• american
• USA
• US
• Matthew
• Vaughan

[mjwrites]

The two end stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper keep pointing to the North Star as the Dipper wheels around it at night. The North Star is bright, but hard to pick out from the rest of the stars without this clue. Wikipedia has a good diagram under Big Dipper. Also, the name Big Dipper is American, based on the African name Drinking Gourd, according to Wikipedia. Certainly, in Europe, the names for this constellation are about bears and ploughs.

[matthewvaughan]

You're right, of course. Finding the north star is fairly easy, I just wonder how it would affect one's course over a long trek if one were following the big dipper as the song suggests, rather than the north star itself.

[stewballmax2]

Hello

Matthew...

In addition to this great information you've provided for us...I'd just like to add that the message was sung as a cryptic message to fellow slaves,for only they knew what the Drinking Gourd was,unbeknownst to their owners. This song's message was crucial to them.

You've offered n pure and simple rendition here....much appreciated!

Peace,

Max

[matthewvaughan]

Thanks Max, and thanks for the additional info. You caught the video before I added the sidebar text. It's there now, if you were looking for it. Have a great day.

[ramidabi101]

Awesome song, I have played this song on acoustic guitar with regular notes, not chords. Nice Job anyway.

[chevontiaraju]

oohh give him a break he his trying! lol :) Wait you are right sorry! lol, I love the fact that you are taking a interest in this song but I still like the blacks version from my home Country South Africa! At my School its called T.A.I.S.M in Muscat we also learned it!

[kissysissy02]

you need some help with typing hah hah faggot

[3r1c1290]

haha teh music sheet he has IS confusing. My teacher gave me the music sheet and when i tried to play it.....it was waaaay off and this song that this person is singing come close O.o

[kissysissy02]

your off line i have been in choir and we sang this to the poor people on 4th avenue and we BOUGHT the poor people food and it cost 2000 bucks but it was worth it i mean they r poor they live on the streets why would people just leave them like that thats just rude.

[PerlEsther]

check out the movie that Rabbit Ears put out for this song. This was my first education in slavery and the underground railroad. i LOVED this song.

[SirCoughsalot]

Just goes to show how important songs can be.

[marcoacca]

A splendid rendition! Thanks!