Songs of the underground railroad
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Songs of the Underground Railroad
Music has always been important in the heritage of African people. Especially since music can relay a story or bring people together in a common cause. This became particularly true during the slavery period when songs had coded meanings to bring the slaves to freedom.
One of the classic and well-known coded songs of the Underground Railroad is, "Follow the Drinking Gourd." This song is in reference to the star constellation known as The Big Dipper, which contains the North Star. In this song, the repeated line is, follow the drinking gourd. This phrase meant to travel north by following the North Star, leading to the northern states which were at that time opposed to slavery. The first verse tells slaves to travel in the winter and spring and that they will meet a man whose name is Peg-Leg Joe. The second verse tells of using the riverbank as a trail and looking for dead trees with markings to guide them. The next verses tell of the Tennessee River that needs to be followed until it meets the Ohio River, which would be crossed. Then they would meet a guide to help the slaves continue into freedom.
Another Song with secret meaning is, "Now Let Me Fly", which could be sung right in front of the slave owners because it depicted a biblical story of Ezekiel and the wheel. This song talks mostly of a promised land which was actually the north at that time. The song was meant to boost slaves spirit and give them some hope to hold on to; that there was a place better than where they were.
The song "Go Down Moses", is another spiritual song that depicts the biblical story of Moses. The story of Moses leading his people to freedom mimics that of conductors on the Underground Railroad. The oppressor in the song is the pharaoh portraying the real life slave owner.
Music has its place in history by helping thousands of slaves escape a life of slavery and oppression. As it was in the telling of freedom, music is still of great importance in the religion of African Americans today .
