Follow the Drinkin' Gourd

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The Drinkin' Gourd is another name for the Big Dipper asterism. Folklore has it that fugitive slaves in the United States used to use it as a landmark so they would not get lost. The asterism is laid out in such a way that it is always seen in the directly north sky. Two of the stars line directly up with Polaris. Hence, presumably, all slaves had to do was look for the Drinkin' Gourd and follow it north to freedom. The name drinking gourd is based upon the shape resemblance of the would-be constellation to a dipper.

According to legend, the song Follow the Drinkin' Gourd was used by a conductor of the Underground Railroad, called Peg Leg John to guide some fugitive slaves. However, the authenticity of the legend is disputed ^[1]^[2]^[3]. It is based on the field notes of a single folklorist, H. B. Parks. He records overhearing the song on a few chance occasions. The related story of Peg Leg John was recounted in a conversation with an elderly man and his grandson in 1912. Since then, little confirming evidence has emerged. No record of the song appears in old hymn books, historical documents or family traditions. While the song may refer to some lost fragment of history, the origin and context remain a mystery. One source asserts that it was a favorite of Harriet Tubman, who sang it while leading slaves north.^[4]

The words of the first verse went as follows:

When the sun come back and the first quail calls,

Follow the Drinkin' Gourd

For the old man's waitin' for to carry you to freedom

If you follow the Drinkin' Gourd.

The song was used as a clue in the July 10, 2006 episode of the reality TV show Treasure Hunters.