Go Down Moses

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article discusses the song "Go Down Moses"; for the book by William Faulkner, see Go Down, Moses

"Go Down Moses" is an African-American spiritual, that is a retelling of events in the Old Testament of the Bible Exodus 8:1 , chapters 3-12: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me", in which God commands Moses to demand the release of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.

"Israel" represents the African-American slaves while "Egypt" and "Pharoah" represent the slavemaster.

The song was made famous by Paul Robeson whose voice, deep and resonant as it was, was said by some to have attained the status of the voice of God. It is also one of the spirituals used in the oratorio A Child of Our Time by the English composer Michael Tippett.

William Faulkner titled his novel Go Down, Moses after the song.

[edit] Usual lyrics

When Israel was in Egypt's land

Let my people go

Oppressed so hard they could not stand

Let my people go

Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land

Tell old Pharaoh, Let my people go

So Moses went to Egypt's land

Let my people go

To make old Pharaoh understand

Let my people go

Thus spake the Lord, bold Moses said,

Let my people go,

If not, I'll strike your first born dead

Let my people go

[edit] External links

• Sweet Chariot: The Story of the Spirituals, particularly their section on "Freedom" (Web site maintained by The Spirituals Project at the University of Denver)

• Go Down Moses, Let My People Go - Words and Music