University of Virginia Library


22

Go down, Moses.

[_]

The following poem is scored for music in the source text.

1.

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 land,
Tell ole Pharoh,
Let my people go.

2

Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go;
If not I'll smite your first-born dead,
Let my people go.
Go down, Moses, etc.

3

No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go;
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go.
Go down, Moses, etc.

4

When Israel out of Egypt came,
Let my people go;
And left the proud oppressive land,
Let my people go.
Go down, Moses, etc.

23

5.

O, 'twas a dark and dismal night,
Let my people go;
When Moses led the Israelites,
Let my people go.

6.

'Twas good old Moses and Aaron, too,
Let my people go;
'Twas they that led the armies through,
Let my people go.

7.

The Lord told Moses what to do,
Let my people go;
To lead the children of Israel through,
Let my people go.

8.

O come along Moses, you'll not get lost,
Let my people go;
Stretch out your rod and come across,
Let my people go.

9.

As Israel stood by the water side,
Let my people go;
At the command of God it did divide,
Let my people go.

10.

When they had reached the other shore,
Let my people go;
They sang a song of triumph o'er,
Let my people go.

11.

Pharaoh said he would go across,
Let my people go;
But Pharaoh and his host were lost,
Let my people go.

12.

O Moses the cloud shall cleave the way,
Let my people go;
A fire by night, a shade by day,
Let my people go.

13.

You'll not get lost in the wilderness,
Let my people go;
With a lighted candle in your breast,
Let my people go.

14.

Jordan shall stand up like a wall,
Let my people go;
And the walls of Jericho shall fall
Let my people go.

15.

Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go;
And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
Let my people go.

16.

'Twas just about in harvest time,
Let my people go;
When Joshua led his host divine,
Let my people go.

17.

O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go;
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go

18.

We need not always weep and moan,
Let my people go;
And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go.

19.

This world's a wilderness of woe,
Let my people go;
O, let us on to Canaan go,
Let my people go.

20.

What a beautiful morning that will be,
Let my people go;
When time breaks up in eternity,
Let my people go.

21.

The Devil he thought he had me fast,
Let my people go;
But I thought I'd break his chains at last,
Let my people go.

22.

O take yer shoes from off yer feet,
Let my people go;
And walk into the golden street,
Let my people go.

23.

I'll tell you what I likes de best,
Let my people go;
It is the shouting Methodist,
Let my people go.

24.

I do believe without a doubt,
Let my people go;
That a Christian has the right to shout,
Let my people go.