GO DOWN MOSES


Harry T. Burleigh (1866 - 1949), a great singer and expert on spirituals is associated with this song but it was written before he was born. The author is unknown. The Golden Gate Quartet, Paul Robeson, and Louis Armstrong all recorded wonderful versions of it. The story is about the exodus of the Hebrews (people of Israel) from Egypt after 300 years of slavery.

 


more about "Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949)", posted with vodpod
Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 1
WHEN ISRAEL WAS IN EGYPT LAND
LET MY PEOPLE GO
CRUSHED BY PHAROAH’S IRON HAND
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 2
THUS SPOKE THE LORD BOLD MOSES SAID
LET MY PEOPLE GO
IF NOT I'LL SMITE YOUR FIRST BORN DEAD
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 3
NO MORE SHALL THEY IN BONDAGE TOIL
LET MY PEOPLE GO
LET THEM COME OUT WITH PHAROAH'S SPOIL
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 4
WITH PHAROAH’S ARMY AT THEIR BACK
LET MY PEOPLE GO
THE RAGING SEA AHEAD WAS BLACK
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 5
WITH ISRAEL AT THE WATER SIDE
LET MY PEOPLE GO
AT GOD'S COMMAND IT DID DIVIDE
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 6
PHAROAH TRIED TO GET ACROSS
LET MY PEOPLE GO
BUT PHAROAH AND HIS MEN WERE LOST
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 7
FREE AT LAST BUT WITH NO HOME
LET MY PEOPLE GO
THE STENCH OF SLAVERY IN THEIR BONES
LET MY PEOPLE GO


Chorus
GO DOWN MOSES
WAY DOWN IN EGYPT LAND
TELL OLD PHARAOH
TO LET MY PEOPLE GO


Verse 8
THE HEBREWS WANDERED 40 YEARS
LET MY PEOPLE GO
TO CLEANSE THE STENCH WITH THEIR OWN TEARS
LET MY PEOPLE GO