112. Go Down, Moses

1 When Israel was in Egypt's land:
Let my people go;
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

Refrain:
Go down, Moses,
'Way down in Egypt's land,
Tell ole Pharaoh,
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. [Refrain]

3 No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go;
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

4 When Israel out of Egypt came,
Let my people go;
And left the proud oppressive land,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

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

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

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

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. [Refrain]

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

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

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

12 Oh, Moses, the cloud shall clear the way,
Let my people go;
A fire by night, a shade by day,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

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

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

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

16 'Twas just about in harvest-time,
Let my people go;
When Joshua let his host divine,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

17 Oh, let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go;
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

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

Text Information
First Line: When Israel was in Egypt's land
Title: Go Down, Moses
Language: English
Publication Date: 1981
Topic: Negro Spirituals and Afro-American Liberation Songs
Source: Traditional
Tune Information
Name: [When Israel was in Egypt's land]
Key: f minor
Source: Traditional



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