"Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Background Info:

The song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" was collected and published by H. B. Parks in the 1910s. He said that the song was used by a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad to help southern slaves escape north by following the Big Dipper constellation (the "drinking gourd"). The song was first published in 1928.

Lyrics:

(Remember that the nature of a folk song is that there are many variations for lyrics and even sometimes the tune.)

See Lyrics here.

See a Teachers Guide here.

Chorus:
Follow the drinking gourd
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a waitin'
For to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

When the sun comes up
And the first Quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a waitin'
For to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

The riverbank will make a mighty good road
The dead trees show you the way
Left foot, peg foot travelin' on
Following the drinking gourd

Chorus

The river ends between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

Sheet Music:

See Sheet Music here.

Book Ideas:

Get links to these books at my Amazon store here.

Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter

Follow the Drinking Gourd (Night Sky Stories) by Robert Squier

Follow the Drinking Gourd by Rabbit Ears and Yvonne Buchanan

Want to take a rabbit trail and learn more about stars and constellations? Here are some free activity guides from a planetarium.