Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd

When the sun comes back, and the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waitin' for to carry us to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man's a-waitin' for to carry us to freedom
If you follow the drinkin' gourd

There was this old man, Peg Leg Joe we called him
When I was about ready to leave this slave plantation
Peg Leg had a map to freedom
It was a song you had to put to memory which was handy
'Cause as a slave, we was not allowed to learn to read
Well, he'd gone ahead already
Leavin' his right foot and peg leg marked in the mud as a sign
By the river bank

The river bank make a very good road
The dead trees show you the way
Left foot, peg foot, growin' on
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd (The Big Dipper)
Follow the drinkin' gourd (The Dipper in the sky keeps pointin')
Old man's a-waitin' for to carry us to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

I stole away from the plantation and traveled by night
With that big drinking gourd in the sky
Pointin' me in the right direction

Pointin' to the north star of freedom
Pointin' to the north star of freedom
Where the great big river
Meets the little one
Left foot, peg foot, growin' on
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Follow (Follow) the drinkin' gourd
Follow (Follow) the drinkin' gourd
And there's Harriet Tubman waitin' for to carry us to freedom
If you follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow (Follow) the drinkin' gourd
Follow (Follow) the drinkin' gourd
And there's Harriet Tubman waitin' for to carry us to freedom
When we follow the drinkin' gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd