In which there is another star story, and this one is an old song

Big Dipper/The Drinking Gourd - American South

The Underground Railroad meant freedom for many in the years before Emancipation,
and it had a map.

That map is a song called “Follow the Drinking Gourd,”
supposedly used by members of the Underground Railroad to direct runaway slaves to freedom
by describing a trail from Mobile, Alabama to Paducah, Kentucky.
From Paducah, slaves could cross the Ohio River to the free states.
The "drinking gourd" in the song is the constellation we call the Big Dipper.

(Link to the tune sung by Melanie Clarin is HERE)

When the sun goes back

and the first quail calls

Follow the drinking gourd

The old man is a-waitin’ for

to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

Follow the drinking gourd,

follow the drinking gourd

For the old man is a-waitin’

to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

The river bed makes a mighty fine road,

Dead trees to show you the way

And it’s left foot, peg foot, traveling on

Follow 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

I thought I heard the angels say

Follow the drinking gourd

The stars in the heavens

gonna show you the way

Follow the drinking gourd

Chorus

Apples in the orchard, 2009