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

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