Slave Songs- Examine the lyrics and try to determine the meaning/code being sent:

“Swing low, sweet chariot”

Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, what do I see, Coming for to carry me home. A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, what do I see, Coming for to carry me home. A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.

Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.

"Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Follow the drinking gourd, Follow the drinking gourd, For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom. If you follow the drinking gourd.

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls, Follow the drinking gourd. For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom. If you follow the drinking gourd.

The riverbank will make a very good road. The dead trees show you the way. Left foot, peg foot traveling on, Following the drinking gourd.

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

Where the great big river meets the little river, Follow the drinking gourd. The old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom, If you follow the drinking gourd.

"Wade in the Water " The lyrics of this particular song seem to be very elusive, most likely due to the oral tradition of spirituals. Below are versions from a) “African American Spirituals” and b) http://www.localdial.com (now broken).

a) Chorus: Wade in the water, wade in the water, children, Wade in the water, God’s gon’ trouble the water.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? A band of angels coming after me. They’re gonna take me to the heavenly place, Where the streets are paved with gold, and they got pearly gates. Some say I’ve never been redeemed, Just follow me down to Jordan stream. I tell you how the Lord has set myself free, When I get to heaven, how happy I’ll be.

b) Wade in the water (children) Wade in the water. Wade in the water. God’s gonna trouble the water

If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed. God’s gonna trouble the water. I want you to follow him on down to Jordan stream. (I said) My God’s gonna trouble the water. You know chilly water is dark and cold. (I know my) God’s gonna trouble the water. You know it chills my body but not my soul. (I said my) God’s gonna trouble the water. (Come on let’s) wade in the water. Wade in the water (children), Wade in the water. God’s gonna trouble the water

Now if you should get there before I do. (I know) God’s gonna trouble the water. Tell all my friends that I’m comin’ too. (I know) God’s gonna trouble the water. Sometimes I’m up lord and sometimes I’m down. (You know my) God’s gonna trouble the water, Sometimes I’m level to the ground.

God’s gonna trouble the water. (I know) God’s gonna trouble the water Wade in the water (children) Wade out in the water (children) God’s gonna trouble the water.

"Steal Away"

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus, Steal away, steal away home, I ain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord he calls me, he calls me by the thunder, The trumpet sounds within my soul. I ain’t got long to stay here.

Green trees are bending, poor sinner stands a trembling. The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain’t got long to stay here.