“Go Down, Moses” is an African American folk song from the 1800s that uses the biblical story of Moses leading the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt. The song was known to be sung by enslaved peoples in America, as well as sung by abolitionists, as a call for freedom. The song has no accredited author because, like many other folk songs, it was thought to have been made collectively by a community. While the direct origins of said community are unknown, it was famously sung throughout the pre-Civil War South by enslaved people.
Artistic Interpretation of the Story of Moses and the Israelites
Go down, Moses ’Way down in Egypt land, Tell ole Pharaoh, To let my people go. When Israel was in Egypt’s land; Let my people go, Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go.
Moses was the leader of the Jewish people who were being enslaved in Egypt and his story is told in Exodus. God instructed Moses to travel into Southern Egypt to lead the Jewish people out of enslavement. God then gave Moses the instructions to warn the Pharaoh of ten plagues that would torment the Egyptians if they did not free the Jewish slaves. The refrain of the poem references Moses’ advocation of God’s declare to, “Let my people go.”
The first stanza of the song adopts God’s voice as it instructs Moses’ journey to free his people. This section can also be allegorical to the struggles of black slaves in the south. Egypt Land represents the southern states who were the most egregious example of American slavery at the time as well as where many of the singers of the song lived. The Pharaohs represent both the families and systems in the south that kept many people enslaved. The second stanza outlines what the result of release could mean to both American slaves as well as the Israelites. The Jewish people were supposed to live in the promised land of Israel if they had not been enslaved by the Egyptians. This can both represent how the African slaves in America could have been living in their homelands if not for the Atlantic Slave Trade and European involvement in West Africa. When using an abolitionist lens, it could be surmised that Israel in this song could also represent the Northern American States which was where many escaped slaves settled. The oppression mentioned is both a representation of the continued mistreatment of Jewish people as well as black people throughout generations.
This song spoke to me personally because I found the parallels drawn between both black and Jewish communities interesting. The biblical story itself is relevant to enslaved people in America as indoctrination into Christianity was a key element of the system of slavery. Many slaves attended church and sang religious hymns to pass time or express themselves. The idea that they would sing about a book of the Bible is not surprising. However, the way in which the story of Moses became allegorical to American Slavery is.
Enslaved people in America were desperate for freedom, often inciting riots or escaping through the underground railroad. Looking to God is a reasonable response to such desire, however, “Go Down, Moses” is not a religious song at its core. It is essentially a call for the eventual fall of slavery in America. The most interesting part of the song is the Pharaoh. While the Pharaoh is seen as a strong figure, often with total control and power over Egypt. But under God’s will, he is destined to fall. This same sentiment is passed onto the American Pharoah, Slavery. Enslaved people and the abolitionists who aided the escape of many slaves knew that while slavery was strong and integral to the function of America, it could not function without the people themselves and the country was at odds with each other over the subject of enslavement. My perception of the song was that it was more than a protest to oppression, but a way to assure oneself of the eventual fall of slavery in America. Through the song, you can see how the unsuredness of slavery was growing as the underground railroad grew and abolitionists became more vocal. The song functions the same as the phrase “Let my people go”, they are both warnings.
Works Cited:
“Go Down, Moses” Poetry for Students. . Encyclopedia.Com. 15 Apr. 2024 .” Encyclopedia.Com, Encyclopedia.com, 23 Apr. 2024, www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/go-down-moses.
“Exodus, Chapter 5.” USCCB, bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/5#:~:text=1Afterwards%2C%20Moses%20and%20Aaron,for%20me%20in%20the%20wilderness.%E2%80%9D. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
I really enjoyed your analysis of this folk song. The idea which you mention about enslaved African American’s assuredness that the institution of slavery would indeed fall at some point, or that they would eventually be rescued by someone is one that was pervasive among enslaved African Americans at the time who were believers in Christianity. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper is one writer of the time who comes to mind for me – she wrote about the idea of “deliverance” and often drew connections between American slavery for for African Americans and the Exodus for Jewish people. I think enslaved African Americans feeling like they could relate to captivity in Egypt in the Bible, especially when the Bible was something that was initially taught to them by their enslavers, is a very interesting concept, especially when you put into perspective the anonymity of this folk song– demonstrating the widespread belief in it.
It’s quite interesting to consider how songs like “Go Down, Moses” likely continued to inspire freedom movements even after the Civil War. The powerful message wrapped in a familiar biblical story would have resonated with many yearning for liberation. Perhaps the urgency in the song’s delivery, through its melody or rhythm, mirrored the growing desperation for freedom. I appreciated how you mentioned the parallels between black and Jewish communities. As you say, the biblical story itself is relevant to enslaved people in America as indoctrination into Christianity as it was a significant element of slavery. This is a very insightful post, Maggie.