These are some of the original lyrics heard and written down in 1851 These are some of the original lyrics heard and written down in 1851 by Rev. L. C. Lockwood, chaplain of the “contrabands” at Fort Munroe Virginia. “Contrabands” was the name given to those who ran north to escape slavery during the Civil War.
The Lord by Moses to Pharaoh said,
O, Let My People Go!
If not I’ll smite your first born dead,
Then, Let My People Go!
O, Go down, Moses,
Away down to Egypt’s land;
Tell King Pharaoh to Let My People Go!
No more shall they in bondage toil (Let My . . .)
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil (Let My . . .)
Haste, Moses ‘till the sea you’ve crossed
Pharaoh shall in the deep be lost
The sea before you shall divide
You’ll cross dry-shed to the other side
Fear not King Pharaoh or his host
They all shall in the sea be lost
They’ll sink like lead to rise no more
And you’ll hear a shout on the other shore
