Go Down, Moses (Let My People Go) Sorrow Song--Anjelo Reyes

We had gotten a glimpse of Black Sorrow Songs in our Du Bois readings, but I wanted to share this one as well. I'm thinking Faulkner's book is named after this song. Here is the link.  https://youtu.be/w3OjHIhLCDs

I will also share its lyrics below: 

lyrics: When Israel was in Egypt land, Let my people go! Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go! Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land, tell old Pharao to let my people go! "Thus spoke the Lord", bold Moses said, Let my people go! "If not I'll smite your first-born dead!" Let my people go! Go down... Your foes shall not before you stand, Let my people go! and you'll possess fair Canaan's land Let my people go! Go down... You'll not get lost in the wilderness Let my people go! with a lighted candle in your breast. Let my people go! Go down...

It strikes me that Moses is Israelite, but grew up among Egyptian Royalty. To these royal Egyptians he was family, but also outsider. This reminds me of what it might mean to be a black Mcaslin, and how individuals like Tomey's Turl and Lucas are in similar straits as Moses. Will they, too, be the ones who make greater strides towards freedom?

Comments

  1. Krishnan VenkateshApril 12, 2021 at 7:12 PM

    Thanks for this. I'll be interested to see how the song unfolds for you through the book. Where is "fair Canaan's land" for an American?

    ReplyDelete

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