You are in: Learning | Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Imagine taking a trip of hundreds of miles, on foot, without a map in hand to guide you. Of course, even if you had a map it would be unlikely that you could read it. This scenario may seem bleak, but thousands of African-Americans faced just such a trip before the Civil War.These escaping slaves sought their freedom in the northern states and Canada by reaching the terminals of the Underground Railroad along the borders between free and slave-holding states.

Map of the Underground Railroad Routes

While these people did not have a map to guide them, they did have a song that served as a verbal rendition of a map. The song, entitled "Follow the Drinking Gourd," refers to the constellation called the Big Dipper, whose end stars, the "pointers," guide one's gaze to Polaris, the North Star. The song, considered a coded reference to the route north to freedom, was taught to the slaves on southern plantations by an itinerant carpenter named Peg Leg Joe.

Follow the Drinking Gourd

When the Sun comes back
and the first quail calls
Follow the Drinking Gourd
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry
you to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd.

The riverbank makes a very good road.
The dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
Follow 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.

When the great big river meets the little river
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry
you to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd.

Follow the Drinking Gourd, follow the
Drinking gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry
you to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd.

Big Dipper The various verses of the song are filled with information about the best time of year to set out, the route to follow, and the landmarks to observe along the way. As detailed in the song, the escaping slaves started their trip in the vicinity of Alabama's Tombigbee River, and traveled by an overland connection to the Tennessee River, and then to the Ohio River. Winter was the best time to venture forth, as Polaris was high in the sky and easily observable through the canopies of the forests through which much of the trip took place. Winter was also the best time to reach the Ohio River, the last major obstacle for those attempting to reach free territory. The river often froze and served as a bridge to freedom.

The employment of the song for the transmission of information about the escape route was a clever application of a cultural attribute. As a component of the oral tradition of cultural transmission, song was traditionally used by Africans in their daily labors. Slaveholders did not interfere with this African practice in the South; after all, it seemed harmless, and singing facilitated the labors of the fieldhands. Perhaps if they had taken time to understand the people whom they had enslaved, the slaveholders would have recognized the song's message as one of hope in a free life, rather than as one of submission to their current lot.

(Based on: The Stars of Freedom by Gloria D. Rall. Sky & Telescope, 89:2, 1995, pp.36-38.)

Parents' Choice recommends the following products to learn more about topics in this article ...

SLAVERY & THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

A Light in the Storm
Fiction for All Ages
Written by Karen Hesse
Published by Scholastic Inc.; ISBN: 0-590-56733-0

Building a New Land: African Americans in Colonial America
Non-Fiction for Ages 7 - 10 yrs.
Written by James Haskins and Kathleen Benson, Illustrated by James Ransome
Published by Harper Collins Children's Books/Amistad; ISBN: 0-688-10266-2

Dear America - Picture of Freedom
Home Video for Ages 6 & Up
Published by Scholastic Inc.

Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth
Story Book for Ages 7 - 10 yrs.
Written by Anne Rockwell, Illustrated by Gregory Christie
Published by Random House Children's Books/Knopf; ISBN: 0-679-89186-2

Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family
Non-Fiction for Ages 10 - 18 yrs.
Written by Shannon Lanier, Illustrated by Jane Feldman
Published by Random House Children's Books/Delacorte Press;
ISBN: 0-375-80597-4

Send One Angel Down
Fiction for Ages 12 & Up
Written by Virginia Frances Schwartz
Published by Holiday House, Inc.; ISBN: 0-8234-1484-1

HISTORY & THE CIVIL WAR

Abraham Lincoln
Picture Book for Ages 9 - 12 yrs.
Written by Amy Cohn and Suzy Schmidt, Illustrated by David A. Johnson
Published by Scholastic Inc.; ISBN: 0-590-93566-6

History of US
Reference Book for Ages 9 - 14 yrs.
Written by Joy Hakim
Published by Oxford University Press

Footsteps
Magazine for Ages 9 & Up
Published by Cobblestone Publishing Company

We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History
Non-Fiction for Ages 10 & Up
Written by Phillip Hoose
Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux; ISBN: 0-374-38252-2

Chrononauts: The Card Game of Time Travel
Game for Ages 11 & Up
Manufactured by Looney Labs

ASTRONOMY

For a wonderful collection of astronomy products, please see our To The Moon! product list.

MUSIC

Celebrating African American Musicians - A Parents' Choice Reading List Celebrating Black History and American Music Month

Encore! Encore! - Parents' Choice Award-Winning musical products.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Aboard the Underground Railroad: A National Register Travel Itinerary

The Underground Railroad Presented by National Geographic

Celebrating African American Musicians
African-American musicians, singers, and composers have contributed enormously to our nation’s history. This special reading list details their stories -- stories about music, inspiration, and determination.

One Marshmallow, Or Two? Money Matters Cures for Cabin Fever Easing Back Into the School Year Making Music A Conversation with Barry Joseph Browse All Articles >>	You are in: Learning \| Follow the Drinking Gourd Follow the Drinking Gourd Imagine taking a trip of hundreds of miles, on foot, without a map in hand to guide you. Of course, even if you had a map it would be unlikely that you could read it. This scenario may seem bleak, but thousands of African-Americans faced just such a trip before the Civil War.These escaping slaves sought their freedom in the northern states and Canada by reaching the terminals of the Underground Railroad along the borders between free and slave-holding states. While these people did not have a map to guide them, they did have a song that served as a verbal rendition of a map. The song, entitled "Follow the Drinking Gourd," refers to the constellation called the Big Dipper, whose end stars, the "pointers," guide one's gaze to Polaris, the North Star. The song, considered a coded reference to the route north to freedom, was taught to the slaves on southern plantations by an itinerant carpenter named Peg Leg Joe. Follow the Drinking Gourd When the Sun comes back and the first quail calls Follow the Drinking Gourd For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the Drinking Gourd. The riverbank makes a very good road. The dead trees will show you the way. Left foot, peg foot, traveling on, Follow 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. When the great big river meets the little river Follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the Drinking Gourd. Follow the Drinking Gourd, follow the Drinking gourd. For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the Drinking Gourd. The various verses of the song are filled with information about the best time of year to set out, the route to follow, and the landmarks to observe along the way. As detailed in the song, the escaping slaves started their trip in the vicinity of Alabama's Tombigbee River, and traveled by an overland connection to the Tennessee River, and then to the Ohio River. Winter was the best time to venture forth, as Polaris was high in the sky and easily observable through the canopies of the forests through which much of the trip took place. Winter was also the best time to reach the Ohio River, the last major obstacle for those attempting to reach free territory. The river often froze and served as a bridge to freedom. The employment of the song for the transmission of information about the escape route was a clever application of a cultural attribute. As a component of the oral tradition of cultural transmission, song was traditionally used by Africans in their daily labors. Slaveholders did not interfere with this African practice in the South; after all, it seemed harmless, and singing facilitated the labors of the fieldhands. Perhaps if they had taken time to understand the people whom they had enslaved, the slaveholders would have recognized the song's message as one of hope in a free life, rather than as one of submission to their current lot. (Based on: The Stars of Freedom by Gloria D. Rall. Sky & Telescope, 89:2, 1995, pp.36-38.) Parents' Choice recommends the following products to learn more about topics in this article ... SLAVERY & THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD A Light in the Storm Fiction for All Ages Written by Karen Hesse Published by Scholastic Inc.; ISBN: 0-590-56733-0 Building a New Land: African Americans in Colonial America Non-Fiction for Ages 7 - 10 yrs. Written by James Haskins and Kathleen Benson, Illustrated by James Ransome Published by Harper Collins Children's Books/Amistad; ISBN: 0-688-10266-2 Dear America - Picture of Freedom Home Video for Ages 6 & Up Published by Scholastic Inc. Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth Story Book for Ages 7 - 10 yrs. Written by Anne Rockwell, Illustrated by Gregory Christie Published by Random House Children's Books/Knopf; ISBN: 0-679-89186-2 Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family Non-Fiction for Ages 10 - 18 yrs. Written by Shannon Lanier, Illustrated by Jane Feldman Published by Random House Children's Books/Delacorte Press; ISBN: 0-375-80597-4 Send One Angel Down Fiction for Ages 12 & Up Written by Virginia Frances Schwartz Published by Holiday House, Inc.; ISBN: 0-8234-1484-1 HISTORY & THE CIVIL WAR Abraham Lincoln Picture Book for Ages 9 - 12 yrs. Written by Amy Cohn and Suzy Schmidt, Illustrated by David A. Johnson Published by Scholastic Inc.; ISBN: 0-590-93566-6 History of US Reference Book for Ages 9 - 14 yrs. Written by Joy Hakim Published by Oxford University Press Footsteps Magazine for Ages 9 & Up Published by Cobblestone Publishing Company We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History Non-Fiction for Ages 10 & Up Written by Phillip Hoose Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux; ISBN: 0-374-38252-2 Chrononauts: The Card Game of Time Travel Game for Ages 11 & Up Manufactured by Looney Labs ASTRONOMY For a wonderful collection of astronomy products, please see our To The Moon! product list. MUSIC Celebrating African American Musicians - A Parents' Choice Reading List Celebrating Black History and American Music Month Encore! Encore! - Parents' Choice Award-Winning musical products. ONLINE RESOURCES Aboard the Underground Railroad: A National Register Travel Itinerary The Underground Railroad Presented by National Geographic Celebrating African American Musicians African-American musicians, singers, and composers have contributed enormously to our nation’s history. This special reading list details their stories -- stories about music, inspiration, and determination.	Sign Up Parents' Choice news & features delivered to your inbox. Sign Up Now >>