• MUSIC NOTES, INC. | 404-790-1110

"Go Down, Moses," Lyrics, Text Format

Minor tonality, syncopation, and a raised dominate (Si) which functions as the leading tone to the parallel G Major.

 

Description

  • Grade: Fifth
  • Origin: USA – African American Spiritual, circa. 1862
  • Key: G minor (pitched in B Flat Major)
  • Time: 4/4
  • Form: staves: AABC – song AB, verse/refrain
  • Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta ta ta/a |
    | ta ta ti ta/ | syncopation, | ta/a/a ta | ta/a/a/a |
    | ta ta/a ta | ta ta/a/a |
  • Pitches: intermediate: Mi Si* La Ti Do Re Mi – raised/sharp dominate (Si, G#), functions as the leading tone to the parallel Major, G
  • Intervals: intermediate: Mi/Do (M6), Do\La (m3), La\Mi (P4), Mi/Si (M3), Si/La (m2), La/Re (P4)
  • Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, melodic rhythm patterns, vocal slur, raised/sharped dominate (Si)
  • Key Words: USA history, African American history, sacred, world geography: Bible stories, Israel, Egypt, Canaan; contraband slave song, contraband slaves (escaped slaves working/fighting for the Union during the American Civil War) oppressed, Pharaoh, bondage, toil, spoil, flee, Christ, free, weep, mourn, chains, forlorn, foes, possess; contraction: you’ll (you will); abbreviations: slav’ry (slavery); possessive: Egypt’s, Canaan’s
  • Recorder: intermediate: introducing G#, A minor tonality

*Although composed in G minor, the raised 7th (5th in major tonality) ending the first, second, and fourth phrases gives the feeling of ending in G Major. This also supports the lyrics strong statement, “Let my people go!”

 

“Go Down, Moses” 

1. When Israel was in Egypt’s land,
Let my people go!
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go!
Refrain:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt’s land.
Tell old Pharaoh,
To let my people go!
2.
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go!
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil,
Let my people go!
Refrain
3. Oh, let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go!
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go!
Refrain
4. You need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go!
And wear these slav’ry chains forlorn,
Let my people go!
Refrain
5. Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go!
And you’ll possess fair Canaan’s land,
Let my people go!
Refrain
Additional Formats (click to enlarge)
music
"Go Down, Moses," Music Format
beats
Click to enlarge: "Go Down, Moses," Beats Format
rhythm
Click to Enlarge: "Go Down, Moses," Rhythm Format
pitch numbers
Click to Enlarge: "Go Down, Moses," Pitch Number Format
solfeggio
Click to Enlarge: "Go Down, Moses," Solfeggio Format
letter names
Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format