• 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), syncopation
• 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!”

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