Follow The Drinking Gourd

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

Played by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia ("Bob and Jerry") at Brigid Meier's Sixteenth Birthday Party, Menlo Park, CA, May 26 1961. No recording circulates - this is the version by the Weavers:

Chorus
Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is a-waitin' for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Now, when the sun comes back, and the first quail calls
Follow the drinkin' gourd
The old man is a-waitin' for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

[chorus]

Now, the riverbank will make a mighty good road
The dead trees will show you the way
Left foot, right foot, travelin' on
Follow the drinkin' gourd

[chorus]

Now, the river ends between two hills
Follow the drinkin' gourd
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinkin' gourd

[chorus]