What Is "follow the drinking gourd" ?

Question

All I know is it was part of a song or poem used as a message of some kind for the slaves in the underground railroad.

Answer 1

The drinking gourd is the "Big Dipper".

Quote:

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom,
If you follow the drinking gourd.

"When the sun comes back" means winter and spring when the altitude of the sun at noon is higher each day. Quail are migratory bird wintering in the South. The Drinking Gourd is the Big Dipper. The old man is Peg Leg Joe. The verse tells slaves to leave in the winter and walk towards the Drinking Gourd. Eventually they will meet a guide who will escort them for the remainder of the trip. Most escapees had to cross the Ohio River which is too wide and too swift to swim. The Railroad struggled with the problem of how to get escapees across, and with experience, came to believe the best crossing time was winter. Then the river was frozen, and escapees could walk across on the ice. Since it took most escapees a year to travel from the South to the Ohio, the Railroad urged slaves to start their trip in winter in order to be at the Ohio the next winter.
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Answer 2

Oh, I read that poem.

It mean when the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom,
If you follow the drinking gourd.

"When the sun comes back" means winter and spring when the altitude of the sun at noon is higher each day. Quail are migratory bird wintering in the South. The Drinking Gourd is the Big Dipper. The old man is Peg Leg Joe. The verse tells slaves to leave in the winter and walk towards the Drinking Gourd. Eventually they will meet a guide who will escort them for the remainder of the trip. Most escapees had to cross the Ohio River which is too wide and too swift to swim. The Railroad struggled with the problem of how to get escapees across, and with experience, came to believe the best crossing time was winter. Then the river was frozen, and escapees could walk across on the ice. Since it took most escapees a year to travel from the South to the Ohio, the Railroad urged slaves to start their trip in winter in order to be at the Ohio the next winter.

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

This verse taught slaves to follow the bank of the Tombigbee River north looking for dead trees that were marked with drawings of a left foot and a peg foot. The markings distinguished the Tombigbee from other north-south rivers that flow into it.

The river ends between two hills,
Follow the drinking gourd.
There's another river on the other side,
Follow the drinking gourd.

These words told the slaves that when they reached the headwaters of the Tombigbee, they were to continue north over the hills until they met another river. Then they were to travel north along the new river which is the Tennessee River. A number of the southern escape routes converged on the Tennessee.

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

This verse told the slaves the Tennessee joined another river. They were to cross that river (which is the Ohio River), and on the north bank, meet a guide from the Underground Railroad.

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the drinking gourd!
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd,
For the old man is awaiting 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,
Following 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.

Where the great big river meets the little river,
Follow the drinking gourd,
The old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd

Answer 3

You're right, it's from a folk song about the slaves and the underground railroad. The "drinking gourd" refers to the Big Dipper constellation which is visible near the northern horizon (in the Northern Hemisphere) at this time of year.

Answer 4

Follow the Drinking Gourd



Buy Now
Release Date: 1993
Genre: Children
Label: Rabbit Ears
Total Time: 31:38
Artist: Morgan Freeman
Flags: Children
Type: Children's Album
Rating:
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Review
This new release in the "American Heroes And Legends" series from Rabbit Ears is based on the traditional American folk song of the same name. In this ultimate adventure to escape slavery through the famed underground railroad, Oscar-nominated actor Morgan Freeman lends a richness and expressive quality to the narration. Blues giant Taj Mahal's moving score compliments this dangerous journey to freedom. ~ MusD, All Music Guide

Answer 5

The "drinking gourd" referred to is a constellation of stars which form what looks like a huge ladle. This also gives rise to it being called "the big dipper". This is what the slaves who made it to Canada, followed as a guide to get there.

Answer 6

it is how slaves woudl escape on the underground railroad. The drunken gourd is a star constalation int he sky. So they new they were always heading north (the big dipper)

Answer 7

The big dipper constellation in the stars at night I believe. They "followed it" and used it to mark their direction.

Answer 8

The big dipper in the sky