- Go Down Moses
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Go Down Moses est un classique de gospel. Inspiré par l'Ancien Testament de la Bible, (Exode 5:1 et 8:1 : « L'Éternel dit à Moïse : Va vers Pharaon, et tu lui diras : Ainsi parle l'Éternel : Laisse aller mon peuple, afin qu'il me serve. »)
Israël représente les esclaves africains d'Amérique alors que l'Égypte et le Pharaon représentent les maîtres esclavagistes.
Cette chanson a été popularisée par Paul Robeson.
Le 7 février 1958, elle est enregistrée à New York par Louis Armstrong avec Sy Oliver's Orchestra.
Claude Nougaro en a utilisé la mélodie pour sa chanson Armstrong en hommage à Louis Armstrong.
Paroles
- When Israel was in Egypt's land
- Let my people go
- Oppressed so hard they could not stand
- Let my people go
- Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land
- Tell ol' Pharaoh, Let my people go.
- Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
- Let my people go,
- If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- No more shall they in bondage toil,
- Let my people go,
- Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- The Lord told Moses what to do,
- Let my people go,
- To lead the Hebrew children through,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- O come along Moses, you'll not get lost,
- Let my people go,
- Stretch out your rod and come across,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- As Israel stood by the waterside,
- Let my people go,
- At God's command it did divide,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- When they reached the other shore,
- Let my people go,
- They sang a song of triumph o'er,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- Pharaoh said he'd go across,
- Let my people go,
- But Pharaoh and his host were lost,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- Jordan shall stand up like a wall,
- Let my people go,
- And the walls of Jericho shall fall,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- Your foes shall not before you stand,
- Let my people go,
- And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- O let us all from bondage flee,
- Let my people go,
- And let us all in Christ be free,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- We need not always weep and mourn,
- Let my people go,
- And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
- Let my people go.
- Go down...
- When Israel was in Egypt's land
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