There is good reason to believe that this song was indeed sung by slaves, using the imagery of the Israelites in Egypt to mirror their own condition. It is also a good song to sing in honor of Harriet Tubman, called the Moses of her people for her role in bringing slaves out of Maryland to freedom. Tubman's story is one of incredible courage and daring. After escaping herself, she made thirteen missions back to Maryland to gather relatives and others and bring them north, resulting in freedom for about 70 people. She also helped many more slaves to escape and was a commanding figure in the Underground Railroad. In her later life she was a spy for the Union during the Civil War and a fighter for Women's rights.

Lyrics

When Israel was in Egypt's land,
Let my people go.
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

CHORUS:
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land,
Tell old Pharaoh, let my people go.

We need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go.
And wear those slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go.

The devil thought he had us fast,
Let my people go.
But we know we'll break these chains at last.
Let my people go.

So let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go.
And let everyone on earth be free,
Let my people go.