Go Down Moses

Les paroles reprennent l'histoire du prophète Moïse de la religion abrahamique, à la période de l'Égypte antique, délivrant le peuple hébreu de l'esclavage en Égypte, et de leur Exode hors d'Égypte, du livre de l'Exode (5:1 et 8:1) de l'Ancien Testament de la Bible « 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... ».

Le negro spiritual est une musique vocale sacrée des esclaves afro-américains du XIX^e siècle, à l'origine du gospel. La musique gospel est une musique chrétienne des chrétiens évangéliques afro-américains.

• 1958 : Louis Armstrong l'enregistre le 7 février 1958 à New York avec Sy Oliver's Orchestra.
• 1965 : Claude Nougaro l'adapte avec sa chanson Armstrong, en hommage à Louis Armstrong[2].
• 1975 : Paul Robeson la popularise.

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 old Pharaoh to 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 Moses

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 Moses

The Lord told Moses what to do,

Let my people go,

To lead the Hebrew children through,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

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 Moses

As Israel stood by the waterside,

Let my people go,

At God's command it did divide,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

When they reached the other shore,

Let my people go,

They sang a song of triumph o'er,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

Pharaoh said he'd go across,

Let my people go,

But Pharaoh and his host were lost,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

Jordan shall stand up like a wall,

Let my people go,

And the walls of Jericho shall fall,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

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 Moses

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 Moses

We need not always weep and mourn,

Let my people go,

And wear these slavery chains forlorn,

Let my people go.

Go down Moses

• Histoire du jazz
• Standard de jazz
• Histoire de l'esclavage
• Abolition de l'esclavage

• [vidéo] Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses sur YouTube
•  Go Down Moses (78 tours numérisé) sur le site de la Médiathèque musicale de Paris